Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation

What Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation does

The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by physicist Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation exists to fund and advance human clinical trials of Laser-Activated NanoTherapy (LANT), a patent-pending, multi-cancer platform therapy that uses laser-activated nanoparticles to selectively destroy solid tumors while preserving healthy cells. In published preclinical studies, a single 10-minute LANT treatment produced approximately 100% tumor regression in mice within 15 days with no observable side effects; an adjuvant variant called FLALANT (fluorescently-labeled antibody + LANT) demonstrated 40% regression in mice and reduced therapeutic response time from weeks to days when combined with FDA-approved antibody immunotherapies. The platform targets more than ten solid tumor types, including breast, colorectal, ovarian, skin, cervical, pancreatic, bladder, prostate, head and neck, brain, and anal cancers, with head and neck cancer selected as the first human trial indication.

The foundation holds an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for LANT and has secured approximately $2.3 million in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs research grants across 2016 and 2020. The organization operates on an all-volunteer basis with no paid staff; the founder personally covers all overhead, so 100% of donated funds flow directly to research and clinical translation. Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible individual donations, stock gifts (via DonateStock), cryptocurrency contributions, vehicle donations, mail-in checks, PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo, supplemented by federal research grants. As of the latest disclosures, the foundation has raised approximately $4 million toward a stated $10 million milestone required to begin human clinical trials within 12 months, with a broader $100+ million endeavor estimate for full FDA approval and clinical rollout.

The foundation's go-to-market is grassroots and community-led, anchored by a 1,000+ volunteer base, formal partnerships with all nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, and significant earned media coverage (NYT, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, EBONY). Board composition reflects translational science and commercialization expertise drawn from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Boeing, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Delta Sigma Theta, Alabama State University, the Advanced Technology Development Center, and Gerson Lehrman Group. The intended 'product' — cancer treatment via LANT — is not yet commercially available and remains contingent on successful completion of FDA-regulated human clinical trials.

Name

Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation

Legal name

Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation

Website

https://oralee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that funds human clinical trials of Laser-Activated NanoTherapy (LANT), a patent-pending laser-activated nanoparticle platform for selectively treating multiple solid tumor types. It operates entirely through donations and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research and Treatment Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Oncology (HLAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Cancer research foundation
• Laser-activated nanoparticle therapy
• Targeted cancer therapeutics
• Nonprofit clinical research
• Tumor treatment platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors supporting the foundation's mission to fund human clinical trials for LANT cancer treatment. Donations accepted via website, CashApp ($OraLeeFoundation), and Venmo (@OraLeeFoundation).
2. Stock Donations: Tax-advantaged stock donations processed through DonateStock platform, allowing donors to avoid capital gains tax while supporting the foundation.
3. Cryptocurrency Donations: Cryptocurrency donations accepted as an alternative giving method.
4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research Grants: Federal research grants awarded to Dr. Green as Principal Investigator. Total of $2.3 million in grants, including a $1.2 million Merit Scholar Award and a $1.1 million grant awarded in 2016.
5. Vehicle Donations: Car donation program allowing donors to contribute vehicles to support the foundation.
6. Check/Money Order Donations: Traditional mail-in donations accepted at P.O. Box 11184, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization developing Laser-Activated NanoTherapy (LANT), a patent-pending multi-cancer platform therapy that uses laser-activated nanoparticles to selectively target, image, and destroy malignant tumors while preserving healthy cells. The foundation is fundraising to begin human clinical trials, with the goal of making cancer treatment accessible, affordable, and effective as a single 10-minute outpatient procedure across multiple solid tumor types.

Product overview

The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation offers a single unified core product: Laser-Activated NanoTherapy (LANT). LANT is a patent-pending, multi-cancer platform therapy that uses laser-activated nanoparticles to selectively target, image, and treat malignant tumors while preserving healthy cells. The treatment has demonstrated complete tumor elimination in laboratory mice after a single 10-minute treatment with no observed side effects. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to fund human clinical trials and ensure the treatment remains affordable after FDA approval.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laser-Activated NanoTherapy (LANT) A patent-pending multi-cancer platform therapy that uses laser-activated nanoparticles to selectively target, image, and treat malignant tumors while preserving healthy cells. Treatment involves injecting non-toxic nanometer-sized particles into tumors followed by harmless laser light that the nanoparticles absorb and convert to heat, delivering selective thermal destruction of cancer cells. Demonstrated ~100% tumor regression in mice after a single 10-minute treatment within 15 days with no observable side effects, intended for multiple solid tumor types including breast, colorectal, ovarian, skin, cervical, pancreatic, bladder, prostate, head and neck, brain, and anal cancers. Currently in pre-clinical phase, raising funds for first human clinical trials.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~100% tumor regression in mice after a single 10-minute LANT treatment within 15 days, with no observable side effects (board-certified pathologist confirmed no viable tumor remained)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Morehouse School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green serves as a professor in the Department of Surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine. The institution provides academic affiliation and clinical trial infrastructure for LANT development.
• DonateStockminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonateStock is the third-party platform processing stock donations to the foundation, enabling donors to make tax-advantaged stock gifts with a modest transaction fee.
• NPHC Organizations (Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Phi Theta)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAll nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations partner with the foundation through dedicated pages, leveraging HBCU and Greek life networks for fundraising campaigns, awareness, and community outreach.
• Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG)minorOthersBoard member Kirk L. Barnes serves as a Council Member for GLG, the world's leading platform for professional learning, providing access to industry expertise.
• AGB SearchminorOthersBoard member Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd serves as a consultant for AGB Search, founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorOthersThe foundation holds GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and Candid Gold Seal of Transparency 2026, demonstrating commitment to nonprofit transparency and accountability standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nanospectra Biosciences: Clinical-stage company developing AuroLase Therapy, a laser-activated gold nanoparticle-based thermal ablation treatment for solid tumors — the closest mechanistic analog to Ora Lee's LANT platform, also relying on nanoparticle-mediated photothermal tumor destruction.
• MagForce AG: Commercial-stage company offering NanoTherm, a magnetic nanoparticle-based thermal therapy for glioblastoma and prostate cancer — directly comparable as a nanoparticle thermal ablation oncology platform with regulatory approval in the EU.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Nonprofit cancer research foundation funding translational oncology research through grants — comparable as a donor-funded nonprofit advancing cancer therapeutics from lab to clinic, with similar philanthropic mission structure.
• Stand Up To Cancer: Nonprofit that funds translational cancer research through donations and media-driven fundraising campaigns — comparable as a mission-driven, donation-supported cancer research entity leveraging media visibility to fund clinical translation.

Broad incumbents

• Nanobiotix: Clinical-stage nanomedicine company developing NBTXR3, a hafnium oxide nanoparticle radioenhancer for multiple solid tumor indications — a broader nanoparticle oncology platform with overlapping mechanism and indication strategy.
• American Cancer Society: Large nonprofit cancer research and patient support organization — comparable as a nonprofit entity funding cancer research and clinical translation, though at vastly larger scale and broader scope than Ora Lee's targeted LANT program.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Leading academic cancer center conducting translational oncology research and running clinical trials across solid tumors — comparable as an institution advancing cancer therapeutics from preclinical proof-of-concept to human trials, including nanoparticle-based approaches.

Emerging players

• CytImmune Sciences: Developer of Aurimune (CYT-6091), a tumor-targeting gold nanoparticle platform combining thermal and immunotherapy mechanisms for solid tumors — comparable nanoparticle-based combination oncology approach to FLALANT.
• Keystone Nano: Clinical-stage nanomedicine company developing Ceramide NanoLiposome and other nanoparticle therapeutics for oncology — comparable as a small-cap nanoparticle cancer therapy developer with overlapping indication interest.

Others

• National Cancer Institute (NCI): U.S. federal agency that funds and conducts cancer research — comparable as a key source of grant funding and clinical trial infrastructure that Ora Lee's foundation will need to engage for late-stage translational work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oraleeorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/DrHadiyahNicoleGreen
• Facebookfacebook.com/oraleeorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/we-are-ora-lee
• Instagraminstagram.com/oraleeorg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation