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Fundraising Campaign · 2026

Funding the science
that changes
what cancer means.

I'm Natalie, a cancer researcher heading to Oxford to study oncology. Getting there takes more than acceptance. Help me fund the journey.

Support my research

Fundraising goals

~$200,000
Full 3-year journey

Moving Fund flights, shipping, setup

$0 / $5,000
0% fundedOne-time, urgent

Year 1 at Oxford tuition and research

$0 / $65,000
0% funded£34,700 tuition + conferences

Years 2 and 3 will each require approximately $65,000 for tuition and research. Future campaigns will follow once Year 1 is funded. Any surplus from this campaign goes directly toward Year 2.

Every $178 funds one full day of Oxford cancer research, including tuition and lab time.

Natalie Sorensen
My story

Curiosity first. Then cancer made it personal.

The first night our mother told us she had cancer, everything familiar suddenly felt fragile. I didn’t understand the disease, but I understood that everything was about to change.

I have always been drawn to science and the human body—dissecting bugs as a child and watching surgeries on TV, but her diagnosis transformed that curiosity into purpose. I began researching her cancer, determined to push back against the uncertainty that surrounded us.

Since then, I’ve pursued that purpose through my studies in biology and biomedical science at CPP and SFSU, while conducting research at UCSF. I’ve also taught over 100 students and founded an anatomy club, driven by the belief that science should reach the people it serves.

I aspire to become a surgeon-scientist using research to find answers and medicine to offer hope where it’s needed most.

Read my full story
Teaching and mentorship

Science is only powerful if it's passed on.

Teaching 100+ students across three subjects

From the scientific method and intro biology to human anatomy with cadaver labs at SFSU. I also privately tutored biology and chemistry. I teach because I know what it feels like to navigate science without a guide.

Founder and President, SOMA Club

Founded the Systems-Oriented Medical Anatomy Club at SFSU to connect anatomy to its clinical meaning through workshops on real surgical and diagnostic applications.

STEM outreach and peer mentorship

I've dedicated myself to peer mentoring underrepresented students in STEM through academic guidance and resource distribution. As a part of outreach roles I have coordinated events for over 600 students and collected student feedback to guide programming strategies.

Why Oxford oncology

The opportunity of a lifetime,
backed by the numbers.

Oxford's oncology PhD program is one of the most competitive cancer research environments in the world. Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent and fastest-rising cancers globally, and Oxford is at the forefront of understanding it at the molecular level.

1.9M
New colorectal cancer cases yearly
The 3rd most common cancer globally, with rising rates in adults under 50.
900K
Deaths annually worldwide
The 2nd leading cause of cancer death globally. Outcomes depend heavily on stage at diagnosis.
Top 3
Oxford ranked globally for cancer research
Consistently ranked among the world's top institutions for oncology research output and clinical translation.
3 yrs
Intensive doctoral training
A focused PhD program built around independent research, international collaboration, and direct patient impact.

The cost of research

Fund a day of science

$178 / day

This estimate reflects the daily cost of conducting PhD-level cancer research, including tuition, training, and the time required to perform experiments, analyze data, and refine ideas.

Yearly tuition at Oxford for international students

£34,700

Pursuing a PhD in cancer research is a full-time commitment, often requiring 5–7 days a week in the lab with little flexibility for outside work. Your support would directly allow me to focus on advancing cancer research.

Fund access to science

~$1,500 / trip

Scientific conferences are where findings get shared, challenged, and built upon. Each trip runs about $1,500. Without funding, researchers simply don't go.

Keep a scientist in the field

Any amount

Getting to Oxford costs $5,000 in moving expenses alone. That's before a single experiment. Your contribution closes the gap between acceptance and arrival.

The full picture

What training a cancer researcher actually costs.

Three years at Oxford, including tuition, research costs, and getting there, represents a real financial gap that institutional support alone won't close.

Moving to Oxford$5,000
Year 1: tuition, living, research$65,000
Year 2: ongoing$65,000
Year 3: final year$65,000
Total cost of the PhD~$200,000

This campaign funds the Moving Fund ($5,000) and Year 1 ($65,000). Years 2 and 3 will have their own campaigns. Any surplus rolls into Year 2.

Join the effort

Be part of what Oxford makes possible.

Every dollar is a day of research. Every day of research is a step toward better outcomes for cancer patients.

Donate nowRead my story