Why Most Cancer Research Fails – And What NFCR’s CEO Does Differently

Why Most Cancer Research Fails – And What NFCR’s CEO Does Differently

In this episode of OncoInfluencers on OncoDaily TV, host Emma Ter-Azaryan sits down with Dr. Sujuan Ba, President & CEO of the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR), for a masterclass on leadership, research impact, and taking AI from papers to patients.

Key points

  •  Stop waiting for permission. “If you wait for leaders to tell you what to do, you’ll never be a leader.”
  •  Make luck inevitable. “Doors open – only if you’re already at the doorstep.”
  •  NFCR decoded. All cancers, research-first; not just grants – a convener that seeds bold science and forces collaboration.
  •  Lab → life. The AIM-HI Accelerator Fund pushes teams across the preclinical “valley of death” toward trials.
  •  Mentorship that scales. Transparent, accountable leadership; internships, youth pipeline, and the All Things Cancer podcast.
  •  Leader toolkit. Obsessive attention to detail, own your mistakes, earn trust—work ethic beats pedigree.
  •  Health security = medicine security = national security – global collaboration or bust.Watch “All Things Cancer” Podcast by National Foundation for Cancer Research.