Research will explore antibody treatments for EGFR-positive lung cancer, one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of the disease.

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (MFCR) have partnered on a new award, The ICRF-Mark Foundation Collaborative Project Grant, given to Yosef Yarden, PhD, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Professor Yarden was awarded $180,000 over a three-year period to support his research on antibody-based therapy for EGFR-positive lung cancer, a particularly hard-to-treat form of the disease.

"We are honored to partner with MFCR, a highly regarded research organization, on this groundbreaking project," said Alan Herman, ICRF Executive Director. "By supporting Prof. Yarden's innovative antibody research, we are investing in bold ideas that could transform outcomes for patients with treatment-resistant lung cancer who urgently need better options."

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, responsible for nearly 1.8 million deaths each year—more than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Despite the development of highly effective treatments called kinase inhibitors, which can initially stop tumor growth and lead to remission, the tumors often adapt and eventually resist treatment. This leads to the cancer spreading further throughout the body.

To address this recurring drug resistance, Prof. Yarden and his team have developed an innovative antibody that shows promise as a potential treatment. Unlike natural antibodies that target a single site, their engineered antibody targets two sites, enhancing its effectiveness.

Prof. Yarden will also investigate how this novel antibody improves cancer cells' responsiveness to kinase inhibitors. He plans to develop a new series of bispecific antibodies in animal models that have not yet been evaluated for lung cancer. These innovative, engineered therapies could pave the way for future advances in lung cancer treatment for humans.

"Lung cancer remains a devastating disease, and Prof. Yarden's approach to tackling drug resistance with bispecific antibodies is precisely the kind of bold, out-of-the-box science that can transform patient outcomes," says Ryan Schoenfeld, PhD, CEO of The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. "We're proud to partner with the Israel Cancer Research Fund to support this work."

Prof. Yarden has dedicated his career to understanding roles played by growth factors and their receptors in cancer, with a focus on EGFR-positive lung cancer for more than a decade. He earned his Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute and trained at Genentech, where he developed Herceptin, a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast and stomach cancers. While at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he discovered a new family of growth factors, the Neuregulins. Today, he serves as Director of the Dwek Institute for Cancer Therapy Research at the Weizmann Institute, and has also served as Dean of Biology, Dean of the Graduate School, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is a recipient of the Emet Prize (2013) and the Israel Prize (2017).

About Israel Cancer Research Fund
Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) supports the best and brightest scientists conducting groundbreaking cancer research in Israel. For 50 years, ICRF has provided more than $100 million for nearly 3,000 grants to outstanding Israeli cancer researchers. ICRF's work collectively focuses on all different types of cancer, and many awardees are responsible for major breakthroughs. Our goal is to end the suffering caused by cancer while ensuring that Israel remains a leader in science and a beacon of hope for the world. For more information, please visit www.icrfonline.org.

About The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, a charitable organization based in New York City, actively partners with scientists worldwide to accelerate research that will transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded over $275 million in grants to investigators at more than 115 academic institutions across 18 countries, with research programs focusing on early career support, team science collaboration, new technology innovation, and therapeutics discovery. Additionally, The Mark Foundation maintains a growing portfolio of investments in early-stage cancer diagnostics and therapeutics companies, including several that have transitioned from grantee projects into commercial development. To learn more, please visit www.themarkfoundation.org

CONTACT: Gayle Peck, Director of Communications, Israel Cancer Research Fund, 347.292.7951, communications@icrfonline.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/israel-cancer-research-fund-partners-with-the-mark-foundation-for-cancer-research-to-support-lung-cancer-project-grant-at-weizmann-institute-of-science-302566423.html

SOURCE Israel Cancer Research Fund