About Us | Hopper Belmont Foundation

Our Vision and Mission

Vision
To accelerate the discovery of life-changing therapies for the world’s most challenging diseases by empowering and investing in the next generation of scientific leaders.

Mission
We identify, support, and champion early-career cancer researchers — MDs and PhDs — whose innovative ideas are often too early-stage to attract traditional funding.

Through seed grants and our signature Inspiration Award, we provide critical proof-of-concept support that helps transformative research take root and grow.

Our Story

Founded in 2020, the Hopper-Belmont Foundation (HBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspired by personal journeys of resilience, service, and a shared commitment to advancing health and science. As we enter our seventh year, our mission remains rooted in honoring the legacy of family members who have dedicated their lives to medicine, wellness, and caregiving—or who have faced serious illnesses, especially cancer.

At the heart of our work is the Inspiration Award, which provides competitive, peer-reviewed funding to promising young investigators. These awards are designed to help early-stage, high-potential projects cross the critical “valley of death” in biomedical innovation—moving from concept to validation, and ultimately toward larger-scale support.

Born from the union of two families—the Hoppers and

the Belmonts—the Foundation draws on a legacy

of leadership in health, nutrition, education, and

public service.

Dr. Paul F. Hopper, a global health innovator once invited by President Jimmy Carter to lead the FDA, chose instead to champion groundbreaking initiatives in nutrition and public health, including the World Food Prize.
Gloria Belmont Hopper, the daughter of immigrants and the 10th of 12 children, came from humble beginnings that reflect the strength of the American Dream—her story, along with her siblings, was grounded in hard work, education, and integrity.

Together, these family values and vision fuel HBF’s belief that anyone, from any background, can spark scientific breakthroughs that change lives.

Who We Are

The Foundation is guided by a distinguished Board of Directors, a renowned
Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, and a deeply committed Patient Advocacy
Board. Together, they shape our strategic focus and ensure that every dollar supports
innovative research with the potential for real-world impact.

Our leadership includes MDs and PhDs from prestigious institutions, including
Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber, UPMC, Columbia, Mount
Sinai, Fred Hutch/University of Washington, and UMass Medical, as well as nationally
respected patient advocates and nonprofit leaders who advise programs such as the
NIH/NCI, Department of Defense CDMRP, FDA Oncology Center of Excellence,
National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) and more.

Why It Matters

Early-career researchers often struggle to secure the funding they need to test bold,high-risk ideas. By stepping in at this critical juncture, HBF helps ensure that innovative,potentially life-saving discoveries aren't lost to lack of resources.In just six years, we’ve seen awardees go on to secure major grants, publish in high-impact journals, and lead cutting-edge labs—all driven by the initial belief and backingof the Hopper-Belmont Foundation.

Join Us!

Whether you are a donor, scientist, patient advocate, or someone who has been touched by cancer or a rare disease, you can help shape the future of medicine. Join us in advancing scientific innovation through our annual seed funding programs.

Together, we can inspire discovery, foster hope, and improve lives —one breakthrough at a time.

Board of Directors

John Hopper

CHAIRMAN