Cancer Research Malaysia was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in June 2000 with the support and donation from these key individuals and organizations: Tan Sri Azizan and Tan Sri Hassan Merican (PETRONAS), Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay and Mrs. Leong Lim Siew Lian (Genting) and Lembaga Totalisator Malaysia. The Cancer Research Malaysia laboratory was established in Sime Darby Medical Centre (then known as Subang Jaya Medical Centre) in Jan 2001. With just a temporary laboratory of 700 sq ft and only 6 scientists, the first months were focused on establishing collaborations to begin Malaysian cancer research.

In August 2002, Cancer Research Malaysia moved into a custom-made facility provided rent-free by Sime Darby Medical Centre and Cancer Research Malaysia was officially launched by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in October 2002. Today, we are a 40-strong team of researchers. At the core is a series of programmes based upon areas of strategic importance to Malaysian cancer research: focusing on cancers which are more common in Asians and understudied (such as oral and nasopharyngeal cancer), focusing on finding ways to reduce the burden of common cancers such as breast cancer, focusing on genetic and environmental risk factors in Asians, and focusing on Malaysia’s rich biodiversity in search for a cure for cancer.