About Canary Foundation
The world's first non-profit organization dedicated solely to the funding, discovery, and development of tests for early cancer detection.
Our Mission
To support research aimed at creating reliable and affordable early detection tests for cancer.
Founded in 2004 by Don Listwin after he lost his mother to misdiagnosed ovarian cancer, he envisioned a world of simple and safe tests that could identify and isolate cancer at its earliest, most curable stage.
Read the Founder & Oral History pageOur Impact
- Over $75 million raised for early detection research
- World's first non-profit dedicated solely to early cancer detection
- Results-only business approach with global collaborations
- Cross-disciplinary partnerships with renowned institutions
Why Canary, Why Now
No one gets time back. And for those with cancer and their families, that can be devastating. The Canary Foundation has started to do something about that.
Since its founding in 2004, the Canary Foundation has raised more than $75 million to support early detection research. And we've moved faster than science typically moves, from theory to tractable problem to clinical use in many areas, thanks to Canary's collaborative approach.
"The National Cancer Institute estimates that one in two men will get cancer in their lifetime, and one in three women. We aren't waiting any longer, the time for action is now."
Key Partnerships
Canary Center at Stanford
Leading cancer early detection research
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Center of Excellence for early detection
Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
International collaboration partner
Cambridge University
Global research collaboration
Our Cancer Calling—Biomarkers and Imaging
Early detection saves lives. There's no debate. So what if someday soon, cancer screening was as simple as a urine or blood test or an inexpensive imaging test at your annual doctor's appointment?
Signs of cancer could be exposed before they technically became cancer. And treatment would be so minor, you might even forget you ever had it. That's the world we envision. We want early cancer detection tests to be commonplace—and always the first line of defense for cancer.
Two-Prong Diagnostic Strategy
Blood-based Biomarkers
Discovering biological 'fingerprints' that show the presence or progress of disease. These identify individuals who are likely to have cancer.
Molecular Imaging
Advanced imaging technologies paired with biomarkers to pinpoint and verify specific cancer types with unprecedented accuracy.
Clinical Programs
Our clinical programs today cover tumors across five cancer types:
Innovation Highlights
Magneto-Nano Sensor
Device developed to investigate blood biomarkers for prostate cancer.
Microbubble Project
Research into microbubble contrast enhancement for ultrasound imaging.
"We are very grateful to the Canary Foundation for this gift establishing the Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection. It will enable researchers to focus on early discovery, saving lives and benefiting many in the greater community."
People behind Canary
Meet the people guiding the foundation and supporting its mission.