Ludwig Cancer Research in New York City has announced grants totaling $540 million to six U.S.-based research centers established by the institute in 2006.

Created in 2006 by a bequest from shipping magnate Daniel K. Ludwig, Ludwig Centers at Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago will each receive $90 million for their endowments. The latest gifts bring the late billionaire’s support for the six institutions to $900 million and his giving in support of cancer research worldwide to $2.5 billion.

Initial funding to the six Ludwig Centers already has yielded groundbreaking discoveries, paving the way for the first comprehensive maps of the genomic landscapes of various cancers, transformative "smart drugs" and immunotherapy treatments, and research on new treatments for various types of metastatic and rare cancers. The new funding was realized by the sale of New York real estate investments held by Ludwig, who died in 1992, bequeathing nearly all his estate to the Ludwig Fund.

"Never before has the cancer community had the knowledge and tools to probe so deeply into understanding cancer and discovering new ways to defeat it," said Ed McDermott, president and CEO of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. "More must be done in terms of funding to ensure continued progress in an era of shrinking global resources for research. Providing reliable, long-term support to scientists fosters high impact, innovative research and must remain a priority for the cancer community."

"With independent, flexible, and long-range funding we can now take an idea based on the best scientific and medical insights and pursue it further regardless of how long it may take or the size of the eventual patient population it may benefit," said George D. Demetri, co-director of the Ludwig Center at Harvard, where the new funds will be used to expand the center's research activities, attract leading biomedical and cancer researchers, and enhance ongoing research collaborations. "We also have the freedom to collaborate with leading scientists around the globe, which can lead to new innovations to help cancer patients."