Enabling Research Excellence

Behind every breakthrough is an ecosystem that makes discovery possible, and this year MCC invested in that ecosystem at every level. Through our Internal Grants Program, we awarded $330,000 in pilot grants in fall 2025 and another $270,000 in spring 2026—$600,000 total—empowering early-career scientists to pursue bold new ideas. Awardees are challenged to leverage this seed funding into federal grants within a year, multiplying the impact of every dollar invested. That seed money is often the first step toward the trials our own doctors open and the discoveries our labs publish. 

Our commitment to growing the next generation of cancer scientists continued through the Upper Midwest Emerging Scholars Exchange. Launched in 2025 with four other Midwest cancer centers, the program sends early-career faculty to visit and present at partner institutions across the region, sharing ideas, building relationships, and sparking new collaborations across state lines. This year’s iteration of the program carried that momentum forward, giving another cohort of promising scientists the chance to broaden their horizons early in their careers when new perspectives and connections can shape entire research trajectories.

The same is true of the infrastructure behind our science. Our 12 shared resources, from genomics labs to imaging centers, give more than 600 researchers access to the latest technology, hands-on help, and expert advice, so that no scientist hits a roadblock because of limited equipment. And the research funding our scientists won over the year, $84.7 million, flowed through the systems and support that make competitive science possible.

As we look ahead, we’re committed to deepening these investments: expanding pilot funding, supporting our emerging scientists, and building an environment where talent thrives. When we enable our people to do their best work, breakthroughs follow.