What is F3+R?
F3+R stands for faith, family, fellowship + research. We are a 501c3 organization based in Carmel, Indiana focused on raising funds for cancer research.
Where do donations to F3+R go?
All funds raised are donated to the IU Foundation and deposited to the Timothy A. Johnston Fund for Precision Medicine Research. This fund is managed by the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is part of the IU School of Medicine.
We are proud that F3+R has extremely limited overhead expenses, allowing the money we raise to go to our mission: saving the lives of cancer patients through research.
What is the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center?
It is the hub for all cancer research and education at Indiana University. It is home to more than 300 cancer researchers. Some are laboratory scientists conducting research experiments and some are physician scientists leading clinical trials. Some are “translational researchers” meaning that they both lead a laboratory AND see patients, translating what they learn in the lab to patients in the clinic and the problems they identify in the clinic to their work in the lab.
The physicians who are members of the cancer center provide patient care through IU Health (University, Methodist, IU North and IU West Hospitals) and Riley Hospital for Children.
Why do we support IU cancer research?
The cancer center is nationally recognized for its research and cancer prevention efforts and has been awarded the same federal designation as other prestigious centers across the country, including MD Anderson and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
When we invest in research at IU, the funds stay local and ensure that premier researchers stay in Indiana, taking care of us and those we love.
What impact has F3+R made so far?
In its first 8 years of fundraising, F3+R donated $1 million to IU. Our funds have been invested in research that will expand the availability of “precision medicine” to more patients. Much of our funding has been invested in scientists who work in Dr. Bryan Schneider’s laboratory. For example, we have helped fund a “data abstractor” position. This scientist will mine huge numbers of patient records for data that AI will interpret, allowing researchers to see patterns key to improving understanding of what is working in terms of treatments – and what is not.
Starting in 2026, we have a new goal to raise another $1 million in 5 years.
What is Precision Medicine?
Precision Medicine means that treatment is chosen for an individual patient based on the way their tumor is wired at that moment in time. Research to support precision medicine is focused on identifying more ways to treat cancer based on what is driving an individual patient’s specific tumor to grow and spread. Tim Johnston’s stage 4 lung cancer has been in remission for 8 years thanks to “precision” therapies, which are available for various types of cancer, including lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, colon and more.
