named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
ASPIRE Awards
Supports high-risk, high-reward projects addressing feasibility and proof-of-concept in basic research, therapeutic discovery, and innovative technologies.
Early Detection Award
$2 million grants awarded over two years to multidisciplinary teams focused on detecting pancreatic, ovarian, upper GI, and other lethal cancers at earlier, treatable stages.
Emerging Leader Awards
Funds high-impact, high-risk research by early-career investigators distinct from their current portfolios.
Endeavor Awards
Grants to collaborative teams of three or more investigators to integrate diverse research approaches and address urgent challenges in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Samuel Waxman Aging and Cancer Institute
Joint initiative funding multidisciplinary research on the intersection of aging and cancer, aiming to improve risk prediction, prevention, and treatment across the lifespan.
The Mark Foundation Centers
Network of collaborative research centers focused on lineage plasticity, advanced genomics and imaging, immunotherapy, and integrated cancer medicine.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Cancer Research Funding 8 activities
- Awarding grants for clinical drug discovery and therapeutic developmentProvides funding specifically for clinical and preclinical drug discovery research in cancer, including support for academic investigators advancing new therapeutics into development. Examples include Drug Discovery Grants awarded to accelerate promising therapies.
- Establishing and funding specialized research centersEstablishes and provides sustained funding for research centers focused on integrated cancer medicine and computational oncology, such as the Mark Foundation Institute for Integrated Cancer Medicine and centers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania.
- Funding cancer research on prevention, diagnosis, and treatmentSupports research to advance cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through grants and partnerships with scientists globally. This includes funding both basic and translational research aimed at bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications.
- Funding collaborative, multidisciplinary research teamsSupports integrated research by funding collaborative teams of three or more investigators who combine diverse expertise and data types to address complex challenges in cancer. Includes joint grants for aging and cancer research and other cross-disciplinary initiatives.
- Funding high-risk, high-reward and innovative cancer research projectsFunds high-risk, high-impact cancer research projects, including those lacking preliminary data or pursuing novel concepts, often on an accelerated timeline. Focuses on transformative science with potential for major advances in understanding or treating cancer.
- Supporting age-related cancer researchFunds a dedicated portfolio exceeding $10 million to study the relationship between aging and cancer, including mechanisms like aging's impact on lung tumorigenesis. Plans to award at least $15 million over three years for multidisciplinary research in this area.
- Supporting early detection research for recalcitrant cancersAwards $2 million grants to multidisciplinary teams focused on technological innovation and early detection of hard-to-treat cancers. These two-year grants aim to drive high-impact developments in detecting cancer at earlier stages.
- Supporting early-career and emerging cancer researchersProvides targeted funding and fellowships for early-career scientists, including Momentum Fellowships and Postdoctoral Fellowships, to support innovative research distinct from their current work and to develop the next generation of cancer research leaders.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$44.77M
Contributions & grants$44.39M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$410K1%
Other revenue$-31K
expenses
Total expenses$36.07M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$2.66M
Grants paid out$30.53M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$105.46M
Cash$5.36M
Investments$29.41M
Liabilities$13.02M
Net assets$92.44M
Liquid reserves11.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RYAN SCHOENFELD | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $561K |
| RAYMOND DUBOIS | EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 24 | $560K |
| REBECCA BISH-CORNELISSEN | HEAD DISCOVERY/PRE-CLINICAL RESEARCH | 40 | $362K |
| ANNA TURETSKY TO 724 | PRINCIPAL, VENTURE INVESTMENTS | 40 | $349K |
| AMY FEHIR | HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $247K |
| REBECCA LIU | DIRECTOR, GRANTS ADMINISTRATION | 40 | $232K |
| MICHAEL CARLETON | SENIOR SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $223K |
| IAN LESSER | DIRECTOR FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION | 40 | $216K |
| ROBERT MAGIN | ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $190K |
| ROSS LEVINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10K |
board members · 4
- ALEX KNASTER — DIRECTOR
- NICOLA MENDEHLSON — DIRECTOR
- OTMAR D WIESTLER — DIRECTOR
- PAUL POSPISIL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- 110+ institutions Partner — Funds investigators at more than 110 institutions worldwide
- 2023 Report Network — Annual report detailing grantee stories, awards, and strategic insights
- 2024 Report Network — Annual report detailing grantee stories, awards, and strategic insights
- 2025 Mark Foundation Endeavor Awards Network — Network of research teams funded through the 2025 Endeavor Awards cycle.
- ASPIRE Awards Partner — Grant program funded and managed by The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research to support early-stage, high-impact cancer research.
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Partner — Cofounder of the Early Detection Awards coalition and co-funder of research grants.
- Break Through Cancer Partner — Partner organization that joined the Early Detection Awards coalition in 2026.
- Johns Hopkins University Partner — Funds the Mark Foundation Center at Johns Hopkins for interdisciplinary cancer research combining astronomy image analysis, genomics, and immunogenomics.
- Lustgarten Foundation Partner — Cofounder of the Early Detection Awards coalition and co-funder of research grants.
- Melanoma Research Alliance Partner — Provided additional support for joint grant awards on aging and cancer research.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Partner — Hosts funded researcher Tuomas Tammela studying the impact of aging on lung tumorigenesis.
- Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Partner — Jointly co-hosts workshops and awards grants on aging and cancer; merged to form the Waxman Institute under The Mark Foundation.
- Scientific Advisory Committee Partner — Nominates researchers for Momentum Fellowships on behalf of The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research.
- The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation (Tina’s Wish) Partner — Partner organization that joined the Early Detection Awards coalition in 2026 to support ovarian cancer research.
- The Jackson Laboratory Partner — Planned workshop collaboration in September 2025 to identify new research targets in aging and cancer.
- The Mark Foundation Centers Network — Network of dynamic research teams funded and coordinated by The Mark Foundation to transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
- University of Pennsylvania Partner — Funds the Mark Foundation Center at Penn to study immune signaling pathways in radiation therapy patients.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- High-Risk, High-Reward Research Accelerationmethodology: high_risk_high_reward_researchBy funding high-risk, high-impact cancer research projects—particularly early-stage feasibility and proof-of-concept studies—the foundation accelerates scientific breakthroughs that traditional funding mechanisms often miss, because these bold ideas have the potential to transform patient outcomes when they succeed.
- Interdisciplinary Team Science for Complex Challengesmethodology: team_scienceBy funding collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams that integrate diverse expertise, data types, and perspectives—including across disciplines, institutions, and demographic backgrounds—the foundation enables solutions to complex cancer problems that are unattainable through individual or siloed efforts, because integration drives innovation.
- Investment in Next-Generation Cancer Researchersmethodology: early_career_investmentBy providing fellowship awards and independent research funding to early-career and emerging scientific leaders, the foundation cultivates a pipeline of innovative talent, because empowering scientists early in their careers maximizes long-term impact and drives transformative advances in cancer research.
- Strategic Funding to Advance Clinical Translationmethodology: bench_to_bedside_translationBy directing resources toward targeted drug discovery, clinical development, and academia-biopharma partnerships, the foundation accelerates the translation of scientific findings into effective therapies, because bridging the gap between bench research and patient care requires dedicated support and industry-aligned expertise.
- Workshop-Informed Priority Setting for High-Impact Researchmethodology: workshop_driven_fundingBy using expert scientific workshops to identify critical barriers in areas like early cancer detection, the foundation shapes its funding priorities around high-leverage opportunities, because aligning strategy with field-wide challenges ensures maximum impact and coordinated progress.