Our Mission
ICRF funds leading scientists in Israel advancing global cancer research breakthroughs.
Our Vision
A world without cancer made possible by discoveries from Israel’s leading scientists.
Our Impact
Behind every number is an Israeli scientist driving discoveries that are shaping the future of cancer research. ICRF grantees, past and present, have contributed to advances in DNA methylation, BRCA research, the RAD51 gene, novel bone marrow transplant techniques, and much more, with new breakthroughs continuing across cancer research every day.
$100M+
invested in lifetime research funding to date
3,000+
grants funded to date
2
Nobel Laureates
9
Israel Prizes
3
FDA-approved cancer drugs
ICRF grants fund scientists at all stages, from early-career investigators to established research leaders, across 13 leading academic and medical institutions in Israel. ICRF is the largest nongovernmental funder of early-stage cancer research in Israel.
By funding a diverse portfolio of cancer research, ICRF strengthens Israel’s scientific ecosystem and drives discoveries that benefit patients worldwide.
A Legacy of Trust Since 1975
For over 50 years, ICRF has funded innovative cancer research in Israel. Through rigorous peer review and top scientific partnerships, every grant is awarded based on scientific excellence and the potential to improve patient outcomes. When you give to ICRF, you can trust that your generosity is helping turn cutting-edge science into real-world impact.
FAQs
Cancer research can be divided into three categories: basic, translational, and clinical research
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Basic (foundational) research focuses on fundamental scientific discoveries and understandings.
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Translational research moves lab discoveries toward practical, real-world applications.
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Clinical research studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes.
ICRF focuses on how best to transform basic (foundational) science into clinical implications with real-world impact.
ICRF supports early-stage research in Israel that makes prevention, detection, treatment, and future cures possible. By investing in basic and translational research today, we drive tomorrow’s critical discoveries that provide new hope for patients.
ICRF supports a broad portfolio of cancer research. ICRF-funded scientists work across all major cancer types, including but not limited to solid tumors such as breast, lung, pancreatic, brain, and colorectal cancers; blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma; as well as rare and pediatric cancers that are often underfunded but critically important. Learn more about our work in Research & Impact.
By investing in bold ideas across both cancer types and research approaches, ICRF helps accelerate discoveries that lead to better treatments and cures.
ICRF distinguishes itself by funding cutting-edge foundational research, leveraging all the strengths of Israel. This approach supports future scientific leaders and drives breakthroughs that often move ahead of traditional funding and lead to meaningful advances in cancer research.
Israel is a global leader in scientific and biomedical innovation. Despite its small size, the country consistently produces high-impact discoveries in cancer biology, genetics, and technology.
Israel’s culture of innovation and collaboration provides a rich environment to transform lab discoveries into patient care. The discoveries made in Israeli labs contribute to the global understanding of cancer detection and treatment, allowing you to support a system that continually punches well above its weight in scientific advancement.
Funding also goes further in Israel, where overhead costs are lower with a high-efficiency research environment. This means early-stage investment can have an outsized impact. Every dollar supports more scientists, more ideas, and more opportunities for breakthrough discoveries.
ICRF uses a rigorous peer-review process modeled after the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), involving leading scientists and medical experts who evaluate proposals based on scientific merit, innovation, and potential impact.
ICRF’s goal is to advance discoveries from Israel’s leading scientists that move cancer from a fatal disease to a manageable condition and ultimately to a cancer-free world.
