Curebound has awarded $8.5 million in new funding to support 23 cancer research studies, including a $1 million Cure Prize, as the San Diego-based philanthropic organization continues to expand its investment in translational and collaborative cancer research programs across the United States.
The latest round of awards brings Curebound’s total cancer research funding to $51.5 million to date. The organization focuses on identifying and accelerating research with the potential to move quickly from discovery to clinical application, to deliver life-saving treatments within patients’ lifetimes.
The newly announced grants span multiple Curebound funding programs, including Catalyst, Discovery, Equity, Targeted Grants, and the Cure Prize. Research supported by this funding cycle addresses key pillars, including cancer risk detection, novel therapeutic approaches, personalized immunotherapy, cancer community equity, and childhood cancers. Curebound’s Scientific Advisory Board reviewed applications along with more than 100 scientific peer reviewers nationwide.
Among the most significant awards is the 2025 Curebound $1 Million Cure Prize, which recognizes groundbreaking, collaborative, and translational cancer research with near-term clinical relevance. The prize was awarded to a multidisciplinary team from UC San Diego and UC Berkeley for developing a multimodal artificial intelligence framework for early detection of pancreatic cancer.
In addition, Curebound awarded multiple Targeted Grants of $500,000 each to projects closer to clinical stages and requiring interdisciplinary collaboration. These projects focus on areas such as pancreatic, bladder, colorectal, ovarian, and ovarian cancers, as well as therapeutic resistance, immunotherapy, and cancer screening technologies.
The organization also announced Discovery Grants of $250,000 to seed early-phase, interinstitutional studies with the potential to open new frontiers in cancer science. These projects explore topics ranging from tumor immunology and childhood cancers to glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and pancreatic cancer.
Curebound further allocated Catalyst Grants to early-stage companies working on innovative approaches to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, along with Equity Grants aimed at advancing cancer care and improving outcomes in medically underserved and underrepresented communities.
According to Curebound, the newly funded studies reflect a diverse portfolio of research efforts that combine scientific rigor with a strong emphasis on translational impact. The organization expects the projects to contribute to expanded clinical trials, improved access to care, and accelerated progress across both pediatric and adult cancer indications.
Curebound is headquartered in San Diego and partners with leading research institutions, health systems, and life sciences organizations nationwide. Since its inception, Curebound-supported research has contributed to dozens of expanded clinical trials reaching thousands of patients and has generated significant follow-on funding for participating investigators.
KEY QUOTES:
“Curebound identified these recipients based on their scientific strengths and ability to translate research breakthroughs into life-saving treatments quickly. We are grateful to the scientists nationwide who volunteered to evaluate hundreds of grant applications to select these 23 exciting cancer studies.”
Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO, Chief Science Advisor, Curebound
“This $8.5 million in funding will support diverse, innovative and highly promising cancer research efforts. None of this would be possible without our committed donors and the incredible scientific advisors who volunteer their time to rigorously review and select the studies Curebound funds. We’re proud to support these talented scientists and research teams and look forward to the progress their work will bring for people living with cancer.”
Anne Marbarger, Chief Executive Officer, Curebound
