A new report commissioned by the Pennsylvania Cancer Alliance reveals that the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Program has generated $2.4 billion in economic activity since 2001, solidifying Pennsylvania’s position as a global hub for life sciences and biomedical innovation.

The report highlights CURE’s strong return on investment, delivering $2.03 back to the state’s economy for every $1 awarded.

In total, the program has supported over 10,000 jobs and generated nearly $90 million in state and local tax revenue.

Created through Act 77 of 2001 and funded by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, CURE has provided vital support to more than 60 institutions statewide.

These funds have helped launch innovative research into cancer, opioid addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, and more.

“CURE funding enables us to take the earliest sparks of discovery and turn them into real scientific breakthroughs,” said Dr. Robert H. Vonderheide, Director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. “Many transformative therapies that began in Pennsylvania would not exist without it.”

Penn State’s Dr. Leslie Parent added that CURE helps fund early-stage ideas not yet eligible for federal grants, ultimately translating into life-saving clinical applications.

The Pennsylvania Cancer Alliance’s nine member institutions alone have driven $2 billion of the program’s economic impact, accounting for over 83% of the total.

The report underscores how CURE funding has helped Pennsylvania secure over $2.2 billion in NIH support and $1 billion in venture capital for biotech and life sciences.

Nichole Parker of the Parker Strategy Group called CURE “a powerful catalyst for economic growth and scientific advancement.”

The full report is available here.