Institutional activity

Supporting
research

By investing effectively every single Euro donated to AIRC and FIRC, we honor the trust placed into our Organizations by millions of people every day, and we ensure competitiveness and innovation in oncological research taking place in Italy.

In over fifty years of history, AIRC has refined the method by which the most deserving cancer research projects are selected. This merit-based, internationally recognized method, called peer review, relies on the expertise of international scientists, devoid of any conflict of interest.

The Office of the Scientific Director guarantees the utmost rigour and professionalism in the selection process for both research projects and fellowships.

RESEARCH PROJECTS AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES FUNDED IN 2020 715 Research projectsTraining programmes Investigator Grant (IG) 518 My FirstAIRC Grant 89 Fellowships in Italy 66 International fellowships 5 Start-UpGrant 15 Special research programmes 22
RESEARCH PROJECTS AND TRAININGPROGRAMMES FUNDED IN 2020 715 Research projectsTraining programmes Special research programmes 22 International fellowships 5 Start-UpGrant 15 InvestigatorGrant (IG) 518 My FirstAIRC Grant 89 Fellowshipsin Italy 66

125 million euro to fight cancer

In 2020, AIRC and FIRC have funded 622 research projects and 71 fellowships, along with 22 special research programmes.

At the end of 2020, AIRC and FIRC approved a total expenditure of 125,544,415 Euros to support cancer research. Such a sum includes, among other things, 19,676,522 Euros for the ‘5 per mille’ programme dedicated to the study of metastases and 3,605,233 euros to support 13 Accelerator Awards.

OUR RESEARCHERS 61% WOMEN 51% UNDER 40
OUR RESEARCHERS 61% Women 51% Under 40
over 2,200 scientific articles by AIRC researchers
over 2,200 scientific articlesby AIRC researchers

What we fund

FELLOWSHIPS IN ITALY Awarded mainly to newly graduates, these training grants may help a young researcher to learn the basics of research and gain experience at a leading Italian laboratory. € 3,815,000 INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS Awarded to young researchers who have already gained experience in a laboratory, these grants allow for a further period of training in a foreign country whose facilities are considered at the forefront of oncological research. € 767,738 MY FIRST AIRC GRANT Awarded to researchers who have already gained cancer research experience in Italy or abroad, this type of funding provides researchers with the opportunity to run their own project in a state-of-the-art Italian facility, becoming progressively autonomous and independent. € 8,248,270 START–UP GRANT Awarded to excellent researchers who have already matured a significant scientific experience in a foreign laboratory, these grants will allow them to establish a new laboratory in Italy and manage their research activities in full autonomy. € 2,576,727
FELLOWSHIPS IN ITALY Awarded mainly to newly graduates, these training grants may help a young researcher to learn the basics of research and gain experience at a leading Italian laboratory. € 3,815,000 INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPSAwarded to young researchers who have already gained experience in a laboratory, these grants allow for a further period of training in a foreign country whose facilities are considered at the forefront of oncological research. € 767,738 MY FIRST AIRC GRANT Awarded to researchers who have already gained cancer research experience in Italy or abroad, this type of funding provides researchers with the opportunity to run their own project in a state-of-the-art Italian facility, becoming progressively autonomous and independent. € 8,248,270 START–UP GRANTAwarded to excellent researchers who have already matured a significant scientific experience in a foreign laboratory, these grants will allow them to establish a new laboratory in Italy and manage their research activities in full autonomy. € 2,576,727
INVESTIGATOR GRANT The Investigator Grants are aimed at established researchers and cover the cost of research and personnel in training that work on the project. € 69,560,424 ‘5 PER MILLE’ SPECIAL PROGRAMMES The Multi Unit programmes funded with pre-tax donations last up to seven years and put the very best of Italian oncology research at work, with the aim of identifying more effective therapies and new prevention and early diagnosis methods, and to better understand metastatic disease. € 19,676,522 ACCELERATOR AWARD Co-funded in partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the Fundación Científica – Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (FC – AECC), these grants are aimed at boosting translational research projects carried out at research centres in any of the three countries. € 3,605,233 ‘GUIDO VENOSTA’ AWARD It is awarded every two years to young researchers based in Italy who have particularly distinguished themselves for developing new therapeutic approaches to cancer. € 62,500
INVESTIGATOR GRANTThe Investigator Grants are aimed at established researchers and cover the cost of research and personnel in training that work on the project. € 69,560,424 PROGRAMMI 5 PER MILLE PER LO STUDIO DELLE METASTASIThe Multi Unit programmes funded with pre-tax donations last up to seven years and put the very best of Italian oncology research at work, with the aim of identifying more effective therapies and new prevention and early diagnosis methods, and to better understand metastatic disease. € 19,676,522 ACCELERATOR AWARDCo-funded in partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the Fundación Científica – Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (FC – AECC), these grants are aimed at boosting translational research projects carried out at research centres in any of the three countries. € 3,605,233 ‘GUIDO VENOSTA’ AWARDIt is awarded every two years to young researchers based in Italy who have particularly distinguished themselves for developing new therapeutic approaches to cancer. € 62,500
IFOM IFOM is a state-of-the-art research centre devoted to studying the formation and development of tumours at the molecular level, in the perspective of a rapid transfer of scientific results from the laboratory to patient care. € 17,232,000
IFOMIFOM is a state-of-the-art research centre devoted to studying the formation and development of tumours at the molecular level, in the perspective of a rapid transfer of scientific results from the laboratory to patient care. € 17.232.000

Dissemination and communication

Knowledge is a fundamental weapon to beat cancer, and AIRC knows it well. Over the years, we have been increasingly communicating the results achieved by research, as soon as laboratories made new data available.

AIRC's communication activities include the dissemination of scientific results and awareness-raising projects focused on prevention, as well as the promotion of fundraising campaigns and schools projects, both through our own channels and with the essential support of the media.

Central to this strategy is Fondamentale magazine, our voice in the homes of supporters and one of the most authoritative Italian publications in the field of oncology.

5,032,548 copies of Fondamentale magazine mailed out 425,000 copies of Fondamentale special edition distributed in the streets
copies of ‘Fondamentale’ special edition distributed in the streets copies of ‘Fondamentale’ magazine mailed out 5,032,548 425,000

Online
presence

For many years, AIRC and FIRC have been committed to strengthening the relationship with donors and engaging with a younger demographic through digital channels. New technologies allow us to target a wider audience and increase the effectiveness of our communication efforts.

14,185,416 unique visitors to the AIRC website *

* unique visitors represent the number of visitors counted once for the period 1 January to 31 December 2020. ** as of 31 December 2020. 531,070 Likes on Facebook ** 44,060 Twitter followers ** 336,722 Subscribers of our newsletter 103,570 Instagram followers **
531,070 Likes on Facebook** 44,060 Twitter followers** 336,722 Subscribers of our newsletter** 103,570 Instagram followers**

Media
communication

In addition to supporting the progress of oncological research by financing projects of excellence, AIRC is committed every day in disseminating scientific information through its channels and with the essential support of the media.

The media are a strategic ally in this dual mission, because they help keeping the audience up-to-date with the results of research and emphasize the importance of the contribution everyone can make to make cancer ever more treatable.

535 Paper media 45 TV channels +1,800 Websites 33 Radio stations 2,500 700 8,400 200 Press articles Quotations and interviews on TV Web pages Quotations and interviews on radio Over About Over Over The figures referring to the press and the web include quotations of AIRC, FIRC and IFOM on national newspapers, regional newspapers, magazines and websites collected by ‘Eco della Stampa’ The figures referring to radio and TV account for the total number of media passages including editorial quotations, dedicated airtime space with testimonials, scientific insights with researchers and their replicas collected by ‘Eco della Stampa’
535 PAPERMEDIA 45 TVCHANNELS ** +1,800 WEBSITES ** 33 RADIO STATIONS ** 2,500 PRESSARTICLES * 700 QUOTATIONS INTERVIEWS ON TV ** 8,400 WEBPAGES ** 200 QUOTATIONS INTERVIEWS ON RADIO ** * The figures referring to the press and the web include quotations of AIRC, FIRC and IFOM on national newspapers, regional newspapers, magazines and websites collected by ‘Eco della Stampa’** The figures referring to radio and TV account for the total number of media passages including editorial quotations, dedicated airtime space with testimo-nials, scientific insights with researchers and their replicas collected by ‘Eco della Stampa’

The future of research starts from the classroom

We need the help of everybody to make cancer more and more treatable, and schools are undoubtedly a privileged place in which to build this awareness.

AIRC and FIRC have long had an intense collaboration with schools, from preschool up to secondary schools, with the aim of bringing children closer to science and the world of cancer research, working together on topics such as solidarity and active citizenship. In order to further expand our audience, over the last few years we have increased our presence in major scientific dissemination festivals.

scuola.airc.it 14,000 SCHOOLS reached by our initiatives 16,164 VIEWERS on our YouTube channel 24 science festivals with an audience of 36.600 PEOPLE we participated in 17,540 PARTICIPANTS to live webinars 545 NEW SUBSCRIBERS of our newsletter targeted to schools 175 RESEARCHERS spoke to the students during the "Incontri con la ricerca" 912 SCHOOLS participated in "Cancro io ti boccio" 40,344 UNIQUE VISITORS to Isola dei fumosi website 37,500 STUDENTS involved in the project "Una costellazione luminosa. Le parole di AIRC per stare bene"
scuola.airc.it 14,000 SCHOOLS reached by our initiatives 16,164 VIEWERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL 40,344 unique visitorsto Isola dei fumosiwebsite 545 NEW SUBSCRIBERS of our newsletter targeted to schools 912 Schoolsparticipated in "Cancro io ti boccio" 37,500 Studentsinvolved in the project "Una costellazione luminosa. Le parole di AIRC per stare bene". 175 Researchers spoke to the students during the "Incontri con la ricerca" 24 SCIENCE FESTIVALSHosted our researchers and communicators, with an audience of 36,000 PEOPLE 17,540 PARTICIPANTS TO LIVE WEBINARS

AIRCampus: the university project
goes on

Knowledge, innovation, passion, a good cause, future: these are some of the values that guide the work of AIRC researchers, who are relentlessly at work in our country's laboratories. The same principles inspired AIRCampus, a project launched in 2016 to let AIRC meet up with Italian university students: together, for the future of research. The goal of AIRCampus (which in 2019/2020 was hosted by the "Federico II" University of Naples and by the Universities of Padua, Palermo, Pavia and Ferrara) is to introduce the students to the work of AIRC, its mission and its values, spreading awareness of the "cancer problem" while familiarising the students with the world of volunteering. Together with AIRC, the universities organised moments of in-depth classroom analysis on issues related to AIRC’s activity that pertain, at the same time, to the various courses of study. With the consent of professors, AIRC involved other professionals (including researchers, journalists, communication and non-profit experts) who met the students in class and discussed topics connected to their study plans, giving all students the opportunity to delve into subjects that kindle their interest.

6,680 STUDENTSengaged in classrooms over 116 potential newVOLUNTEERS over 1,000 STUDENTSinvolved in special events
6,680 students engaged in classrooms over 116 potential new volunteers over 1,000 students involved in special events