The Foundation's center piece activity is an annual scientific forum held at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The Scientific Advisory Board reviews advanced research areas for those with the greatest prospect for significant progress, and selects the subject which will be the topic of the forum.

Twelve to fifteen leading scientists from around the world, from a variety of disciplines associated with the specific topic, are invited to participate in the Forum. They meet in a private "think tank" environment, where they can freely exchange ideas in the hope of building on each other's ideas, knowledge, and experience. New approaches are suggested and examined, and the most promising are actively pursued.

The objective is not to discuss published research, but rather to provide a forum for the cross fertilization of ideas, concepts, and observations in the hope of shortening the cancer research timetable.