Science

Early Detection and Cancer Interception are at the heart of SU2C’s mission to transform the way cancer is diagnosed and treated.
A daylifefuture without cancer is in sight. Together, we can make it a reality.
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INSTITUTIONS
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RESEARCHERS
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CLINICAL TRIALS
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RESEARCH TEAMS
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CLINICAL TRIAL PATIENTS

Strategy

Stand Up To Cancer is dedicated to improving how cancer is diagnosed and treated by focusing on early detection and cancer interception. These efforts aim to catch cancer in its earliest stages—before it can progress—shifting the focus from treating advanced disease to stopping it early. By taking a proactive approach, SU2C works to detect risks sooner, boost survival rates, and give patients better outcomes.

Advanced Screening Techniques

Liquid biopsies, imaging, and molecular analysis are used to detect cancer markers before symptoms appear.

Prevention and Early Intervention

Research on cancer’s origins enables early treatments to stop progression before the disease becomes aggressive.

SU2C Funding by Disease Type (in %)

Grant Opportunities

Funding: Pancreatic CancerBreast CancerLung Cancer Not-Site Specific CancerPediatric CancerColon and Rectal CancerProstate Cancer

Stand Up To Cancer funds cutting-edge cancer research that tackles critical challenges in patient care, delivering real benefits through the work of individual researchers and collaborative teams of experts.

We are dedicated to advancing health equity by supporting clinical trials and research that create effective strategies, measurable outcomes, and inclusive outreach to historically underrepresented racial and ethnic minority communities. By harnessing the potential of precision medicine, we aim to eliminate barriers to accessing new treatments for all patients. Additionally, we provide resources to help researchers integrate health equity principles into their projects.

Portfolio and Impact

During the first fifteen years of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), raising funds for research was initially conceived to support Dream Teams for various topics, including the development of technologies, laboratory science, clinical translation, and clinical trials. Dream Teams were multi-institutional awards covering a three-year period. The research portfolio was broad-based and covered almost any cancer type. With the guidance of Nobel laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D. as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), rigorous reviews of team science occurred to oversee the quality of the science on a biannual basis. In addition to team science, Innovative Research Grants (IRGs), as well as various prizes, such as the Laura Ziskin Prize, Phillip A. Sharp Awards for Innovation in Collaboration, and other Early Career programs associated with the annual SU2C Scientific Summit, were developed to support early career investigators pursuing cutting-edge science.

Over the years, several innovations have led to insights that have translated to changes in medical practice, including adopting immunotherapies as a critical element in treating cancer. With 150+ team awards at over 200 institutions supporting over 275 clinical trials and more than 3,000 scientists, an impressive legacy of achievements is in evidence, with more than 1,500 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Icons representing AI, a needle, a test tube, and a petri dish, symbolizing advancements in technology, medical applications, scientific experimentation, and research.
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