CLINICAL PARTNERSHIP

The Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation is excited to join the new Cancer Research Society (CRS) national investigator‑initiated clinical trials program. This $25 million partnership, co-led by the Canadian Cancer Society, and Terry Fox Research Institute, supports high‑quality, independent clinical oncology research designed to improve patient outcomes and expand evidence‑informed care options across Canada.

To learn about the eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines, researchers are encouraged to register for an informational webinar on Friday May 1, 2026 (12:00 pm ET). Funding partners will present the program and answer your questions. REGISTER HERE

$4M Hecht-CRS Integrative Oncology Funding Stream – OPEN NOW!

Within this national program, the Hecht Foundation and Cancer Research Society are each committing $2M over 5 years in matching funds for integrative and preventive oncology projects. The competition emphasizes rigorous scientific evaluation of integrative therapies that are widely used, of high patient interest, or insufficiently studied in conventional clinical research.

Researchers may apply for funding to support either:

• Proof-of-concept trials – $500,000 per project over three years, for feasibility or pilot studies;
• Full clinical trials – $2,000,000 per project over five years, for controlled trials.

All applications are submitted through the Cancer Research Society and reviewed through an independent, peer‑reviewed process. Letters of intent and full applications must be submitted via Proposal Central.

Eligible projects must be led by principal investigators at Canadian universities or research organizations registered by the Canadian Revenue Agency as “qualified donees”. The Hecht-CSR stream prioritizes investigator-initiated interventional clinical trials with the potential to influence clinical guidelines or standards of care. We invite proposals that evaluate:

• Integrative oncology therapies and preventive health strategies;
• Lifestyle, nutritional, behavioral, and non‑patentable interventions;
• Widely used therapies where clinical evidence remains limited or inconclusive;
• Interventions supported by credible scientific rationale that are new or not yet widely adopted in Canada;
• Accessible, cost-effective approaches that may improve quality of life and expand patient choice.

The aim is to strengthen the evidence base for therapies of strong patient interest while ensuring methodological rigor, safety, and ethical integration into oncology care.

All research proposals must:

• Focus on cancer-related research, encompassing prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment;
• Demonstrate high scientific quality, including proper controls when applicable and solid hypothesis substantiation;
• Incorporate study designs that minimize cognitive bias and fallacies;
• Include biomedical measurements;
• Adhere to ethical standards;
• Prioritize interventional designs, with other design types considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Hecht Foundation excludes qualitative studies that focus primarily on socio-economic, psychological, or behavioral outcomes from this competition. Additionally, funding will not cover lead investigator salaries, large equipment purchases, or overhead institutional expenses.

Timeline:

• Program launch: April 22, 2026
• Information webinar: May 1, 2026 (12 PM ET) – register here!
• Letter of Intent deadline: June 4, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
• Full application deadline: September 16, 2026 (11:59 pm ET)
• Funding decisions: December 2026

About the CSR Canadian Investigator‑Initiated Trials (IIT) Program

The Canadian Investigator‑Initiated Trials (IIT) Program is a first‑of‑its‑kind, multi‑partner initiative that funds investigator‑led oncology trials that are not sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. The program brings together leading Canadian health research funders under a coordinated funding and peer‑review model administered by CRS.

CRS leads the design, peer review, and administration of all awards, while funding partners—including the Hecht Foundation—support projects aligned with their charitable mandates.

For more information about the IIT Program, visit the Cancer Research Society website.