Stand Up To Cancer

In 2008, SU2C asked you to stand up and join us, and you did. Within months, more than $100 million was raised for research tailored very specifically to get new treatments out of the lab to the patients who need them -- from the "bench to the bedside" -- in an accelerated timeframe.

While the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) received 237 submissions to the Dream Team "call for ideas," that number represents the input of literally thousands of scientists, since the teams are required to have members from multiple institutions. The SAC analyzed all of these responses in the Fall, selecting eight finalists. Each group then developed a comprehensive proposal, with the two team leaders from each appearing before the SAC in person to make their case.

As scientific review processes go, this is an extremely novel approach, and we are happy to report that the finalist team leaders found it invigorating! The SAC is closing in on its recommendations as to which Dream Teams to fund, and the potential benefit to patients is central to their evaluation.

The Committee is also beginning its review of the approximately 400 proposals received for Innovative Research Grants, which will be awarded to individual scientists who are at a relatively early point in their careers. Their creative ideas would likely be considered too high-risk by conventional funding sources, but have the potential for high-reward in terms of translating into new treatments. We are on track to announce the first round of Dream Team grant recipients in the Spring, and the Innovative ones later in the year.

This is an exciting time at Stand Up To Cancer, and you, our donors, made it happen. Thank you again for standing with us. We'll provide another update soon.

--SU2C Team