News
SU2C and SandboxAQ Partner to Bring AI Models to Cancer Research
- By John K. Waters
- 06/06/2025
Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) has announced a partnership with technology firm SandboxAQ aimed at accelerating the development of cancer treatments through advanced artificial intelligence tools.
The collaboration will apply SandboxAQ’s Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) to SU2C-funded research, with the goal of improving early detection, predicting disease progression, and tailoring treatment plans. SU2C said it expects the partnership to enhance its focus on cancers that are difficult to diagnose or treat.
“This is a pivotal moment in cancer research,” said Julian Adams, Ph.D., president and CEO of SU2C, in a statement. “SandboxAQ brings cutting-edge technology that complements our scientific network. Together, we can turn breakthroughs in the lab into more lives saved.”
LQMs are computational models designed to simulate and analyze complex biological systems. SandboxAQ’s platform combines AI and quantum-inspired methods to support research in fields such as life sciences and healthcare. The company spun out of Alphabet Inc. and is backed by investors including T. Rowe Price, Breyer Capital, and Marc Benioff.
Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, said the goal is to “accelerate the translation of oncology research into patient impact” by modeling how cancers evolve and respond to treatments. “This collaboration brings us closer to a future where more cancers are cured,” he said.
SU2C, which funds multi-institutional teams of scientists, has backed more than 3,100 researchers across over 210 institutions since its founding in 2008. The organization has committed to reducing cancer mortality by 25% in the next five years and by 50% within a decade. It aims to do this by promoting early detection and making it a standard part of care.
Additional details, including specific research teams involved in the collaboration, will be announced as fundraising milestones are met and new grants are issued, SU2C said.
More information about SU2C’s work is available at StandUpToCancer.org.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].