Why philanthropy is the catalyst for innovation

The words “You have cancer” hit like a bombshell. Amidst the storm of emotions, one critical question usually towers above the rest: How do I survive this?

At Anticancer Fund, we work hard to answer that question. We help replace doubt with clarity. But how exactly do we do that?

I would like to share our story: why we do what we do, how we have grown, and why your support, as a philanthropist or a concerned citizen, can be a matter of life and death.

The need for a solid foundation

When a doctor proposes a multi-step treatment plan, it is based on established protocols. However, a patient then hears stories, receives advice from family and friends, and begins searching for information about cancer online. The inevitable result: doubt sets in.

Anticancer Fund helps remove that uncertainty. We provide patients with personalised explanations of what to expect and what evidence exists for a particular treatment. Since 2019, we have done this through My Cancer Navigator, our information service staffed by doctors and scientists. To this day, this service remains entirely free. Because at Anticancer Fund, we believe every patient has the right to a scientifically sound, reliable explanation.

Thinking ‘outside the box’

Sometimes, there are valuable treatments for which there is not yet enough scientific evidence. Anticancer Fund funds scientists who want to bridge this gap. We support research that is crucial for the patient but lacks sufficient commercial appeal, simply because we want patients to receive the best possible treatment, regardless of its economic value.

You might wonder: isn't this research already being done by the pharmaceutical industry? The honest answer is: not always.

Proving that an innovative treatment has value for a patient requires clinical trials. These are expensive and time-consuming.

• Commercial interest: If a new drug or treatment process can be patented, and thus generate profit, the pharmaceutical industry will invest. That is logical.
• The funding gap: But what if there is no profit to be made? When it comes to innovation in surgery, radiotherapy, or the repurposing of existing (off-patent/cheap) medicines, funding often lags behind.

This is exactly where Anticancer Fund steps in. And this is precisely where we must rely on the support of philanthropists. Without it, this research simply would not happen.

How it all began

Our story started in 2008 with entrepreneur Luc Verelst. When his sister was diagnosed with cancer, he did everything in his power to find the best options for her. Together, we established a non-profit organisation and began a search for "hidden gems", or valuable treatments that remained in the shadows.

What began with a small team of scientists has grown into an international organisation that collaborates with researchers and hospitals worldwide to generate and communicate the value of new treatments for patients. Today, we also build bridges to policymakers to ensure that access to valuable treatments takes precedence over economic interests. The drive and "outside the box" thinking that started it all, remain at our core.

The power of philanthropy

In my view, philanthropy is the fuel for progress. Where the commercial market stops, philanthropy provides the freedom to invest in solutions that would otherwise sit on the shelf. In this way, we can ensure that available treatments do not depend on shareholders and profits, but on what is best for the patient. It is a pragmatic partnership that gives wings to cancer research.