ICRF Funds $4.85M in Grants for 2023-2024 |
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Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) is pleased to announce a total of 79 cancer research grants—18 new grants and 61 continuing grants—valued at $4,850,000 will be supported for the 2023–2024 funding year. We would like to especially recognize our generous collaboration partners who are supporting new grants this year:
- The Joseph Safra Foundation, supporting a project grant in brain cancer research (The ICRF – Joseph Safra Memorial Grant for Glioblastoma Research)
- The Abshez Family, supporting an RCDA in gastric cancer research (Machla Liebe Librach Stomach Cancer Research Fund RCDA)
- The Estate of Jerry Gross, who is sponsoring a project grant for lymphoma (The Dr. Jerry Gross Memorial Project Grant)
- The Redhill Foundation, which is supporting research for both cancer metastasis and breast cancer treatment (The ICRF - Redhill Foundation Project Grants)
- Cancer Research Institute (CRI), which is co-sponsoring a Project Grant for Immunotherapy Research (ICRF-CRI Project Grant in Immunotherapy)
With the 2023–2024 grants, ICRF’s funding has now reached 2,809 grants totaling more than $92 million.
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ICRF's volunteer Scientific Review Panel (SRP), composed of leading American and Canadian scientists with expertise in cancer research, reviews all grant applications on a transparent and objective basis. After this lengthy peer-review process, the SRP presents its rankings to the International Scientific Council (ISC), ICRF’s scientific policy-making arm. In turn, the ISC forwards its recommendations to the International Board of Trustees for ratification, and only the best, most-qualified applications receive ICRF funding.
Grant selection is based on the scientific merit of the proposed research and the quality of the application, rather than affiliation with any particular institution. In fact, over the years, ICRF has funded projects at virtually all of the leading research centers in Israel and has become the largest non-governmental funder of cancer research in Israel.
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Yosef Yarden, PhD
Photo credit:
Sharon Gabay, ICRF Israel
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Scientists Say They Can Short-Circuit Lung Cancer Gene
A team of researchers led by ICRF Project Grant recipient, Yosef Yarden, PhD, of the Weizmann Institute, have identified a biomarker that might make it possible to match some lung cancer patients with the specific medication most likely to help them. This biomarker is found in 40% of non-smoking lung cancer patients.
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September is awareness month for several types of cancer. We are focusing on gynecological cancer and blood cancers – including lymphoma and leukemia – two areas where several ICRF researchers are making significant strides toward innovative treatments. |
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Illuminating Innovation: Enhancing Ovarian Cancer Cell Detection and Removal |
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Eylon Yavin, PhD
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Len & Susan Mark Initiative for Ovarian and Uterine/MMMT Cancers
Lighting up cancer cells: Dr. Yavin and his team are working on a novel approach to help a surgeon recognize and remove small clusters of ovarian-cancer cells during surgery. Building on his expertise in the chemistry of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) therapeutics/diagnostics, he proposes to develop a technology that uses a PNA molecular sensor specific to a tumor cell marker (RNA). When bound to RNA, the PNA lights up and becomes fluorescent, distinguishing tumor cells from normal cells.
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I get most excited when any of my scientific ideas formulate to real data or results. This is, in many cases, not an easy task that sometimes completely fails or takes months or even years to materialize.
Dr. Eylon Yavin
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Spotlight on ICRF Researchers |
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Weizmann Institute of Science
The Anita & Jay Kaufman Memorial Project Grant
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a blood cancer characterized by overproduction of lymphocytes, a white blood cell. Kinase-inhibitor drugs can extend a patient’s life, but do not cure CLL because some cancer cells stay hidden. Using a mouse model, the Schreiber lab will try to determine whether combining kinase inhibitors with treatments that block the interferon response can successfully treat CLL. The results obtained should, ultimately, provide the basis for designing clinical trials.
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Bar-Ilan University
Dr. Jerry Gross Memorial Project Grant
Dr. Shamay studies viruses associated with human cancers: Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, linked to pleural effusion lymphoma and Castleman disease; and Epstein-Barr virus, linked to Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. His lab developed a novel way to identify cellular proteins that interact with and recruit other proteins necessary for infection. The team will screen for drugs that disrupt this interaction for use in treatment of virus-associated cancers.
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Tel Aviv University
The ICRF - Redhill Foundation Project Grant
Most cancer cells have undergone changes in one or more of the pathways that signal cells to limit proliferation. When altered, the Wnt signaling pathway is implicated in the development of various cancers, including solid tumors and some blood cancers. Dr. Rosin-Arbesfeld and her team are working to better understand how the Wnt pathway functions in the bloodstream. This knowledge will shed light on how blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma develop, and should, ultimately lead to new Wnt-targeted therapies.
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Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) are synthetic molecules used in cancer research. They can act as probes to identify specific DNA or RNA sequences related to cancer, and they also have applications in gene silencing, where they block certain genes from being active. PNAs can hinder the translation of RNA into proteins, potentially slowing down cancer cell growth. Additionally, they're designed to correct genetic mutations associated with cancer, and they play a role in molecular imaging, allowing scientists to visualize genes' behavior in cancer cells. |
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Connecticut Tower of Hope Gala
Join us as we gather together to celebrate members of our community (Leslie Freedman, PhD – Tower of Hope Honoree and Rabbi Mitch Hurvitz, Community Hero Honoree) in support of cancer research and the hope that it brings to us in our mission to end the suffering caused by cancer. Emcee: comedian Judy Gold.
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New York Tower of Hope Gala
Join special guest host Lizzy Savetsky and Nobel Laureate Avram Hershko, MD, PhD for a joyous night of entertainment, science and hope at the Harvard Club in NY.
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Chicago Tower of Hope Gala
Coming together for a cure! Join us for an entertaining and enlightening evening to celebrate science and hope. ICRF Chicago is proud to honor Jennifer McGuffin (Humanitarian Award) and Richard Herman (Leadership Award) at this year's gala.
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Yoga, Canasta, Mahjong Event in New Jersey
Join fellow ICRF supporters for a fun day of canasta, mahjong, yoga and more at Montammy Country Club in Alpine, New Jersey. The event includes breakfast, lunch, on-site vendors and the opportunity to help make an impactful difference for an important cause. Canasta lessons will be available for new players.
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Chicago Night of Games
Poker, mahjong, canasta and more... It's all fun and games! Enjoy a great night out while supporting cancer research. This year, it's not just for women, all are welcome!
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Do a mitzvah! Commemorate a birthday, anniversary, or other milestone for yourself or a loved one and make an impact in the fight against cancer by creating your own fundraising page on our website.
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With a planned gift to the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF), you can leave a lasting gift that will make a meaningful impact on countless cancer patients and their loved ones for years to come. To learn more about including ICRF in your estate planning, please contact Alan Herman at alan.herman@icrfonline.org or call 347-218-5946. |
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