38 new grants support Israeli scientists pursuing innovative approaches to cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) has announced $5.35 million in new cancer research grants for the 2026 to 2027 funding year, supporting 38 innovative research projects led by scientists at leading institutions across Israel. These commitments are being supported by ICRF International/US, ICRF Israel, and ICRF Toronto.

The new awards bring ICRF’s lifetime investment to just under $109 million across more than 3,000 cancer research grants since 1975, supporting Israeli scientists whose discoveries have helped advance cancer research and improve patient care worldwide.

With 57 additional renewing grants, ICRF will support 95 active research grants during the 2026 to 2027 funding year, representing $5.84 million in funding. The new awards represent a $7.25 million total multi-year investment.

“Every grant we fund represents an investment in the scientists and ideas that can change the future of cancer,” said Alan Herman, ICRF Executive Director. “We are proud to support Israel’s extraordinary scientific community, from emerging researchers establishing their careers to internationally recognized leaders, and to help turn bold ideas into discoveries that have the potential to improve the lives of patients around the world.”

Investing in the Next Generation of Cancer Research

The new grants reflect the extraordinary breadth of cancer research across Israel. ICRF-supported scientists are pursuing new approaches in artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, liquid biopsy, genomics and single-cell analysis, microbiome research, immunotherapy, precision medicine, and cancer biology.

Among this year’s notable awards are:

Lucio Frydman, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science, Research Professorship Grant
Integrated Metabolic and Microstructural MRI for Early Cancer Detection

ICRF’s Research Professorship is its highest honor, recognizing accomplished investigators whose work has significantly contributed to our understanding of cancer. Frydman uses advanced MRI technologies to develop noninvasive methods for detecting and characterizing cancers earlier. His research integrates metabolic and structural imaging to identify high-risk lesions and potentially reduce the need for invasive biopsies.

Irit Ben Aharon, MD, PhD, Rambam Health Care Campus, Research Professorship Grant
In Utero Chemotherapy During Pregnancy: Studying Short- and Long-Term Effects from Epigenetics to Pathogenesis

Ben Aharon’s research addresses an important clinical challenge: how to safely treat cancer during pregnancy while protecting both mother and fetus. Her work examines the short- and long-term effects of chemotherapy exposure in utero, including potential impacts on the heart, reproductive system, placenta, and developing child. The research could ultimately help guide treatment and long-term care for children exposed to cancer therapy before birth.

Liran Shlush, MD, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science, Project Grant
A Peripheral Blood Single-Cell Platform for Diagnostic and Mechanistic Analysis of Acute Leukemias

Project Grants are the mainstay of ICRF’s research funding, supporting high-merit research led by established investigators. Shlush is developing a minimally invasive liquid biopsy approach using advanced single-cell technologies to analyze thousands of individual cells from a patient’s blood. The goal is to identify leukemia cells, monitor disease changes over time, and potentially reduce repeated bone marrow biopsies while enabling more precise diagnosis and treatment.

Asael Roichman, PhD, Bar Ilan University, Career Development Award
Deciphering Diet and Microbiome Interactions that Shape Anti-Cancer Drug Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy

ICRF’s Career Development Awards help emerging Israeli scientists establish independent research careers. Roichman, selected as an ICRF 50th Anniversary Career Development Award recipient, is investigating how diet and gut bacteria influence how cancer drugs are processed and work in the body. His research could help explain why patients respond differently to the same treatment and ultimately contribute to more personalized and effective cancer therapies.

A Rigorous Investment in Scientific Excellence

ICRF grants are selected through a rigorous peer-review process modeled after the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposals are evaluated by leading scientists and oncologists through ICRF’s Scientific Review Panel based on scientific merit, innovation, investigator qualifications, and the potential to advance cancer research.

ICRF supports scientists at every career stage through three core grant categories: Career Development Awards, Project Grants, and Research Professorships. For more than five decades, ICRF-funded scientists have advanced cancer research, including discoveries involving DNA methylation, BRCA, RAD51, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and cancer detection and treatment. ICRF-funded researchers have also contributed to the development of breakthrough FDA-approved cancer therapies, including Gleevec, Doxil, and Velcade.

Today, ICRF continues to invest in the next generation of cancer breakthroughs, supporting bold ideas, exceptional scientists, and innovative research in Israel with the potential to transform cancer care worldwide.

About Israel Cancer Research Fund