The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Combine in Landmark Deal to Launch Aging & Cancer Institute

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (MFCR) and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) today announced they will combine in a first-of-its-kind transaction in cancer philanthropy to launch the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer (the "Waxman Institute"). Operating as a subsidiary of MFCR, the Waxman Institute is the first center in the world devoted exclusively to understanding how the biology of aging influences cancer risk at all stages of life.

The Waxman Institute, building on SWCRF's 50-year legacy of pioneering research, will serve as a global hub for collaboration to unite scientists in developing better strategies for prevention, earlier detection, and more effective treatments. By focusing on the single greatest risk factor for cancer, aging, the Institute will drive progress in a critical but underfunded area of oncology.

"We have long recognized the importance of research exploring the biology of aging and cancer," said Ryan Schoenfeld, PhD, CEO of MFCR. "The launch of the Waxman Institute allows us to accelerate that work. By combining world-class expertise, fresh talent across disciplines, and a shared ambition to drive breakthroughs, we can reshape the future of cancer research in this critical area at a time when funding needs are greater than ever."

A New Chapter in a Long-Standing Partnership
Through a pending merger, SWCRF will become part of MFCR, positioning the Waxman Institute to benefit from MFCR's well-established high-risk, high-reward research model and global funding infrastructure while continuing SWCRF's legacy of scientific leadership and collaboration.

The Waxman Institute represents the evolution of a collaborative relationship that began in 2022, when MFCR and the SWCRF co-hosted scientific workshops and began jointly funding research. In 2024, the two organizations awarded a total of $1.5 million to three multi-institution teams studying the biology of aging and cancer. The Institute will draw on the SWCRF's decades-long commitment to collaboration, embodied in its Institute Without Walls™ model, and MFCR's proven ability to mobilize resources efficiently and at scale.

Since 2017, MFCR has awarded over $275 million in cancer research funding to investigators in 18 countries and collaborated with more than 30 research organizations worldwide. SWCRF, founded in 1976, has distributed over $120 million to support cancer research globally, with a focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and reducing treatment toxicity.

Addressing Age-Related Cancer Research
The global population over 50 is expected to double by 2050, increasing the number of people at higher risk for cancer. Meanwhile, early-onset cancers are also on the rise. Together, these trends underscore the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms that link the aging process and cancer in order to improve cancer prevention, facilitate earlier detection, and develop more effective and less toxic treatments.

"We are excited that an institute has been created to study aging and cancer together, which is crucial to determining individual risks for cancer as we age and to discover better prevention strategies and treatments for all cancers," said Samuel Waxman, MD, CEO and founder of SWCRF and Director of The Waxman Institute. "Together, the Waxman Institute and The Mark Foundation will address the urgent funding gap in age-related cancer research, pushing this important area of study forward."

The Waxman Institute plans to award $15 million in new grant funding over the next three years to help catalyze discoveries that improve prevention, detection, and treatment for age-related cancers. In addition to focusing on the increased cancer risk in aging populations, it will also investigate new areas of study, such as the disturbing rise of certain early-onset cancers.

The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to customary approvals.

For more information, visit www.themarkfoundation.org or contact [[email protected]].

About The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, a charitable organization based in New York City, actively partners with scientists worldwide to accelerate research that will transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded more than $275 million in grants to investigators at more than 100 academic institutions across 18 countries, with research programs focusing on early career support, team science collaboration, new technology innovation, and therapeutics discovery. Additionally, The Mark Foundation maintains a growing portfolio of investments in early-stage cancer diagnostics and therapeutics companies, including several that have transitioned from grantee projects into commercial development. To learn more, please visit www.themarkfoundation.org

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 $120 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe. For more information, visit www.waxmancancer.org

SOURCE The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research