NFCR supports progress across the scientific disciplines essential to overcoming cancer. From cancer formation and the tumor microenvironment to immunotherapy, genomics and computational biology, this research turns laboratory discoveries into potential treatments. Explore the focus area subpages below to learn more about each discipline.
Different questions. A common purpose.
Research portfolio
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) supports a portfolio of research that connects early laboratory discovery with potential patient benefit. By funding areas including genomics, the tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, circulating tumor cells, early detection and computational biology, NFCR helps turn fundamental scientific insights into more targeted treatments and more precise diagnostics.
This collaborative model supports principal investigators, interdisciplinary teams and promising early-career scientists at leading institutions. Through seed funding, NFCR enables scientists to explore novel pathways, validate biomarkers and move discoveries from bench toward bedside for patients facing all types of cancer.
Where we are helping
Research areas
Cancer Formation
Cancer begins when changes in cells disrupt the controls that normally regulate their growth and survival. NFCR supports investigation into how this process starts and progresses, including the influence of inherited risk and environmental factors. This work helps build the knowledge needed for improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Explore Cancer FormationCancer Diagnosis and Molecular Imaging
Better diagnostic tools help reveal a tumor’s characteristics, guide treatment choices and track changes over time. NFCR supports studies of biological markers and imaging methods, including research that combines imaging with molecular information. Early testing of new diagnostic technologies can help move promising ideas toward use in patient care.
Explore Cancer Diagnosis and Molecular ImagingGenomics Research & Biomarkers
Studying cancer’s genetic changes can reveal why tumors develop and why treatments work differently for different patients. NFCR supports sequencing methods, investigations into treatment response and work to bring useful biological markers into clinical practice. These efforts aim to strengthen detection, monitoring and more precise treatment selection.
Explore Genomics Research & BiomarkersEarly Detection & Prevention
Finding cancer sooner and understanding what influences cancer risk are central to prevention research. NFCR supports scientists investigating early warning signs, improved detection methods and approaches to intervening before disease advances. Its work also includes education about screening and behaviors that can help reduce the risk of cancer.
Explore Early Detection & PreventionCancer Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the immune system to fight cancer. Researchers study how tumors escape immune defenses and how treatments can restore an effective response. NFCR supports work to identify useful targets, understand patient responses and address resistance, with the aim of extending the benefits of immunotherapy to more people.
Explore Cancer ImmunotherapyCancer Metastasis
When cancer cells move beyond their original location and establish tumors elsewhere, the disease becomes harder to treat. Metastasis research examines how cells travel, survive and grow in new tissues. NFCR’s supported researchers investigate this process to build understanding that could help prevent or interrupt cancer’s spread.
Explore Cancer MetastasisTumor Microenvironment
A tumor’s surroundings—including nearby immune cells, blood vessels and supporting tissue—can affect its growth, spread and response to treatment. NFCR supports studies of these interactions and experimental approaches that target them. Researchers also investigate how this environment contributes to treatment resistance and how that resistance might be overcome.
Explore Tumor MicroenvironmentClinical Research and Trial Platforms
Clinical studies test whether new approaches are safe and effective for people. NFCR supports trial methods designed to evaluate promising cancer therapies more efficiently, including designs that adapt as evidence emerges. It also helps connect researchers with expertise and resources and supports efforts to broaden participation in trials.
Explore Clinical Research and Trial PlatformsTransformative Therapies
New treatment approaches use discoveries about cancer biology to address limitations of existing therapies. These include treatments directed at specific molecular changes, gene-based approaches and other emerging platforms. NFCR supports promising early research, translation toward clinical testing and collaboration among scientists, clinicians and industry partners to advance these ideas.
Explore Transformative TherapiesComputational Biology
Computational biology brings mathematical models and computer-based analysis to complex biological information. In cancer research, these methods help interpret genetic and other data to investigate disease mechanisms and possible treatment targets. NFCR supports computational projects and collaboration with laboratory researchers and clinicians to connect data-driven insights with practical applications.
Explore Computational BiologyCirculating Tumor Cells
Cancer cells that enter the bloodstream can provide clues about a tumor and its response to treatment. NFCR has supported methods for capturing these rare cells from blood samples so researchers can study them. This work aims to improve understanding of cancer’s spread and inform more individualized treatment approaches.
Explore Circulating Tumor CellsResearchers behind the work
NFCR-supported research is carried out by principal investigators, interdisciplinary teams and specialists at leading research institutions around the world. Through a collaborative team-science approach, researchers combine expertise in areas such as genomics, immunotherapy, computational biology and liquid biopsies to uncover new pathways, validate diagnostic biomarkers and move discoveries toward clinical use for patients.
College internship program
Hands-on laboratory experience turns classroom science into scientific practice. Through the NFCR College Internship Program, undergraduates spend a summer working alongside NFCR-supported scientists at leading cancer research institutions, learning laboratory techniques while contributing to active studies. Just as important is the mentorship: principal investigators and lab mentors guide interns through experimental design, scientific presentation and career decisions. Interns see firsthand how a scientific question becomes an experiment and how laboratory findings can inform future cancer care, helping develop the next generation of cancer researchers.
Explore the College Internship Program