With more than 150,000 new colorectal cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States, metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains an area of significant unmet medical need.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), in collaboration with Pfizer and with participation from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), announced the recipients of its metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) Quality Improvement (QI) Grant Program. The initiative supports innovative projects designed to improve biomarker testing and frontline treatment selection for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
The following organizations have been selected to receive grant funding, with awards ranging from $185,000 to $250,000:
MAWD Pathology Group
Northwell Health / Feinstein Institutes
PanOncology Research Foundation / Pan American Center for Oncology Trials (Puerto Rico)
TriHealth Cancer Institute
Tufts Medical Center
University of Chicago Medicine
The grants are part of a multi-year initiative launched through a Request for Proposals (RFP) announced by ASCP in January 2026. The program is focused on addressing persistent gaps in molecular testing, communication, care coordination, and biomarker-driven treatment decision-making for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Funded projects encompass a range of innovative topics, including molecular testing pathways, biomarker testing optimization, system-wide precision oncology implementation and equity initiatives, and building scalable advances for diagnostic excellence and therapeutic precision for patients with metastatic colorectal cancers.
"These grant recipients represent a diverse group of healthcare organizations committed to advancing precision medicine and improving outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer," said Ali Brown, MD, Interim CEO of ASCP. "Through these projects, participants will help strengthen biomarker testing pathways, improve communication across multidisciplinary care teams, and develop scalable solutions that ensure patients receive timely, guideline-concordant care. We are excited to support initiatives that have the potential to create lasting improvements to patient care not only within these institutions, but across the broader oncology community."
