Institutional activity

Supporting
research

By investing effectively every single Euro donated to AIRC, 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 816 Research projects Training programmes Investigator Grant (IG) 561 My First AIRC Grant 120 Fellowships in Italy 83 International fellowships 7 Bridge grant 5 Start-Up Grant 18 Special research programmes 21 Gianni Bonadonna Fellowships 1
Investigator Grant (IG) 561 Fellowships in Italy 83 My First AIRC Grant 120 Start-Up Grant 18 Special research programmes 21 International fellowships 7 Bridge Grant 5 Gianni Bonadonna Fellowships 1 Training programmes Research projects RESEARCH PROJECTS AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES 816

137 million euro to fight cancer

In 2022, AIRC has funded 704 research projects and 91 fellowships, along with 21 special research programmes.

At the end of 2022, AIRC approved a total expenditure of 137,392,353.92 Euros to support cancer research. Such a sum includes, among other things, 20,857,300.00 Euros for the ‘5 per mille’ programme dedicated to the study of metastases and 3,415,754.04 euros to support 13 Accelerator Awards.

OUR RESEARCHERS 64% WOMEN 54% UNDER 40

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over 2,000 scientific articles by AIRC researchers
over 2,000 scientific articlesby AIRC researchers
scientists involved in the peer reviewing process 428
428 scientists involved in the peer reviewing process

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. € 5,707,500 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. € 760,869 GIANNI BONADONNA FEL LOWSHIPS These fellowships, co-funded by AIRC and Fondazione Gianni Bonadonna, support the education of a new generation of physician-scientists. € 255,813 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. € 10,948,121 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 . € 2,923,406
5,707,500 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. 760,869 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. 10,948,121 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. 2,923,406 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. 255,813 GIANNI BONADONNA FELLOWSHIPS These fellowships, co-funded by AIRC and Fondazione Gianni Bonadonna, support the education of a new generation of physician-scientists.
BRIDGE GRANT Awarded to the most deserving researchers who are about to conclude a MFAG or a Start-Up Grant, Bridge Grants enable them to carry on their studies for one year, so that they can be more prepared to apply for a grant aimed to established researchers. € 499,804 INVESTIGATOR GRANT (IG) The Investigator Grants are aimed at established researchers and cover the cost of research and personnel in training that work on the project. € 70,870,855 ‘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. € 20,857,300 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. € 3,415,754 BEPPE DELLA PORTA AWARD AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS It is awarded every two years to young researchers based in Italy who have particularly distinguished themselves for developing new therapeutic approaches to cancer. € 78,998
70,870,855 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. 20,857,300 ‘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 3,415,754 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. 78,998 BEPPE DELLA PORTA AWARD AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS It is awarded every two years to young researchers based in Italy who have particularly distinguished themselves for developing new therapeutic BRIDGE GRANT Awarded to the most deserving researchers who are about to conclude a MFAG or a Start-Up Grant, Bridge Grants enable them to carry on their studies for one year, so that they can be more prepared to apply for a grant aimed to established researchers. 499,804
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. € 21,073,930
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. € 21,073,930

Fund Assignment Speed in 2022

The following table shows the average time intervening between the allocation of funds and their actual disbursement.

1 to 6 months 7 to 12 months 12+ months Reserves 60% 8% 22% 10% Fund Assignment Speed

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.

5,038,249 copies of Fondamentale magazine mailed out 1,001,000 copies of Fondamentale special edition distributed in the streets
copies of ‘Fondamentale’ special edition distributed in the streets copies of ‘Fondamentale’ magazine mailed out 5,038,249 1,001,000

Online
presence

For many years, AIRC has 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.

10,000,200 unique visitors to the AIRC website *

unique visitors represent the number of visitors counted once for the period 1 January to 31 December 2022. ** as of 31 December 2022. 546,319 Likes on Facebook ** 46,920 Twitter followers ** 417,819 Subscribers of our newsletter 150,070 Instagram followers **
546,319 Likes on Facebook** 46,920 Twitter followers** 417,819 Subscribers of our newsletter** 150,070 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.

290 Paper media 51 TV channels ** 1,633 Websites ** 35 Radio stations ** 2,273 708 6,985 282 Press articles * Quotations and interviews on TV ** Web pages Quotations and interviews on radio ** * The figures referring to the press and the web include quotations of AIRC and IFOM on national newspapers, regional newspapers, magazines and websites collected by ‘Mimesi’ ** 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 ‘Mimesi’
290 PAPERMEDIA 51 TVCHANNELS ** 1,633 WEBSITES ** 35 RADIO STATIONS ** 2,273 PRESSARTICLES * 708 QUOTATIONS INTERVIEWS ON TV ** 6,985 WEBPAGES ** 282 QUOTATIONS INTERVIEWS ON RADIO ** * The figures referring to the press and the web include quotations of AIRC and IFOM on national newspapers, regional newspapers, magazines and websites collected by ‘Mimesi’** 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 ‘Mimesi’

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 has 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 15,500 SCHOOLSreached by our initiatives 6,016 14,628 PARTICIPANTSto live webinars 1,138 NEW SUBSCRIBERSof our newsletter targeted to schools RESEARCHERSspoke to the students during the "Incontri con la ricerca" 211 SCHOOLSparticipated in "Cancro io ti boccio" 744 UNIQUE VISITORSto Isola dei fumosi website 21,000 STUDENTSinvolved in the project "Una costellazione luminosa. Le parole di AIRC per stare bene". 37,500 100,000PEOPLE online 22,000PEOPLE in person reaching Wetook part in 30FESTIVAL
scuola.airc.it 15,500 SCHOOLS reached by our initiatives 6,016 VIEWERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL 21,000 unique visitorsto Isola dei fumosiwebsite 1,138 NEW SUBSCRIBERS of our newsletter targeted to schools 744 Schoolsparticipated in "Cancro io ti boccio" 37,500 Studentsinvolved in the project "Una costellazione luminosa. Le parole di AIRC per stare bene". 211 Researchers spoke to the students during the "Incontri con la ricerca" We took part in 30 FESTIVALS reaching 22,000 PEOPLE in person and 100,000 PEOPLE online 14,628 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 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.
For the academic year 2021/2022, AIRCampus was hosted by the universities of Padua, Pavia, Ferrara, Messina, Federico II in Naples, Cagliari, Uninsubria and Unical; AIRCampus also carried out special projects reserved for students of G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara.
In the academic year 2021/2022 the students of the universities involved in the project were administered an assessment questionnaire of the activities that were carried out during the year.
We received 1,265 complete questionnaires and over 90% of the interviewees stated that the proposed contents were clear, interesting and useful for their education.

6 WORKSHOPS 2 EVENTS 81 LESSONS 6,980 STUDENTS engaged in classrooms
6,980 STUDENTS engaged in classrooms 81 LESSONS 6 WORKSHOPS 2 EVENTS