Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City has announced a $50 million gift from The Starr Foundation to expand funding for basic cancer research—often referred to as discovery science.

The gift will establish The Starr Foundation Program for Discovery Science at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI), funding foundational laboratory research to drive next-generation cancer breakthroughs and supporting recruitment, training, and mentoring of early-career research scientists. Program grants will be used to foster technology-focused collaborations between scientists at MSK and other research institutions, coupled with investments in data collection and computational technologies. In addition, an endowed position will be named in honor of the foundation’s chair, Maurice Greenberg.

“The impact of this gift will be felt far beyond our labs, as what we discover today will ultimately improve the lives of people facing cancer around the world,” said SKI director Joan Massagué.

“MSK is home to groundbreaking cancer researchers whose work has shaped the field for decades,” said Greenberg. “The most exciting days in cancer research are ahead of us, and we are proud to establish a program that lays the foundation for the breakthroughs of the future.”

(Photo credit: The Starr Foundation)