Research

The Grand View League Research Funding Initiative (GVL RFI) launched in 2016. This initiative has funded a cancer research scientist each year since its inception with a total of eight being funded to date. The GVL RFI is unique in that 100% of donations to the Initiative go to funding cancer research.

Donors of $1,000 or more actually participate in selecting the research grant to be funded.

To view the profile of GVL RFI funded researchers, please click on the researcher’s name below:

Matthew Frank, MD, PhD

Jessica Tucker, PhD

Levi A. Ekanger, PhD

John Widen, PhD

Joanna Kovalski, PhD

What does it take to outsmart cancer? Research.

The American Cancer Society and Grand View League are committed to improving the lives of people with cancer and their families and moving us even closer to a world without cancer by focusing on research. We launch innovative, high-impact research to find more – and better – treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve the quality of life for people facing cancer. We are committed to reducing health disparities by conducting internal research and funding grants aimed at fostering a more diverse cancer care and research workforce, as well as addressing inequities that exist in cancer prevention, treatment, and care.

Impact at a Glance:

More than $3 billion invested in cancer research since 1991, contributing to 3.5 million fewer cancer deaths.

More than $400 million currently invested in more than 600 active grants.

Largest nonprofit funder of cancer research in the US outside of the federal government, investing more than $5 billion over 75 years.

Nearly 200 institutions currently funded across the country.

172 new cancer research grants funded in 2021.

$28 million invested in 2021 at minority-serving institutions to advance cancer health equity and improve diversity among the cancer workforce of the future.

155 cancer studies authored by ACS intramural researchers in 2021.