Press Releases
ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 11, 2026 – The American Cancer Society today announced a new $5.45 million commitment from the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation, based in Wilmington, Delaware, to establish the American Cancer Society-Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows Fund, an innovative program designed to support the next generation of cancer researchers and accelerate discoveries that improve cancer outcomes for patients nationwide.
The six-year commitment from the Foundation will support a minimum of 28 postdoctoral fellows, providing early-career scientists with funding, mentorship, professional development opportunities, and access to a national network of researchers during one of the most critical stages of their careers. The American Cancer Society will contribute an additional $1.7 million to the initiative, bringing the total investment to more than $7.1 million.
The new fund builds on seven years of partnership between the American Cancer Society and the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation. Since 2019, the Foundation has committed more than $16 million in grants to the American Cancer Society to further innovative science, early-career researchers, and groundbreaking collaborations that are accelerating progress against cancer.
Among the partnership's most significant achievements is the American Cancer Society-Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Cancer Stem Cell Consortium, a first-of-its-kind initiative. The consortium brings together leading researchers from across the country to advance the understanding of cancer stem cells, which are thought to contribute to treatment resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Over the past four years, Consortium investigators have advanced discoveries across multiple cancer types, launched new collaborations, secured additional research funding, and identified promising therapeutic targets that could lead to the development of improved treatment.
"From the beginning of our partnership, the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation has believed in both the power of scientific discovery and the people behind it," said Shane Jacobson, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "This latest investment to create the American Cancer Society-Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows Fund will help promising young researchers get the support, mentorship, and resources they need at a critical point in their careers. By investing in the next generation of scientific leaders, we're helping accelerate progress for people facing cancer.”
In addition to receiving financial support, fellows will join the American Cancer Society-Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows Network, where they will receive mentorship from leading scientists, engage in national collaborations, and participate in professional development opportunities designed to prepare them for independent research careers.
"Scientific breakthroughs begin with people," said Willliam J. Martin, president of the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation. "By supporting talented early-career researchers, we are helping create the discoveries, treatments, and cures that patients and families are counting on. We are proud to build on the progress we've made together and invest in the next generation of scientific leaders. Most importantly, we are investing in hope."
In recognition of the Foundation's extraordinary impact, the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation received the American Cancer Society Philanthropic Partner of the Year Award at the American Cancer Society’s Volunteer Leadership Summit in March 2026. The award honors partners whose vision, generosity, and leadership have significantly advanced the Society's mission.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation
Based in Wilmington, Delaware, the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation is a non-profit organization created through the generosity of the late philanthropist Lisa Dean Moseley, who believed in the power of evidence-based medical research and the importance of supporting early-stage career researchers. The Foundation strives to support basic medical and scientific research with the goal of improving outcomes and saving lives. The Foundation generally accomplishes these goals by collaborating with and funding innovative research and clinical programs undertaken by highly qualified organizations such the American Cancer Society.