Frequently Asked Questions

Why is private funding needed for cancer research?

Federal grants in support of post-doctoral research fund less than 10% of the programs needing support. We calculate that Federal funding for cancer research has totaled a little more than $65 billion, or only $6.60 per person per year, since 1971, according to data from the United States Office of Management and Budget, United States Bureau of Economic Affairs, and National Institutes of Health. In 2006, Federal outlays for healthcare were $269 billion out of a $2.7 trillion budget. Only $6.6 billion of the $2.7 trillion was allocated for cancer research, or 0.24% of federal spending. By comparison, agricultural subsidies were 13 times higher, transportation subsidies were more than nine times higher, and international assistance programs were three times higher.

Since 1971, private funders and the drug industry have spent another $135 billion, or $13.80 per person per year. Most private cancer funders are only able to support 5-10% of research projects requesting funding. In many cases, private funders will channel their support towards less riskier projects in later stages of development.

Why give to the Hope Funds for Cancer Research as opposed to other cancer charities?

Hope Funds for Cancer Research focuses on the most understudied and deadliest of cancers. These include, but are not limited to, pancreatic cancer, bone cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, brain cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer. The Hope Funds for Cancer Research’s mission is to work to identify the most promising research opportunities. The Grant Review Panel will serve to identify the most innovative research in our focus areas. Lastly, as an entirely volunteer organization, a very high percentage of your donation will go directly to research, not institutional overhead. In addition, the Hope Funds stipulates to its grantees that funding must go for research only and shall not cover the research institution’s overhead expenses.

Can my gift really make a difference?

Yes, your gift will make a difference. Your gift can play a critical difference in enabling a cancer researcher to continue his/her work. For every $200 donated, another day of research can be funded, and every day is another chance for an important discovery or breakthrough to be made.

How Big Is The Overall Cancer Problem?

According to data available from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database and the International Association of Cancer Registries, in the United States there are 11 million patients with cancer and that number is increasing by 9% per year. By comparison, this is 100 times greater than the number of patients suffering from AIDS in the United States. Last year, it was estimated that in the United States and Europe, 520,000 and 874,000 patients died from cancer, respectively.

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