Just as diseases have unprecedented stocks in health systems around the world, there is a lack of funds for cancer research worldwide.
A new international study led by the University of Southampton reveals a worrying trend in fundraising for cancer research, indicating that global investment has declined annually since 2016, with the exception of the 2021 spike.
Researchers warn that the decline is a step away with rising cancer burden, especially in low-income countries where incidence rates are rising.
Findings suggest that without coordinated behavior there will be significant inequality in treatment access and outcomes, suggesting that the world is not ready to meet the growing demand for care.
Dr. Michael Head, the lead author of the University of Southampton research, explained:
“Nationwide investment inequalities and low research funding for specific treatments can lead to cancers that we can tackle and cancer disparities that benefit the world.
Wealthy countries control research income
The analysis, conducted in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, Harvard University, Imperial College London and the University of Health Sciences in Ghana, examined two datasets covering public and charitable grants from 2016 to 2023.
Using machine learning and expert reviews, the team tracked 108,000 awards worth $51.4 billion. The US accounted for more than half of all cancer research funding, providing $29.3 billion (57%).
The Commonwealth countries together donated $8.7 billion (17%), with the UK leading by $5.7 billion, followed by Australia ($1.5 billion) and Canada ($1.3 billion). However, most of this money remained in the same donor country.
In contrast, low-income countries received only $8.4 million (less than 0.1% of global total), despite having a significant portion of the global cancer burden.
Underfunded Areas: Surgery and Radiation Therapy
Preclinical research attracted the majority of investment (76%), and this study highlighted a significant shortage in areas essential to cancer treatment.
Surgery accounted for just 1.7% of total cancer research funding and 3.1% of radiation therapy. Both are central to cancer treatments around the world, especially in environments where access to advanced treatments is limited.
Other areas such as breast cancer (10%), blood cancer (9%) and clinical trials (7%) have attracted relatively strong investments, but researchers have emphasized the need for rebalancing to avoid neglecting life-saving treatments.
Cancer research inequality threatens global progress
The study also assessed funding patterns across 56 federal countries. Despite representing almost a third of the world’s population, many member states received little or no support for local research.
Without increasing investment, experts warn that scientific advancements continue to disproportionately benefit wealthy regions, leaving poor countries struggling with cancer caseloads and limited resources.
The decline in cancer research funding is not universal. While the European Union’s contribution has been increasing since 2021, investment from BRICS countries such as China and India peaked in 2018 and tapered.
Nevertheless, the overall trajectory shows a reduction in global resources to expand global challenges.
Seek for an adjusted action
Researchers are urging international organizations and governments to treat cancer research funds as a shared global responsibility.
Building sustainable partnerships, supporting local training, and investing in infrastructure are seen as key steps to ensure cancer science breakthroughs reach not only high-income settings, but all populations.
Another lead author of the University of Southampton, Anban Du, added: “Unless we expand targeted investments and build regional research capabilities, inequality will continue to persist. The gap will grow even further as the US reduces funding.
“For national groups like the federation, it is important to mobilize funds, build sustainable partnerships, and coordinate efforts to strengthen training and infrastructure.
Without new and equitable funding, experts warn that the world will risk widening cancer treatment gaps and losing key grounds in the fight against one of the leading causes of death around the world.
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