Funding Mechanisms in Cancer

Despite hundreds of billions invested annually in cancer research and development, funding is not necessarily allocated equitably. This inequity results in poorer outcomes for specific populations of people with cancer, including people diagnosed with certain types of cancer.

These market failures are multi-faceted: 

• Many resources are focused on a few cancer types, such as breast, prostate, lung, and blood cancers, which are expected to receive over half the funding by 2026.  
• Outcomes for people with cancer vary by race, geography, and sexual orientation.  
• Funding—despite significant increases for cancer in recent years—heavily favors treatment development, which overlooks other critical areas like prevention, early detection, and updating clinical practices based on new research.  

We believe that strategic investment—philanthropic and otherwise—can yield more equitable outcomes across cancer types and patient populations.