$2.5 Million Aging-Cancer Research Push Targets Rising Incidence in Older Populations
Event summary
- The Mark Foundation and Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation allocated $2.5 million for five collaborative research grants focused on aging and cancer.
- Funding supports projects addressing aging-associated blood cancers, senescence metabolism, immune dysfunction, lung cancer inflammation, and colorectal cancer.
- The initiative follows the 2025 merger announcement between the two foundations and the establishment of the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer.
- American Cancer Society and Cancer Research Institute are key partners, with CRI co-funding an immune system dysfunction research project.
- The awards are part of a broader $15 million, three-year commitment by the Waxman Institute and The Mark Foundation.
The big picture
The $2.5 million initiative targets the critical link between aging and cancer, addressing a gap in research that has historically focused on younger populations. With global cancer cases projected to double by 2050 due to aging populations, this strategic collaboration aims to reshape cancer prevention and treatment through a focused, interdisciplinary approach. The broader $15 million commitment underscores the growing emphasis on collaborative science to tackle complex health challenges.
What we're watching
- Research Impact
- How the intersection of aging biology and cancer research will accelerate breakthroughs in prevention and treatment.
- Collaborative Model
- Whether the multi-organization partnership can sustain momentum and deliver meaningful results beyond individual grants.
- Funding Pace
- The pace at which additional funding rounds will be announced and how quickly they can scale to meet the growing cancer incidence due to aging populations.
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