From scientists and oncologists to nonprofit leaders and financial professionals, NFCR’s people bring together different perspectives around a common purpose: helping advance the research that can lead to cures.
Who We Are
Research
for a cure
Since 1973, the National Foundation for Cancer Research has supported high-risk, high-impact research with the potential to transform how cancer is prevented, detected and treated. By giving scientists the freedom, time and resources to pursue bold ideas—and bringing researchers together across disciplines—we help move discoveries from the laboratory toward patients.
Our mission is simple and ambitious: to make cures possible for all types of cancer.
1973Funding bold
cancer research since
Our mission
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) was founded in 1973 to support cancer research and public education relating to the prevention, early diagnosis, better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for cancer. NFCR promotes and facilitates collaboration among scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery from bench to bedside. NFCR is committed to making cures possible — cures for all types of cancer.
Our vision
NFCR is committed to fighting cancer by funding high-risk, high-impact, and potentially high-reward discoveries in the labs and transforming them into life-saving treatments for cancer patients. Through global collaboration, NFCR is making a unique impact on a new and accelerated path to cures. NFCR envisions a world without cancer!
Turning bold ideas into progress
Cancer research does not always follow a straight path. Some of the questions with the greatest potential begin as ideas that are difficult to fund, take years to explore or require researchers from different disciplines to work together.
NFCR was built around the belief that these ideas deserve a chance.
For more than five decades, NFCR has supported high-risk, high-impact and potentially high-reward research, providing scientists with the resources and freedom to explore new directions in cancer science. That approach continues today as NFCR supports research spanning prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and the development of new approaches to move discoveries toward patients.
Back high-impact research
Support scientists pursuing ambitious questions with the potential to open new paths in cancer research.
Give discovery time
Some breakthroughs take years to emerge. NFCR provides long-term support that allows researchers to pursue promising ideas beyond the boundaries of conventional funding.
Bring people together
Cancer is complex. Progress often depends on collaboration across researchers, institutions and disciplines. NFCR helps build connections that bring different expertise together.
Move discoveries forward
Research has the greatest potential when discoveries can move beyond the laboratory. NFCR supports efforts to translate scientific advances into actionable approaches towards cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
50+ Years of History
A half century of impact
From a kitchen-table foundation to a global research funder — the milestones that shaped NFCR.
- 1973
NFCR is established
Franklin and Tamara Salisbury work with Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi to establish NFCR and advance cancer research.
- 1980s
Supporting pioneering research
NFCR backs foundational research, including Dr. Harold Dvorak’s groundbreaking work on tumor angiogenesis and VEGF.
- 2001
Expanding research globally
NFCR establishes the Centre for Computational Drug Design at Oxford, bringing researchers together to accelerate drug discovery.
- 2006
The Szent-Györgyi Prize
NFCR establishes the Szent-Györgyi Prize to recognize major advances in cancer research. Dr. Harold Dvorak receives the inaugural award.
- 2019
GBM AGILE advances clinical research
NFCR helps advance GBM AGILE, a global adaptive clinical-trial platform accelerating the search for new glioblastoma treatments.
- 2023
50 years of impact
NFCR marks five decades of supporting transformative cancer research and global scientific collaboration.
Today
Research for the next breakthrough
NFCR continues to support high-impact research and collaboration to make cures possible for all types of cancer.
Our impact
Five decades. Millions of supporters. One enduring goal.
For more than 50 years, NFCR has connected donor support with cancer research, prevention and public education.
- $420M+in funding for cancer research, prevention and public education since 1973
- 5.7M+individual donors who have supported NFCR
- 53+ yearsof advancing cancer research
- All types of cancerA mission focused on making cures possible for every type of cancer
Team & Scientific Advisory Board
Meet the people making cures possible
Advancing cancer research takes more than scientific discovery. It takes leadership, scientific expertise, financial stewardship and a shared commitment to moving ideas forward.
NFCR brings together a leadership team, staff, Board of Directors and Scientific Advisors with experience spanning cancer research, medicine, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership and scientific collaboration. Together, they help guide NFCR’s strategy and support its work toward making cures possible.
President & CEOSujuan Ba, Ph.D.
Leading NFCR’s scientific strategy, partnerships and efforts to accelerate cancer research.
Leadership TeamHali Hartmann, Ph.D.
Bringing scientific expertise and long-standing experience to NFCR’s mission.
CEO Emeritus & BoardFranklin Salisbury, Jr., M.Div., J.D.
Continuing the founding family’s connection to NFCR and its long-term commitment to cancer research.
Scientific AdvisorWebster K. Cavenee, Ph.D.
Bringing expertise in cancer research and central nervous system cancers to NFCR’s scientific community.
Financials & accountability
Every dollar accounted for.
Trust is built through transparency.
NFCR makes its financial information publicly available so donors can understand how the organization is funded, how resources are used and how its work is reported. Annual reports, financial statements, IRS Form 990 filings and information on joint cost allocations are available for public review.
One of America’s Best CharitiesBBB Accredited2013–2024: Annual Reports Available
73% of funds support programs advancing cancer research and public education
- 4-starCharity Navigator rating
- PlatinumCandid Seal of Transparency
- 990Form 990s and audited financial statements, public for every year
Research makes cures possible
Every new discovery has the potential to change what we know about cancer — how it begins, how it spreads, how it can be detected, and how it can be treated.
Your support helps fund scientists working across cancer types to turn promising discoveries into life-saving options for patients.
Prefer to speak with someone? Call us to donate — 1-800-321-CURE.