The donations made to Cancer Foundation Finland each year enable extensive support for a diverse array of cancer research projects. This year, the Cancer Foundation received a total of 286 applications and granted funding to 95 researchers or research teams.

It received 190 applications for research grants, including 24 applications for major grants. In all, 54 projects were funded, one of which was a major grant of 450,000 euros. Researchers submitted 96 applications for dissertation grants, and 41 applications were funded.

The total funding granted (incl. travel grants awarded in spring 2025) comes to 8 million euros, which is more than last year and more than ever before in the history of Cancer Foundation Finland grants. Fundamental cancer research and clinical research (research focused on patients) were supported equally, both in terms of euros and the number of projects.

The most significant change this year was the considerable increase in the proportion of longer-term research funding – only four of the funded projects are one-year projects, while the remaining 50 are two- or three-year projects.

Record number of applications, longer-term funding

The Cancer Foundation once again received a large number of applications, as many as last year. The most notable change was the record number of applications for dissertation grants, which indicates the potential of early-career cancer researchers, but also foreshadows an increase in future funding demand. This again underlines the importance of private research funding to maintaining excellent cancer research in Finland.

Jarmo Wahlfors, Research Director at the Cancer Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to have received such a large number of applications and to see the consistently high level of cancer research demonstrated by the applications.”

“It’s also noteworthy that we were finally able to implement a significant increase in the proportion of long-term grants. Although the success rates fell slightly, to just under a third of applications received, the majority of the grants awarded are now for two or three years. This will ease the situation for many researchers and improve the impact of our funding. More predictable research funding and less need to worry about continued funding every year means that researchers can focus on what is essential – cancer research – instead of funding applications. A more secure financial base makes it easier to be bold, undertake innovative research initiatives, and strive for breakthroughs in the fight against cancer.”

The donations made to the Cancer Foundation each year enable extensive support for a wide variety of cancer research projects. As in previous years, most of the funding was allocated to cancer research, which does not focus on any particular type of cancer and lays the foundations for future breakthroughs and effective treatments, thus benefiting all people with cancer.

Major grant for research into ovarian cancer

A three-year major grant of 450,000 euros was awarded to Anna Vähärautio, PhD, from the University of Helsinki for a research project investigating the dynamics of stress-induced resistance to restore treatment response in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer tumours often develop resistance to treatments such as cytotoxic drugs. Vähärautio’s project will study how past stress responses in ovarian cancer cells affect their ability to survive treatment. This is achieved using a new method that tracks the “journey” of individual cancer cells toward resistance and identifies how their state of readiness before treatment helps the cells adapt and survive. This cell migration is monitored in patient-derived, lab-grown mini-tumours. In these tumors, ways will also be sought to prevent the development of resistance through well-timed combination therapies.

Vähärautio said: “We’re truly grateful for the funding from the Cancer Foundation, as it gives us the opportunity to learn even more about the development of resistance. Only through research can we achieve more effective cancer treatments in the future.”

Several significant grants

In addition to the major grant, the Cancer Foundation awarded a large number of significant three-year research grants, ranging from 180,000 euros to 375,000 euros. In addition to fundamental cancer research, these projects focused on prostate, breast and colorectal cancer as well as leukaemia. Substantial grants were also awarded for research into childhood cancers.

Grants were awarded for the following research projects, for example:

• three-year grant of 375,000 euros: Assistant Professor Heidi Haikala (University of Helsinki), for a project researching the spatial determinants of immunotherapy resistance in lung cancer
• three-year grant of 300,000 euros: Professor Satu Mustjoki (University of Helsinki), for a project investigating the enhancement of cancer immunotherapy through novel drug combinations
• three-year grant of 180,000 euros: Professor Kirsi Jahnukainen (HUS Children’s Hospital), for a project investigating the validity and feasibility of clinical prediction tools for late adverse effects after childhood cancer.

Learn more about the Cancer Foundation’s grants and funded research projects: www.syopasaatio.fi/en

Anna Vähärautio, PhD, received the Cancer Foundation’s major grant. Photo by: Eeva Anundi

Suomalaisin lahjoitusvaroin toimiva Syöpäsäätiö tukee syöpään sairastuneita ja heidän läheisiään sekä rahoittaa syöpätutkimusta, jotta kenenkään ei enää tarvitsisi menehtyä syöpään. Syöpäsäätiö on merkittävin yksityinen syöpätutkimuksen tukija Suomessa. Syöpäsäätiö muodostaa yhdessä Suomen Syöpäyhdistyksen ja Suomen Syöpärekisterin kanssa Syöpäjärjestöt.