Our CDD is an engine for translating promising science into new treatments. It specialises in taking innovative drugs from early discovery through to clinical trials. It has a strong focus on areas of unmet need, particularly rare and less common cancers, where there are often fewer treatment options and limited commercial investment.
This focus is critical, because around one in four cancers are rare, including all children’s and young people’s cancers. Smaller affected populations and limited commercial incentives mean many promising treatments for these cancers are deprioritised or abandoned – even when the science shows real promise.
This is where philanthropic support makes a crucial difference. Because our CDD operates independently of commercial return, it can focus on scientific promise over profit, supporting ambitious early-stage trials in areas of greatest unmet need.
