Particle.news
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), headquartered in Santa Monica, California, funds research into the prevention and cure of prostate cancer. Several important prostate cancer discoveries made in the past 30 years have been as a result of PCF's actions, whether in funding or in coordination. These results include the development of new medications, gene therapy approaches, and the development of vaccines that signal the body's immune system to kill cancer cells. In 2017, 81% of every dollar spent goes to the prostate cancer research mission. Since 2007, more than $52.8 million has been awarded to the Young Investigator Program, a PCF program that gives recent MDs and PhDs the opportunity to conduct pivotal research at a critical point early in their careers as research scientists. In 2017, the PCF Global Research Enterprise supported teamwork and team science with a portfolio that included 372 active research awards totaling $118 million. There are 220 active Challenge Award teams and 110 active Young Investigators, who represent the next generation of scientific discovery. PCF's efforts and advocacy have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer research. PCF set itself apart at its founding in 1993, when prostate cancer research was considered a dead end. PCF attempted a new model: invest in the most innovative and promising programs that merit major investment; reduce the red tape and shorten the time from grant request to response, so that the best-qualified researchers get answers sooner and get to work faster; form a community with researchers, investors and pharmaceutical companies so everyone can work toward the same goals. PCF's global influence now extends to 22 countries. Charles Ryan, MD, a physician-scientist, medical oncologist, and leader in prostate cancer research is currently President and chief executive officer of the Foundation. From Wikipedia
