Over an eight-year study period, the United States spent the most, but European countries also allocated billions of euros.

The European Union accounts for one-sixth of global public and philanthropic cancer research funding, according to a new analysis published in *The Lancet Oncology*.

It covers nearly 108,000 cancer research grants awarded worldwide between 2016 and 2023, totaling \$51.4 billion (€44 billion), Euronews reports. The study examined public and philanthropic spending but did not include private-sector data.

Fifty-seven percent of this spending (€25.2 billion) came from the United States, while the EU and its member states contributed 16.8% (€7.4 billion), and the United Kingdom provided 11.1% (€4.9 billion) of global cancer research funding.

Other major funders include Japan (3.6%, or €1.6 billion), Australia (2.9%, or €1.3 billion), and both Canada and China (2.6% each, or €1.3 billion). Globally, investments declined year by year, except in 2021, when a sharp increase was observed. Since then, the level has dropped—except in the EU, where funding has continued to grow, the study noted.

Germany, which spent €610 million during the study period, was largely credited for driving the EU’s increase in investment since 2021.

Overall, the vast majority of global scientific research funding came from wealthy nations, which invested most of their resources domestically. Low-income countries accounted for only €48.4 million over the eight-year period.