Israel Cancer Research Fund and Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Partner to Address Rising Rate of Cancer Due to Aging

New York, NY – January 5, 2023 – The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) have announced a two-year collaborative program to address the rising incidence of cancer associated with aging. Two grants will be awarded to two pairs of investigators, comprised of one Israeli and one American.

Aging is a leading risk factor for developing cancer. Around the world, the median age of a cancer diagnosis is 65 years old, with the highest rates in people between 85-89. According to the World Health Organization, people over age 60 will number over 2 billion by 2050, drastically increasing the global burden of cancer.

“Aging and cancer is a global health crisis,” said Dr. Samuel Waxman, SWCRF CEO and Founder. “Yet, research focused on understanding the challenging links between aging and cancer is grossly underfunded, contributing to less optimal outcomes for older adults. This partnership with ICRF will help us better understand why aging makes us more susceptible to getting cancer and hopefully discover effective preventions and treatments.”

ICRF and SWCRF will contribute up to $500,000: $400,000 per organization for the first two years with an additional $100,000 for a possible one-year extension. Each scientist will receive $100,000 per year for the first two years and $50,000 each for the third year. (Grants may be extended pending scientific review and evaluation of each team’s progress, collaboration, and synergy). 

“Understanding the connection between aging and cancer is a daunting challenge. Not only does cancer risk increase as we age, but research suggests that cancers and some of its treatments can accelerate aging and many current medications are too toxic for older patients to tolerate,” said Beryl Chernov, National Executive Director, ICRF. “We are excited to partner again with SWCRF and work together to focus on this crucial, and much needed, area of research.”

Both organizations will jointly administer the research program. Requests for applications will be sent in January 2023 and evaluated by a committee made up of scientific leaders from both SWCRF and ICRF. Funding will begin July 1, 2023. Each fall, grantees will present research progress during the SWCRF Annual Scientific Review.

“We are optimistic that this partnership will lead to groundbreaking research between top scientists in Israel and the United States and inspire future collaborations to address aging and cancer,” said Dr. Waxman.

About the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation:

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer and develops minimally toxic treatments for patients. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe. For more information, visit www.waxmancancer.org.

About the Israel Cancer Research Fund:  

Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) was established in 1975 by a group of scientists, physicians, and philanthropists in the United States and Canada to support the best and brightest scientists conducting groundbreaking cancer research in Israel. Our goal is to end the suffering caused by cancer. To date, ICRF has provided more than $87 million in funding for over 2,700 grants to support innovative cancer researchers from leading institutions throughout Israel.

Today, ICRF is the largest nongovernmental source of cancer research funding in Israel. ICRF-funded scientists have been instrumental in the development of the transformational, FDA-approved drugs Gleevec®, Doxil®, and Velcade®, and include the first two Israeli Nobel Prize Laureates in Chemistry. ICRF grantees continue to make major breakthroughs and are at the forefront of cancer discoveries in nanomedicine, immunotherapy, stem cell research and targeted therapies. For more information, visit https://www.icrfonline.org.

Media Contacts:

Wylie Tene
Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation
Director of Marketing and Communications
212-867-4502
[email protected]

Beth Belkin
Israel Cancer Research Fund
Media Consultant
917-225-9604
[email protected]