The nonprofit organization, founded in 1953 and based in New York City, supports cancer research by awarding grants and fellowships to scientists at leading research institutions worldwide. Their focus is on cancer immunotherapy, a promising new class of treatments that mobilize and strengthen the body's natural immune defenses against cancer cells. The organization's funding decisions are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council composed of renowned immunologists and tumor immunologists, including Nobel Prize winners and members of prestigious scientific academies. The Cancer Research Institute aims to extend the lives of cancer patients and reduce cancer-related deaths by fueling the development of smarter and more effective treatments. They achieve this by supporting critical research, investing in treatment development, and fostering collaboration within the field.