TargetCancer Foundation

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TargetCancer Foundation TargetCancer Foundation (TCF) works to advance the development of more effective & personalized treatments for people with rare cancers.

We envision a world in which everyone diagnosed with a rare cancer has effective treatment options & a chance to live. The history of TargetCancer Foundation

TCF was founded in 2009 by Paul Poth, a dedicated husband, new dad, and lawyer with a passion for public service. Paul was diagnosed at the age of 38 with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer that had no treatment or cure and very little research dedicated to it. For Paul, as for so many others fighting rare cancers, the diagnosis meant a best-guess treatment approach that relied on protocols developed for other cancers — all debilitating but none effective. Paul set out to speed research and innovation, determined to use whatever time he had to drive better outcomes for people with rare cancers like his. In his final months, while undergoing difficult treatments and parenting his son, Paul started TargetCancer Foundation and raised funds for our first research investment – $7,500 to the Center for Molecular Therapeutics at Massachusetts General Hospital. Paul died in August 2009, but the spark he lit has continued to grow. What began as an effort to fund basic research in rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma and esophageal cancer has evolved into an organization that tackles challenges shared across all rare cancers, offering new options and support for everyone living with a rare cancer. Progress towards more effective and personalized treatments for rare cancers thrives when we work together. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, family member, friend, advocate, or supporter, there are many ways to get involved with TargetCancer Foundation. If you would like to get involved, please contact us.

The 5th Annual Think Tank on Advancing Precision Medicine in Rare Cancers is 5 weeks away!We are honored to welcome Vive...
10/08/2026

The 5th Annual Think Tank on Advancing Precision Medicine in Rare Cancers is 5 weeks away!

We are honored to welcome Vivek Subbiah, MD of Stanford University School of Medicine to Boston on November 12. His presentation, "Agnostic by Design: Five Years That Redrew the Map of Rare Cancer Precision Oncology – and the Next Frontier," promises to deliver a compelling look at the rapid evolution and future of tissue-agnostic therapies.

‼️ Advanced registration for this event is full. Visit targetcancer.org/thinktank to add your name to the waitlist.

Grateful for moments like this! 💚Last month, we received a $15,000 grant from Golf Fights Cancer. This generous gift was...
10/06/2026

Grateful for moments like this! 💚

Last month, we received a $15,000 grant from Golf Fights Cancer. This generous gift was made possible by everyone who contributed to the 2026 Golf Marathon at Juniper Hill Golf Course, including our incredible team members, Ryan Marsh and Kevin Kershaw, who raised $11,000 on the course.

We are proud to be selected as one of 20 nonprofit partners receiving support this year and deeply grateful to everyone in the Golf Fights Cancer community who helps drive critical research forward. 🏌️‍♂️✨

This Friday, Oct. 2, TCF CEO Jim Palma will speak at the WIN Symposium 2026 in Providence, RI.Centered on the meeting's ...
09/30/2026

This Friday, Oct. 2, TCF CEO Jim Palma will speak at the WIN Symposium 2026 in Providence, RI.

Centered on the meeting's theme, "Precision Oncology: Innovation and Equity Across the Globe," Jim is eager to bring the rare cancer patient perspective to the interactive panel discussion, "Tumor-Agnostic Therapy and Basket Trials."

He will join distinguished leaders from across the global oncology community:
• Vivek Subbiah, MD, Stanford Cancer Institute
• Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, President, AACR
• Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCO, FAAAS, UT MD Anderson
• Robyn Ward, Monash University
• Sana Raoof, MD, PhD, Brown University

Visit the WIN Consortium website to learn more: https://bit.ly/WINSympo2026website

Today, TCF CEO Jim Palma and TCF President Kristen Palma joined rare cancer advocates in Washington, DC to elevate the n...
09/23/2026

Today, TCF CEO Jim Palma and TCF President Kristen Palma joined rare cancer advocates in Washington, DC to elevate the needs of the rare cancer community.

They spent the day meeting with representatives of both the House and Senate to reiterate the need for continued and increased research funding for rare cancers.

Would you like to support our advocacy efforts from home? Visit the Action Center to get involved:

targetcancer.org/rarecancerday

Rare cancer researchers need our help. Lack of funding hinders researchers’ ability to create dedicated research program...
09/23/2026

Rare cancer researchers need our help.

Lack of funding hinders researchers’ ability to create dedicated research programs and develop the basic tools needed to make progress in rare cancers.

Since 2009, we have been working with partners across the rare cancer community to address these challenges.

Visit our Action Center to download these infographics and learn how you can help advocate for rare cancer research funding.

targetcancer.org/rarecancerday

Rare cancer patients, caregivers, and families face unique challenges. Swipe to learn more, and visit our Action Cente...
09/23/2026

Rare cancer patients, caregivers, and families face unique challenges.

Swipe to learn more, and visit our Action Center to learn how amplifying your story can help shape the future of rare cancer care.

targetcancer.org/rarecancerday

Today is .Rare Cancer Day is an international day of awareness co-created by the NORD Rare Cancer Coalition®, TCF CEO J...
09/23/2026

Today is .

Rare Cancer Day is an international day of awareness co-created by the NORD Rare Cancer Coalition®, TCF CEO Jim Palma, and TCF Board member John Hopper.

Held annually in September, Rare Cancer Day shines a light on the rare cancer community and the unique challenges faced by rare cancer patients, caregivers, families, and researchers.

Visit our Rare Cancer Day Action Center to explore how to get involved today and throughout the year:

targetcancer.org/rarecancerday

Have you submitted your application yet?Don't miss your chance to run the 2027 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of Am...
09/22/2026

Have you submitted your application yet?

Don't miss your chance to run the 2027 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America - Apply today at targetcancer.org/marathon 💙🦄💛

We're excited to share that TCF CEO Jim Palma will be speaking at the 16th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnos...
09/18/2026

We're excited to share that TCF CEO Jim Palma will be speaking at the 16th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit in Boston on Thursday, October 8th.

Jim will present "On the Right TRACK: Building a Patient Driven, Decentralized Precision Medicine Trial in Rare Cancers". His talk will explore the unique needs of the rare cancer community that led to the development of our clinical trial, TCF-001 TRACK, and the key benefits and challenges of decentralized clinical trial models. In addition, Jim will present an overview of the critical data generated by TRACK and how that data can contribute to research for the over 70+ rare cancers represented in TRACK.

Are you attending the summit? We'd love to connect either on-site or at our Cambridge, MA offices. Email [email protected] to schedule a meeting with our team.

Join Team TCF 2027!If you're ready to run a marathon, raise awareness, and make a real difference for patients and famil...
09/17/2026

Join Team TCF 2027!

If you're ready to run a marathon, raise awareness, and make a real difference for patients and families facing a rare cancer diagnosis, we want you on our team for the 2027 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so don't wait - apply today! targetcancer.org/marathon

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955 Massachusetts Avenue, #343
Cambridge, MA
02139

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