Uniting for a world immune to cancer by turning immunotherapy research into real-world impact and changing the way we treat and defeat cancer.
Cancer Research Institute Inc backed a $9,002,197 grant to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2024, a signal of how much of its capital is directed toward research that can move immunotherapy into clinical use. The foundation’s giving is built around cancer immunotherapy, with support for multi-center clinical trials, translational research, data infrastructure, and career development for researchers. Its program mix reaches from early-stage ideas to late-stage clinical studies, including the CRI Anna-Maria Kellen Clinical Accelerator / Venture Philanthropy Fund and the CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program. It also funds investigator training through postdoctoral fellowships and transition awards, helping scientists build careers in immunology, bioinformatics, and cancer research. Recent grants show repeated support for major academic medical centers and research institutes, including University of California San Francisco, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Columbia University in the City of New York. The pattern is one of sustained research funding rather than a single project category, with awards reaching across laboratory discovery, clinical translation, and shared data resources.
Cancer immunotherapy is the central thread across the foundation’s program portfolio. In clinical translation, it gave $1,000,000 to academic researchers through the CRI Clinical Innovator program for pioneering immunotherapy clinical trials, and $1,250,000 through the CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program for high-risk research at the leading edge of the field. It also supports the laboratory-to-clinic pipeline through the CRI Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP), which funds investigations at the intersection of discovery and clinical application. On the data side, CRI Data Programs back AI-ready resources and shared tools, including the CRI Discovery Engine. Career-building is another recurring theme: the CRI Immuno-Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship and the CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship support early-career scientists developing expertise in immunology, bioinformatics, and cancer immunology.
Typical award size clusters in the six-figure range, with p25 at $175,500, a median of $243,000, and p75 at $543,000. The recent grants list also shows several larger awards above $1 million, including multi-year support to research institutions and clinical programs. The foundation appears to combine recurring programmatic awards with one-off project grants, and some recipients appear in multiple years, such as University of California San Francisco, Columbia University in the City of New York, Yale University School of Medicine, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. It is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including fellowships and research awards, while some data and accelerator programs do not.
$24.2M
$129.6M
$35.5M
$42.1M
Most grants fall between $176K and $543K, with a median of $243K.
25th Percentile
$176K
Median
$243K
75th Percentile
$543K
ALICIA ZHOU PHD
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Grantmaking is national, and every grant in the recipient distribution is in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, with 19% of grants going to recipients in NY, including New York City institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University, and New York University Medical Center. Other recurring recipient cities include San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, New Haven, and Stanford. The list also reaches Baltimore, Seattle, Tampa, Atlanta, Houston, and Cambridge.
Its active programs center on cancer immunotherapy, with support for clinical trials, translational research, immunology, bioinformatics, and shared data infrastructure. The portfolio includes the Clinical Accelerator / Venture Philanthropy Fund, postdoctoral fellowships, technology awards, and clinical innovation grants.
Yes, several active programs do. The CRI Immuno-Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship, CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship, CRI Technology Impact Award, CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Program, CRI Clinical Innovator, CLIP, and CRI IGNITE Award all accept unsolicited applications.
Typical awards cluster around $243,000, with p25 at $175,500 and p75 at $543,000. The recent grants list also includes awards at $1,000,000, $1,250,000, and $9,002,197, showing that the foundation funds both mid-sized project grants and much larger institutional awards.
The giving is national, and 100% of the recipient distribution is in the United States. New York receives the largest share of grants by count at 19%, followed by a spread of recipients in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and other states.
It does not fund individuals. The grant list is made up of research awards to universities, medical schools, cancer centers, and research organizations, alongside fellowship programs for early-career scientists.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Cancer Research Institute that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Supports early-stage, pre-development concepts with high transformative potential in cancer immunotherapy.
Deadline: LOI Deadline: November 16, 2026
Who can apply: Supports innovative investigations bridging laboratory discovery and clinical application in cancer immunology.
Deadline: LOI Deadline: December 1, 2026
Who can apply: Supports immunotherapy clinical trials designed and led by academic researchers.
Deadline: Protocol Concept Deadline: December 1, 2026
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $2,555,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $2,222,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,695,925 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,526,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| SAGE BIONETWORKS | SEATTLE, WA | $1,459,091 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,294,500 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $1,283,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER | DENVER, CO | $1,250,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $852,200 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $842,458 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $819,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $804,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOLCOMBE BLVD, TX | $800,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NYU GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $729,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $633,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $460,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $342,300 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $309,200 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE NIH | BETHESDA, MA | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $276,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| GLADSTONE INSTITUTES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES NIH | BETHESDA, MD | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ROGEL CANCER CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $243,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY | LA JOLLA, CA | $33,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE | LA JOLLA, CA | $33,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON | MADISON, WI | $33,100 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| SALK INSTITUTE | LA JOLLA, CA | $11,033 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,793,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,550,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,243,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,132,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $1,039,700 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $1,015,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $729,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $729,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $543,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$1,294,500RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$1,283,100RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER
$1,250,000RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$852,200RESEARCH
THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC
$819,100RESEARCH
WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE
$804,000RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$800,000RESEARCH
NYU GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$729,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$460,000RESEARCH
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$342,300RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$309,200RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$300,000RESEARCH
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE NIH
$300,000RESEARCH
GLADSTONE INSTITUTES
$243,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL
$243,000RESEARCH
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES NIH
$243,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ROGEL CANCER CENTER
$243,000RESEARCH
HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE
$243,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
$33,100RESEARCH
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$25,000RESEARCH
SALK INSTITUTE
$11,033RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
$1,243,000RESEARCH
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$1,132,000RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,015,000RESEARCH
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
$543,000RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$300,000RESEARCH
