Becky Bish, VP, Research Programs
The first months of 2026 have built unmistakable momentum for The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. In the span of just a few weeks, we announced three major partnership initiatives, each focused on urgent scientific questions and grounded in our distinctive workshop model that convenes experts across disciplines and funds their most promising ideas.
We launched major new efforts to develop effective therapeutics for glioblastoma, to enable the early detection of deadly cancers, and to better understand the link between aging and cancer. These topics reflect the breadth of our scientific portfolio and highlight our strategy of bringing the right people together at the right moment and then quickly supporting the extraordinary ideas that emerge.
The Mark Foundation Model: Convene & Catalyze
Looking back at our recent major initiatives, several themes stand out.
Partnership as Force Multiplier
Each of these initiatives was built in close collaboration with other leading non-profit and philanthropic funders of cancer research. We work closely with our partners on topics of shared strategic interest, often in areas where they bring deep domain expertise and long-standing leadership, and we contribute the breadth of interdisciplinary perspective drawn from our global network of grantees and scientific advisors. This combination allows us to shape programs that are both scientifically rigorous and cross-cutting. By co-funding and co-designing initiatives, we can operate at a larger scale than any one organization could alone, supporting more ambitious programs and providing investigators with meaningful, sustained resources.
Workshops as Scientific Incubators
Each of these programs began with an interdisciplinary, tightly focused workshop, followed by an opportunity for the participants to apply for substantial grant funding. Mark Foundation workshops are carefully curated working sessions designed to surface the most consequential unanswered questions in a field and to catalyze new, often unexpected collaborations. The funding that follows enables participants to develop the strongest concepts emerging from those discussions into rigorous research programs and, ultimately, tangible advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes.
Focus on Bold Solutions to Critical and Timely Challenges
Glioblastoma remains one of the most lethal malignancies. Early detection could fundamentally shift survival curves for several deadly cancers. Aging is the single greatest risk factor for cancer, yet it remains incompletely integrated into research frameworks. These topics are central to the future of cancer prevention and treatment. The projects selected for funding are not incremental extensions of established approaches, but instead focus on areas where new technologies or biological insights could unlock durable clinical impact.
Momentum with Purpose
This rapid succession of program announcements reflects our deep commitment to accelerating cancer research through our distinctive model. The Mark Foundation’s strategy is to identify moments when a field is poised for acceleration, convene the scientists most capable of redefining it, and then move quickly with meaningful funding.
As 2026 unfolds, additional programs and RFPs will follow, including some exciting new changes to our Emerging Leader Award program that will expand our support for early-career investigators, and new opportunities from the Waxman Institute later this spring. The pace of our investment in transformative cancer research is accelerating, all for the ultimate benefit of patients and families confronting cancer.