In her position as professor of surgery at Dana-Farber/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center, Monica Bertagnolli, M.D. discusses the successful careers and impact made by scientists who were funded by the Prevent Cancer Foundation early in their careers. Dr. Bertagnolli is now the director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Her comments were recorded in 2022 prior to taking her position as NCI director.

Since 1986, you have helped fund grants to early-career scientists from leading academic medical centers nationwide. The grants and fellowships selection are peer reviewed by an independent external Scientific Review Panel comprised of researchers and physician-scientists from outstanding cancer research institutions.

With your support, the Foundation awards research grants and fellowships to promising scientists with novel hypotheses for prevention and early detection. The funding is critical to the future of cancer prevention as it fosters the next generation of cancer prevention research, creates a strong foundation of preliminary evidence to make scientific advancements and provides the necessary support for researchers to move toward independent research careers.

Research Process

Research proposals are reviewed by members of the distinguished Scientific Review Panel, who work for renowned institutions, including the National Cancer Institute, Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, Johns Hopkins Cancer Center, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors approves funding for grants and fellowships. Researchers who are awarded grants and fellowships will receive $50,000 a year for two years.