Medicines and fundamental biology dominate cancer research in high-income countries

Cancer research spans all disciplines of science, from the social and humanistic to fundamental biomedicine. Cancer research in wealthy countries dominates disease-specific biomedical research. However, most research funding is skewed towards fundamental biology and treatment, particularly cancer medicines. While this has delivered an impressive amount of knowledge as well as new medicines and biomarkers, many parts of the world and areas of cancer research have been left behind. For example, prevention research attracts less than 5% of funding. Global cancer is challenged by a wide variety of issues, including sustainability, disincentives for research for the public good rather than for commercial benefit, and mismatch between funding and research need.