Message From Alan Herman, ICRF Executive Director

Our thoughts and prayers are with our researchers, friends, and families in Israel as the events of the past few days continue to unfold. When ICRF was founded more than fifty years ago, our mission was clear. We set out to ensure that Israeli researchers had the support they needed so Israel could lead the world in the fight against cancer.

Many things have changed since then, but one truth remains unchanged. The Israel Cancer Research Fund will always stand firmly beside the Israeli scientific community for as long as we are needed. We are in ongoing contact with our funded labs to make sure we are doing everything possible to support them during these challenging days. Their resilience, dedication, and strength continue to inspire us, and I am proud of the extraordinary work they do every day. I am equally proud of you, our devoted supporters, whose generosity ensures that Israeli science remains a beacon of light to the world.

Even in the face of uncertainty, Israeli scientists continue to push forward and lead with vision, determination, and innovation. Their work is earning global recognition and driving meaningful progress in the worldwide effort to prevent, treat, and one day cure cancer. ICRF’s mission is to support early-stage research that deepens our understanding of cancer and moves us closer to lifesaving advances. The heart of this work is new knowledge, and we expect our researchers to share their discoveries widely so that they can have the greatest impact. The strides they are making would not be possible without you. In this newsletter we are pleased to highlight a few of the recent breakthroughs you help make possible.

In mid-March we will convene our Annual Scientific Review Panel Meeting in New York City. This gathering is central to everything we do. Three panels of leading experts in oncology and biomedical research will carefully evaluate applications from outstanding Israeli cancer researchers. Their thorough peer review ensures that the projects we fund are not only innovative but have the potential to lead to meaningful clinical advances. More information on our scientific review process can be found here.

I look forward to sharing updates from this year’s SRP with you soon. I also hope to see you at one of our upcoming events in March, including Chicago’s Cocktails for a Cure on March 5 or cheering on Team ICRF at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.

On behalf of ICRF’s leadership I extend our deepest appreciation to our supporters and partners. Your commitment makes our mission possible, and we will continue to stand with the Israeli scientific community today and always.

Warm regards,