The Conquering Cancer Initiative is a scientific and philanthropic initiative at the Salk Institute. Focusing on the hardest cancers to treat, Salk scientists are unlocking foundational knowledge that will help in treating all cancers.

Salk Cancer Center Translational Fund
Advancing Science to Benefit Human Health

A definition of translational research is integrating fundamental scientific discoveries and patient-oriented research with a long-term aim of improving human health.

Background
The Salk Cancer Center, an NCI-Designated Basic Laboratory Cancer Center, strives to move research discoveries from the basic science laboratory into preclinical studies and advanced stages of development to help in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. Translating early discoveries into clinical trials is complex and requires significant funding and a longer timeframe to complete. For most philanthropic donors, private foundations, and public funding streams, this process is not a priority due to cost and the time to realize a benefit. The result is that many discoveries that can improve human health cannot receive the investments needed to see a beneficial outcome.

Advancing Salk science is our goal, and creating an opportunity to maximize the benefit to human health from the discoveries made in Salk labs is fundamental to our mission. Scientists from the Salk Cancer Center collaborate daily with clinicians at UC San Diego, City of Hope, and sister cancer centers worldwide. These collaborations allow Salk scientists to access patient samples and data for research purposes, design and run clinical trials to test the efficacy of potential treatments and advance successful discoveries into products or tools to improve patient care and health outcomes.

The Cancer Center Translational Fund
By creating the new Translational Fund through philanthropic support, the Salk Institute will be able to bolster a select number of outstanding projects and de-risk early discoveries towards commercial readiness and into valuable assets that will be partnered with industry. Through translational development, we expect to reach milestones that demonstrate the value or reduce the risk of Salk innovations to potential industry partners or investors that will help be the channels to advance Salk innovations into the marketplace. The Translation Fund will build on Salk’s continued success of bringing discoveries to benefit the public good ensuring and ensure we capture greater value for the Institute and our scientific teams with the added benefit of building a sustainable program of funding for future innovations.

Philanthropic support for the Translational Fund is an essential part of our mission to change the world for the better. By investing in the long-term scientific research conducted through the Cancer Center at the Salk Institute, you can help shape the future of human health.

Recent News

Upcoming Seminars

Wednesday Cancer Center Trainee Research Seminar Series
WHEN: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
SPEAKERS: Heather Christofk, PhD
Professor, Department of Biological Chemistry
Associate Director of Basic & Translational Research, UCLA
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
TALK TITLE: Metabolic Transitions in Cancer and Development
HOST: Salk T32 Fellows; Chris Murray, PhD
LOCATION: Trustees’ Room

Links

Salk Cancer Center

Salk Cancer Research

Conquering Cancer Advisory Committee

Tim Schoen, Chair
Eve Benton
Ellen Chodorow
Scott Dailard
Daniel C. Lewis
Susan Pidgeon Mandel
Rita Ryu
Reuben Shaw, PhD
      Cancer Center Director

History of Salk Cancer Center

Did you know that Salk Cancer Center has been leading the way in conquering cancer since 1970? Find Out How »

Curebound / Padres Pedal the Cause

2022 Padres Pedal the Cause
The entire Padres Pedal the Cause community came together for an incredible year of fundraising and the highest amount raised to date. In 2022, over 2,200 participants including survivors, fighters, family and friends, children, doctors, scientists, and volunteers came together to raise over $3,209,520.00 to fund innovative, life-saving cancer research in San Diego.

2023 Padres Pedal the Cause
Congratulations to yet another successful fundraising event at Petco Park that included cycling, spin classes, 5K, Kids’ Challenge, inspirational stories, new friends, and renewed commitments to cancer research in San Diego. We look forward to Curebound’s announcement for final proceeds.

A World Without Cancer »
Cancer Research Pilot Grant Portfolio »

Cancer Centers Council (C3)

Visit C3 Shared Resources »
2022 C3 Scientific Retreat »

Indivumed

The Salk Institute and Indivumed partner to advance global cancer research »

read more about the
Conquering Cancer initiative

Click here to download the pdf»