THE OPPORTUNITY
Genetics research is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the role of genes in traits such as the development of disease. It has a key role in identifying potential targets for therapeutic intervention and also in understanding genetically based variations in response to therapeutic interventions.
Innovative treatment approaches that hold the promise to cure disease are oftentimes considered too risky and lack the necessary funding and resources. At the same time, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases and allergies are rising, and the five-year cancer survival rates are virtually unchanged from 20 years ago despite a four-decade war. In 2030, cancer is expected to surpass heart disease to become the leading cause of death in the United States.
Traditional funding mechanisms for scientific and medical research often consider innovative ideas and treatments too risky, and they face significant financial and organizational barriers. Promising new treatments can wither on the vine in pre-trial stages while the disease burden continues to grow. From our groundbreaking cancer immunotherapy institute to our efforts to uncover a cure for allergies, we aim to speed to market treatments with the potential to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and save millions of lives.
Featured Initiatives
The Odegard Foundation is an unprecedented collaboration of the world’s leading cancer centers, all working together to cure cancer once and for all. The Foundation brings together the world’s top scientists, clinicians, and industry partners to lead a smart, coordinated cancer immunotherapy research effort to take discoveries from bench to clinical trials to bedside faster.