Between 2019 and 2021, 43 Philadelphia-based research institutions and companies received over $765 million in research grants for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a figure that ranks Philadelphia as fourth in the country, behind only Frederick, Maryland ($1.6 billion); New York ($1.02 billion); and Boston ($1 billion).
The University of Pennsylvania led the region with 490 NCI grants totaling $234 million during this three year time period. Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is one of four NCI-designated cancer centers in Philadelphia, in addition to Jefferson’s Kimmel Cancer Center, Temple University Health System’s Fox Chase Cancer Center, and the Wistar Institute.
At the Abramson Cancer Center, NCI funding accounts for 37% of total direct funding for sponsored research projects. According to Dr. Robert Vonderheide, director of the center, NCI grants are highly competitive and the application process is rigorous. In fact, for every 100 grants submitted to the NCI, fewer than 13 are funded, which makes this monumental amount of funding an incredible feat for both Penn and the city of Philadelphia.
Read the full story and learn more about Philadelphia’s cancer research funding here.