01
Cancer
Cellular signaling, immune recognition, and microenvironmental factors, studied to understand how cancers begin, progress, and respond to therapy.
- Tumor immunology
- Cell-based therapeutics
- Early cellular signatures
Research
Advanced gene and cell therapy research across the systems that shape human health
MRK Foundation supports investigators studying the cell as the fundamental unit of biology, where disease begins and where the most durable answers are likely to be found.
The Cellular Lens
Understanding health at the level of the cell
Every major field of medicine, including oncology, immunology, cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, and the biology of aging, ultimately depends on what happens inside and between cells. Studying these systems carefully, in the clinic and in the laboratory, is where we believe the most meaningful progress will come from.
The areas of research we support are chosen because the underlying biology matters, and because rigorous work in these fields has the potential to change how future generations understand and manage disease.
Areas of Research
Nine connected fields
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Autoimmunity
How immune tolerance is built, maintained, and lost, and which cellular mechanisms can help restore balance.
- Regulatory T-cell biology
- Immune tolerance
- Regenerative approaches
03
Cardiac Health
The heart as a cellular system, studied through cardiomyocyte biology, vascular signaling, and the repair mechanisms that follow injury.
- Cardiomyocyte biology
- Vascular signaling
- Cardiac repair
04
Brain Health
Neuronal and glial biology, neuroinflammation, and the cellular processes that underlie cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease.
- Neuroinflammation
- Glial biology
- Neurodegeneration
05
Nerve and Neuromuscular
Peripheral nerve integrity, myelin biology, and the neuromuscular junction, examined where signaling between nerve and muscle is lost or restored.
- Peripheral nerve repair
- Myelin biology
- Neuromuscular junction
06
Gut Health
The microbiome, mucosal immunity, and the intestinal barrier, examined as regulators of both digestive and systemic health.
- Microbiome ecology
- Mucosal immunity
- Barrier function
07
Longevity
Cellular aging, senescence, and metabolic resilience, and the systems that sustain long-term human health.
- Cellular senescence
- Metabolic resilience
- Computational discovery
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Cellular Regeneration
Stem cell biology, tissue repair, and regenerative strategies that work with the body's own repair systems.
- Stem-cell biology
- Tissue repair
- Regenerative science
09
AI Based Research
Computational modeling and AI-guided analysis, used to interpret complex cellular data and inform the design of advanced therapies.
- Computational biology
- AI-guided discovery
- Predictive modeling
How We Collaborate
Working with the scientific community
We collaborate with investigators, laboratories, and institutions whose work aligns with our focus on advanced gene and cell therapy. Researchers interested in a possible collaboration are welcome to write to us; we read every inquiry and respond thoughtfully.