Ludwig Cancer Research

What it reported doing in 2024

Line 4a - laboratory and clinical research leading to clinical applications the ludwig institute for cancer research ltd was founded in 1971 as an international not-for-profit research institute dedicated to improving the understanding, prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. The ludwig institute takes responsibility for the discovery continuum from conduct of innovative laboratory and clinical research and extending to exploring the clinical potential of new discoveries in clinical studies, to facilitate the translation of promising discoveries related to cancer into applications for human benefit. Making meaningful advances that will ultimately transform care for cancer patients is central to the ludwig institute's mission. The ludwig institute engages leading cancer scientists and clinicians in an integrated laboratory and clinical research effort to confront the global challenge of cancer. All laboratory and clinical research financed by the ludwig institute is carried out by its in-house research staff or through research collaborations involving institute staff and external investigators. Clinical studies are implemented through locally sponsored, investigator-initiated clinical trials managed through its branch's hospital affiliations or through non-profit clinical trial networks. The ludwig institute has a staff of around 485 full time equivalents scientists, clinicians and support personnel as of december 31, 2024, located in four countries and focused on multiple aspects of cancer research. More than 99% of the total cost of the ludwig institute is funded by own resources. In addition to self-generated income from intellectual property, a significant amount is received from the licr fund, inc., a Delaware supporting organization dedicated to maintaining an investment portfolio for this purpose. This funding setup gives ludwig institute investigators the freedom to tackle innovative long-term research and encourages and enables multidisciplinary teams of investigators to address significant and relatively complex challenges posed by cancer. The research activities of the ludwig institute, together with those of the ludwig centers established at six u.s. Academic institutions with funding from a trust under the will of daniel k. Ludwig are designated collectively as "ludwig cancer research," an international community of distinguished scientists dedicated to studying cancer and advancing its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The development, protection and licensing of intellectual property generated by research and technology development is fundamental to the ludwig institute's commitment to translate its discoveries for patient benefit. Income from these activities financed research expenditures amounting to usd 2.0 million in 2024. The ludwig institute also manages its ip and patents for public benefit. This means that the ip is made freely available to the academic research community. In 2024, ludwig institute investigators published 227 primary research articles and 52 reviews, book chapters and commentaries. Progress was made in the study of tumor biology, cancer genomics, cancer prevention, the tumor micro-environment and tumor immunology. In 2024, ten new u.s. Patents and three new european patents were issued. Nine new u.s. Applications and a further six new international patent applications were also filed.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.4%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 83.8%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 70%; rating input score 70; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -1.9%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.24; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.93; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.1%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.6% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.8% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -6% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings