Cancer Research & Treatment Fund

What Cancer Research & Treatment Fund does

The Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (CR&T) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1968 by hematologist-oncologist Richard T. Silver, MD, to fund innovative blood cancer research, with a particular focus on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Headquartered in New York City, CR&T operates as a grant-making body rather than a research institution, having awarded more than $17.6 million in grants since inception across a 57-year history. Its flagship initiative is the Richard T. Silver MD Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, established in 2011 with a multi-million-dollar pledge and officially dedicated in February 2014 with a $3.7 million inaugural gift; CR&T has committed more than $8 million to the Center to date. CR&T-funded investigators have contributed to landmark advances including the clinical studies leading to FDA approval of imatinib (Gleevec) for chronic myeloid leukemia and pioneering research on interferon alpha for MPNs.

CR&T's core programs include the annual Richard T. Silver MD International Patient Symposium on MPNs (now in its 15th year, held at Weill Cornell), the annual Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame Dinner in New York City, free webinars, a tri-annual print newsletter, and a clinical research portfolio spanning investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering. The organization does not develop or operate a proprietary technology platform; its underlying 'infrastructure' consists of the patient databases, biorepositories, and clinical informatics systems housed at the Silver MPN Center.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving: individual and corporate donations (one-time, recurring, securities, bequests, multi-year pledges) and corporate event sponsorships. The corporate sponsorship ladder (Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze) includes Incyte, Karyopharm Therapeutics, PharmaEssentia, Sobi, Takeda, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Italfarmaco, Protagonist Therapeutics, Silence Therapeutics, and Sumitomo Pharma. CR&T reports that over 80 cents of every dollar is spent directly on research and educational programs. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Thomas M. Silver, President since 2015) and guided by a Medical Advisory Board of physician-scientists. Founder Dr. Richard T. Silver passed away on April 17, 2026, at age 97, following his 2025 transition to an emeritus leadership role.

Name

Cancer Research & Treatment Fund

Legal name

Cancer Research & Treatment Fund, Inc.

Website

https://crt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (CR&T) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 that funds blood cancer and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) research through grants and the Silver MPN Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, serving MPN patients, physician-scientists, and donor sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Research Funding

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Nonprofit grants
• Myeloproliferative neoplasm research
• Blood cancer philanthropy
• Patient education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: CR&T raises funds entirely through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization offers multiple giving mechanisms: one-time or recurring credit card donations via its website, text-to-donate (text CRTDONATE to 53-555), checks payable to CR&T, gifts of appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on life insurance or retirement plans, and multi-year pledge commitments. CR&T states that over 80 cents of every dollar is spent directly on research and educational programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Pharmaceutical companies sponsor CR&T events, particularly the International Patient Symposium on MPNs and the Hall of Fame Dinner. Sponsorship tiers include Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. Corporate sponsors include Incyte, Karyopharm Therapeutics, PharmaEssentia, Sobi, Takeda, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Italfarmaco, Protagonist Therapeutics, Silence Therapeutics, and Sumitomo Pharma. These sponsorships provide revenue and help defray program costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CR&T is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making organization that funds innovative blood cancer and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) research at leading U.S. academic medical centers. It operates the Richard T. Silver MD MPN Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and delivers patient-education programs including the annual International Patient Symposium on MPNs, the Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame Dinner, webinars, and printed newsletters. CR&T is funded entirely through charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and event proceeds, with over 80 cents of every dollar directed to research and education.

Product overview

Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (CR&T) is a nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative cancer research, particularly for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and other blood cancers. The organization's offerings consist of grant programs funding cancer research initiatives, direct operation of the Silver MPN Center at Weill Cornell Medicine (their flagship initiative established with multi-million-dollar pledges), and educational programs including the annual International Patient Symposium on MPNs, Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame Dinner, webinars, and informational resources such as newsletters and patient guides. CR&T's activities are guided by a Medical Advisory Board of physician-scientists and supported by their Board of Directors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silver MPN Center at Weill Cornell Medicine The Richard T. Silver, MD Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) Center at Weill Cornell Medicine is CR&T's flagship translational research and treatment center for myeloproliferative neoplasms, supported by more than $8 million in CR&T funding since 2011. It is targeted at MPN patients and the physician-scientist research community.
• International Patient Symposium on MPNs Annual all-day educational symposium featuring presentations by distinguished MPN scientists and clinical research physicians from leading centers worldwide. Registration is $10 for patients and caregivers, with scholarships available; the 14th and 15th symposia were held in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Targeted at MPN and blood cancer patients, caregivers, and patient advocates.
• Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame Dinner Annual signature fundraising event honoring outstanding cancer survivors, medical professionals, and humanitarians for efforts to raise awareness and accelerate life-saving research. Tickets and full-table purchases are sold through an event ticketing platform; proceeds benefit CR&T's research mission. Targeted at high-net-worth donors, corporate sponsors, and members of the cancer-survivor and medical community.
• Webinars and Webcasts Free online educational programming covering topics such as MPNs and mental health, research updates, and patient care, featuring physician-scientists from leading institutions including Weill Cornell Medicine. Targeted at MPN patients, caregivers, and the broader blood-cancer community.

Quantifiable outcome

• CR&T-funded investigators conducted the initial clinical studies leading to the FDA's approval of imatinib (Gleevec), a revolutionary drug for chronic myeloid leukemia.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, core, supporting and minor.

• Weill Cornell MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2014CR&T has a flagship partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine, establishing and funding the Richard T. Silver MD Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) Center. CR&T made a $3.7 million inaugural gift in February 2014 and has committed more than $8 million total to the Center. The Center, dedicated in February 2014, is a translational research and treatment center focused on MPNs. CR&T continues to provide significant ongoing funding with the goal of building the world's leading center dedicated to MPN research and care.
• Incyte CorporationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIncyte is a Diamond-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's annual International Patient Symposium on MPNs. Incyte has been a consistent sponsor across multiple years (2020, 2023, 2024, 2025 symposia), supporting patient education and awareness initiatives. Incyte also developed the patient education platform 'Voices of MPN' in collaboration with the MPN community.
• Karyopharm TherapeuticscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKaryopharm Therapeutics is a Gold-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs. The company develops novel oncology drugs and supports CR&T's patient education programming.
• PharmaEssentiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaEssentia is a Gold-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs. The company is involved in developing therapies for MPNs and supports CR&T's educational events.
• Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSobi is a Gold-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs. Sobi develops innovative treatments for rare diseases and supports CR&T's patient education initiatives.
• Takeda PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTakeda is a Gold-level (2025) and Bronze-level (2024) corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs. Takeda develops oncology treatments and supports CR&T's patient education programming.
• GSKsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGSK is a Silver-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs. The company supports CR&T's patient education events.
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerJohnson & Johnson is a Silver-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting the organization's patient education mission.
• NovartissupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis is a Silver-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting patient education and awareness.
• ItalfarmacosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerItalfarmaco is a Silver-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting CR&T's patient education initiatives.
• Protagonist TherapeuticssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProtagonist Therapeutics is a Bronze-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting the organization's mission.
• Silence TherapeuticssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilence Therapeutics is a Bronze-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting patient education.
• Sumitomo PharmasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSumitomo Pharma is a Bronze-level corporate sponsor of CR&T's International Patient Symposium on MPNs, supporting patient education.
• Melton Medical Educational LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMelton Medical Educational LLC produces the International Congress on MPNs, a separate professional education program held at the New York Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge. The company offers discounts to CR&T Symposium attendees who wish to also attend the Congress, creating a referral relationship between the two organizations.
• Johns Hopkins University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCR&T has been a major source of funding for researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, supporting physician-scientists on the frontlines of clinical research. CR&T-funded investigators at Johns Hopkins include Dr. Jerry L. Spivak, who has co-chaired the International Congress on MPNs since its founding in 2001.
• MD Anderson Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCR&T has awarded grants to investigators at MD Anderson Cancer Center as part of its mission to fund promising research at leading cancer centers. MD Anderson investigators participate in CR&T-sponsored symposia and educational programs.
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCR&T has awarded grants to investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. CR&T-funded researchers at MSK include Dr. Joseph M. Scandura (before he was recruited to Weill Cornell), and current collaborations involve MSK investigators in CR&T symposia and research programs.
• First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, QueensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCR&T co-sponsors the Annual Prostate Screening and Health Fair held at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, NY. The event is conducted under the leadership of Rev. Patrick H. O'Connor and Dr. Douglas Scherr of Weill Cornell Medicine, offering free health screenings to approximately 300 people each year.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CLL Society: CLL Society is a disease-specific nonprofit focused on chronic lymphocytic leukemia, combining patient education, research support, and advocacy. Comparable as a niche blood-cancer nonprofit with overlapping donor and physician audiences in hematology.
• Melanoma Research Foundation: Melanoma Research Foundation is a cancer-type-specific nonprofit funding research grants and patient education. Comparable as a peer in the disease-specific research-funding nonprofit category, with similar model and scale profile to CR&T.

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer funds collaborative, multi-institutional cancer research 'Dream Teams' via high-profile entertainment-industry fundraising. Comparable to CR&T as a research-funding nonprofit that relies on celebrity events and major-donor cultivation.
• Susan G. Komen: Susan G. Komen is a disease-specific nonprofit funding breast cancer research, education, and patient support. Comparable as a single-disease-focused nonprofit with a high-profile fundraising-gala model analogous to CR&T's Hall of Fame Dinner.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): LLS is the largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to blood cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. It directly overlaps CR&T's blood cancer mission but operates at vastly larger scale and covers leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and MPNs as part of a broader portfolio.
• American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society is the largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, funding research, patient support, and advocacy across all cancer types. Comparable as a cancer-focused fundraising nonprofit but operates at much broader scope and scale than CR&T's MPN niche.

Direct peers

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: The V Foundation funds cutting-edge cancer research across multiple cancer types through a venture-style grantmaking model. Comparable to CR&T in mission (translational research funding) and donor-acquisition playbook (events, athletes, branded campaigns).
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Damon Runyon funds early-career cancer researchers through fellowship grants, with a model of identifying and supporting promising physician-scientists. Directly comparable to CR&T's 'first funder' positioning in blood cancer research.
• Leukemia Research Foundation: Leukemia Research Foundation funds leukemia research grants and provides patient financial assistance. Comparable to CR&T in size, grantmaking approach, and focus on hematologic malignancies, though broader than the MPN niche.
• MPN Research Foundation: MPN Research Foundation is a peer nonprofit focused specifically on myeloproliferative neoplasms, funding research grants and patient education. It is the most direct peer to CR&T given its MPN-exclusive focus and similar grantmaking model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRTFund
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCO_gyOK6SFeVh2I0t0WgRLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/cancerresearchandtreatment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cancer-research-&-treatment-fund-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/cancerresearchtreatmentfund

Compliance2 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 Cancer Research & Treatment Fund