Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center awarded $11.7 million for
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Impact SPRING 2011 dana-farber.org and jimmyfund.org THANKING THOSE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Kraft family dedicated to improving community healthcare I nstitute Trustee Robert Kraft and his wife, Myra, along with their children, Jonathan, Daniel, Josh, and David, recently made a bold commitment to improve access and quality of healthcare for the underserved, both in Massachusetts and across the nation, with a $20 million gift to Partners HealthCare System, Inc. Their gift established the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health, which will create an innovative fellowship program aimed at training a new generation of community health leaders and will serve as a model for healthcare A gift from Robert and Myra Kraft, along with their children, Jonathan, Daniel, Josh, and David, will providers across the country. increase access to lifesaving care and advance the fight against women's cancers. As part of this visionary gift, the Kraft family directed $5 million to support two important areas at Dana-Farber: community Dana-Farber, will work in conjunction with Institute President and CEO Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, on community cancer programs and women’s cancers research. oncology and health disparities outreach programs. “We are very fortunate to have the Dana-Farber Cancer Through this initiative, Dana-Farber will collaborate with Institute and the many other top-flight medical institutions its community healthcare center partners, particularly here in Massachusetts, but there are far too many people the Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury, Mass., to without access to the life-changing, lifesaving care of the develop pilot projects to improve access to care in medically world’s best medical professionals,” said Robert Kraft. underserved communities, with the ultimate goal of “Myra and I, as well as our entire family, hope that the eliminating racial and socio-economic disparities in cancer Kraft Family Center will establish a national model to motivate the most talented doctors and nurses to practice in care. One such program is a new initiative in which Danacommunity health settings where their expertise can have an Farber oncologists rotate through the Whittier Street Health Center to treat patients, facilitate referrals, and educate immeasurable impact.” primary care physicians. With support from the Krafts’ gift, Christopher Lathan, MD, MPH, faculty director for Cancer Care Equity at continued on page 12 Volume 14 • Issue 2 3 Cheers to the Campaign 6 Fundraising Frontrunners 8 Toast to Twenty Years 10 Fairway Faithful 14 Giving the Gift of Smiles Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center awarded $11.7 million for prostate cancer research D ana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) are the latest beneficiaries of a nationwide class-action suit against the makers of the cancer drug Lupron. Judge Richard G. Stearns of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts awarded $11.7 million to launch a collaborative grant program focused on prostate cancer research. In 2005, Judge Stearns approved the distribution of a $150 million settlement from this class-action suit involving the marketing of Lupron. As of 2010, some of the funds remained unclaimed. After reviewing numerous public proposals, Judge Stearns awarded the remaining $11.7 million to DF/HCC and PCF. The funds will be used to establish the A. David Mazzone Research Awards Program to fund prostate cancer research. “I thought it was the most fitting way to honor the memories of the class of patients who were affected by prostate cancer,” said Judge Stearns. “It is my hope that this money will go toward the kind of research that pushes the envelope, and that would otherwise go unattended or unfunded.” The collaborative program, which will be overseen by DF/HCC and PCF, is named for the Honorable Judge A. David Mazzone, a legendary federal judge who was a dedicated public servant, a mentor to countless young lawyers, and a staunch supporter of cancer research and survivorship programs. The A. David Mazzone Research Awards Program will be overseen by Philip Kantoff, MD, director of the DF/HCC prostate cancer program, Dana-Farber’s chief clinical research officer, and director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology. It will emphasize large-scale national research collaborations, smaller-scale innovative pilot projects, and research conducted by promising young investigators and scientists. The goal is to catalyze innovative and collaborative research that will translate to meaningful clinical advances. “It is our vision that this program will further our scientific and clinical understanding of prostate cancer, lead to better and new treatments, and provide critical funds to young investigators to help them develop into the next generation of leaders in prostate cancer research,” said Kantoff. Under Kantoff’s leadership, the program will primarily fund research into the causes of this widespread cancer and other diseases for which Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Prostate Cancer Foundation will collaborate to launch a new multimillion dollar grant award program overseen by Philip Kantoff, MD. continued on page 14 Dear Friends, As we all know so well, cancer is a disease that does not discriminate. From a next door neighbor or family member, to a co-worker or friend, cancer affects young and old, from all walks of life, across the globe. That is why, in this issue of Impact, we thank Institute Trustee Robert Kraft and his wife, Myra, along with their children, Jonathan, Daniel, Josh, and David, for their $5 million gift for community cancer programs and women’s cancers research at Dana-Farber. Their generosity will touch the lives of not only those in Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods, but also those the world over by highlighting the critical importance of expanding care to underserved populations and changing the outcome for women with cancer. The Kraft family’s leadership and commitment to changing the standard of healthcare for every person is an inspiration to all of us. We also gratefully acknowledge the decision of Judge Richard G. Stearns of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts to award $11.7 million to Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) to be administered at Dana-Farber in collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to launch a new grant award program. Under the direction of the Director of the DF/HCC Prostate Cancer Program Philip Kantoff, MD, this grant will fund both large-scale research collaborations and innovative pilot projects that will translate to meaningful clinical advances for prostate cancer patients everywhere. Also inspiring are the more than 550 runners who took on the DanaFarber Marathon Challenge, tackling the 26.2 historic and challenging miles of the 115th Boston Marathon® on April 18. This dedicated team anticipates raising $4.5 million in funds to benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, which supports our talented young investigators conducting groundbreaking studies in basic cancer science. In addition, we appreciate our dedicated Palm Beach community for the more than $2.3 million it raised to support cancer research and patient care through the 20th Anniversary Discovery Celebration held Feb. 19 at Mar-a-Lago Club. We are tremendously grateful to Co-chairs Phyllis and Paul Fireman along with the many event chairs, committee members, and attendees for producing a memorable celebration to honor 20 years of partnership in the fight against cancer. Finally, we acknowledge the more than one million individuals and organizations who contributed to Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer. The Campaign Celebration held on April 27 enabled us all to reflect on the progress of the past seven years, celebrate the momentous success of raising $1.18 billion, and look forward to even greater achievements because of the momentum built during this Campaign. Your continued generosity is the catalyst for advancing innovative cancer research and developing valuable patient care programs, ultimately revolutionizing how cancer is treated worldwide. Thank you for helping Dana-Farber make notable strides in its mission to conquer cancer. Sincerely, Susan S. Paresky Senior Vice President for Development Impact SPRING 2011 Volume 14 • Issue 2 Chair, Medical Oncology James Griffin, MD Chair, Radiation Oncology Jay R. Harris, MD This issue covers gifts received and finalized through the spring of 2011. Senior Vice President, Human Resources Deborah Hicks, MA President and Chief Excecutive Officer Edward J. Benz Jr., MD Chief Quality Officer Joseph Jacobson, MD Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Janet E. Porter, PhD Chief Clinical Research Officer Philip W. Kantoff, MD Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dorothy E. Puhy, MBA Chair, Executive Committee for Research David M. Livingston, MD Senior Vice President, Experimental Medicine Lee M. Nadler, MD Senior Vice President, Finance Karen S. Bird, MPH Chair, Pediatric Oncology Stuart H. Orkin, MD Chair, Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Susan D. Block, MD Senior Vice President, Development and the Jimmy Fund Susan S. Paresky, MBA Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Chief Governance Officer Richard S. Boskey, Esq. Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services; Chief Nurse Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN Senior Vice President, Research Beverly Ginsburg Cooper, MBA Chief Scientific Officer Barrett J. Rollins, MD, PhD Senior Vice President, Experimental Therapeutics George D. Demetri, MD Chief of Staff Stephen E. Sallan, MD 2 Impact SPRING 2011 Make your gift online at dana-farber.org/give Donors Celebrated for Collective Generosity to Campaign D onors ors gathered gaat gat ath the d aat the Yawkey aw Center en for C Cancer Care aree A April pr l 227 7 tto be recognized gn ze for th their exceptional ptioonal generosity os to Mi Mission Mis issi Possible: e: The Dana-Farber naa-F -Fa Far a C Campaign aig ig to Conquer qqu Cancer cer. Guests es moved d throughout ro ut the Y Yawkey wkeyy C Ce Center’s nte ter warm, m, patient-designed attiie esign n spaces ce enjoying njjoyy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, d’o o vre ffeaturing ng culinary inaar d delights ht fr from celebrity ellleb ebr chefs f Gordon on Hamersley and Lydia an ydi d Sh Shire, re while hil ““science nce as ar art art”” ggraced w walls an and table tops. Guests G sts ts gathered atthe d iin th the hee D Dining P Pavilion on for a sspeaking eakkin kingg p program, gram, m w where h re Jo Josh h Bekenstein B en nst and L Larry rry L Lucchino, uc h ucchin Institute nst Tr Trustees ru te tees and and M Mission on Po Possible blee C Campaign pa co-chairs, co -cch welcomed om d eeveryone ne with a celebratory toast. t Dana-Farber President and CE CEO Edward ard J. Benz nz Jr Jr., MD, introduced the eve evening’s nin featured speaker, Siddhartha Sid rth Mukherjee, kh MD, PhD, former DFCI fellow and 2011 Pulitzer Prizewinning ni g aauthor of The Emperor or of All Maladies: A Biography B g of Cancer. This special cia ial evening was an opportunity to thank nkk the tth dedicated and generous community off supporters s who enabled Dana-Farber to raise an incredible $1 $1.18 1. billion illion and who wh continue i ue to make ak ourr mission mi more or possible. ble Chief Medical Officer; Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs; Chief, General Oncology, Medical Production Coordinators Maria Cipicchio, Georgina Morales Hampe Oncology Lawrence Shulman, MD Photographers Lucien Capehart, Lisa Cohen, John Deputy, Driscoll Photography, Rebecca DuFault, Senior Vice President, Communications Steven R. Singer Steve Gilbert, Channing Johnson, Justin Knight, Aviran Levy, Steve McLaughlin, Jenny Nourse, Sam Chief Surgical Officer Scott J. Swanson, MD Chief of Radiology Annick D. Van den Abbeele, MD Ogden, Len Rubenstein, Richard Schultz, Aaron Washington Impact is a newsletter of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute published by the Division of Development and the Jimmy Fund. To be removed from our mailing list, please contact: Assistant Vice President, Development Marketing and Donor Relations Jan Lawlor Impact Editor Brigham Fay Contributors Amy Chambers, Brenda Chroniak, David Ferreira, Paul Goldsmith, Georgina Morales Hampe, Daniel Morris, Liz Nelson, Beth Rossi, Diane Schmidt, Jackie Shydlowski, Lindsay Wilber, DFCI Development Office 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor Brookline, MA 02445-7226 617-632-3019 or 800-52-JIMMY or visit jimmyfund.org/opt-out Monica Zurlinden Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provides expert, compassionate care to children and adults and is home Art Director Alan Caplan Designer Sharon Veino to groundbreaking cancer discoveries. Since its founding in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has raised millions of dollars through thousands of community efforts to advance Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission. Impact SPRING 2011 3 You, too, can be a part of the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care – Visit dana-farber.org/yccc Generosity on Display: Donor Ribbon-Cuttings at the Yawkey Center F ollowing the January dedication of the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care building, din donors continued to ga gatherr ttogether er with family, ly, friends, end and faculty ult for ceremonial ribbon-cuttings from March through early June. Plaques throughout the welcoming, g st state-of-the-art e-o e-a facility ciliity reflect the h extraordinary ryy commitment c men and generosity of these Dana-Farber supporters. A faculty t conference room was made possible through the generosity of Richard Sergel and Susan Baggett. An elevator lobby wa was named ed bby Ralph E. Bates, celebrating here with Debbie Pratt. DFCI Board of Trustees Chairman and Mission Possible Campaign CoChair Josh Bekenstein and his wife, Anita, celebrated the dedication of the Bekenstein Family Atrium Lobby with Dana-Farber President andd CCEO Edward J. Benz Jr., MD. Marjorie Blum and Trusteee Be BBettyy A Ann Blum cutt the ribbon on the he Blum Faculty acu Co Commons March 7. A giftt fro from om the Blum fam family also established the Eleanor leanorr aand Maxwellll BBlum Patient Family Resource our e CCenter. Institute Trustee Alice Cutler and her husband, Stephen named the Alice and Stephen D. Cutler Art Gallery. The Infantino family gathered ath around the Beam of Hope Bench, named in honor of Robert Infantino tino by the Clark Companies. Cutting the ribbon on the infusion suite named in honor of Daryl Elizabeth Layzer are (from left) Rich Sherwood, Emily Layzer Sherwood, Ned Sherwood, and Rosemary Kotkowski. 4 Impact SPRING 2011 A faculty conference roo room was made possible by Institute Trustee Michael Eisenson and his wife, Barbara. J ferr aand Jennifer nd JJames es Ro RRosenberg enbberg commemorated omm om ed the elevator ato made possiblee by the he W William RRosenberg nbeerg Family Foundation. Institute Tru Trustees uste tee Ba Barbara rba and nd James mes Sadowsky (center andd rig riright) cel celebratedd their ribbon-cutting bon cutt with i Stephen ephen Sa Sallan, allaan, MD MD, Dana-Farber a-Fa chieff of staff. Th The Barbara and James Sadowsky ky Brid BBridge ge co connects nect the YYawkey Cen Center with the Smith th Research Laboratories. es. DFCI Senior Vice Pres Presidentt fo for Development Susan Paresky, joined by her husband, Joseph, osep cut the rib ribbon ib on their named laboratory servicess su suite. te. The Richard K. and Nancy K. Lubin Lobby wa was made ppossible sible by the ggenerosity of Institute Trustee Richard Lubin in aand hiss wife w wife, Nancy. Ed Edward J. Benz enz Jr., MD, Dana-Farber arbe president id and CEO, and Billyy Sta Starr, founder andd ex executive director of the Pan-Massachusetts Massach Challenge eng (PMC) MC)) an and Institute Trustee, joined together to commemorate the PM PMC Plaza, za, ssymbolizing the 31 31-year 1-yyea partnership hhip tha that has raised more than $300 million for Dana-Farber. A vvitals it bay was made adee ppossible ble byy a ggift ffrom om PPam am m aand Michael Ca Carmen. (From left) Sall Sally Brandon do Bemis, don s, G Gordie o Bemis, Liza Bemis, Robbie Be Bemis, and Ellie Bemis gathered to dedicate a creative arts room inn hhonor of Jane Marrow, Gordie's latee w wife, Liza and Robbie's late mother, and Ellie's late sister-in-law. an er-i Inst Institute stit titu Tru Trustee ee JJean ean PPearlstein (right) righ ght and nd hher er ddaughter, ugh er Ellen CCaliendo, li celebrateed elebbrateeed at tthe third floor lounge named for Jean an an and Jerome om Pearlstein. Thee se second floor information form desk was made possible by Institute Trustee Ted Pasquarello Pa qua ello and his wife, Eileen. Richard ard and Claire Mors Morse mar marked the officiall op opening ng oof the Richard rd PP. and an Claire re W W. Morse Conservatory nse serv ry A April 23. Katherine h her and Steven Pinard celebrated the dedication atio off th the Katherine L. and Steven eve C. Pinard Exam Servicess an and Exam Services Waiting Area and the Katherine ath B. and Donald P. Loke Loker Infu Infusion n sio Services and Infusion nfu Services Waitingg A Area, named in honor of Katherine’s h ne’ parents. her heri Anne an and Cha Ch Chad Gifford cut the ribbon on an infusion suite made possible by their gift. Institute Trus Trustee and Mission Po Possiblee Cam Campaign Co-Chair Cha Larry ryy LLu Lucchino uc and his wife, Stacey, officially ally opened an infusion suite that bears theirir nnames. D d aand RRandi David and Zussman ussm ma cut the ribbon on an infusion o suite made possible by their h gift, joined by Philip Kan Kantoff, MD, Dana-Farber's ana chief clinical research officer (center). Institute Trustee Judith Schlager, with her husband, Lawrence, cut the ribbon on the Judith P. and S. Lawrence Schlager Information Desk. A gif gift from Institute Trustee Malcolm Salter andd his wife, B.J., named the seventh floor reception desk. Karen and Thomas Trowbridge helped dedicate a staff lounge, made possible by a gift from her father, Jerome Porush, MD, in honor of her mother, Ruth. Impact SPRING 2011 5 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team makes each mile matter O n April 18, more than 550 runners laced up their shoes and hit the pavement for Dana-Farber in the Boston Athletic Association’s 115th Boston Marathon®. Members of the 22nd annual Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team traversed the historic 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boston, aiming to raise $4.5 million to support the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at DFCI. Established in 1987 by Institute Trustees J. Wayne Weaver and Delores Barr Weaver, the Barr Program grants funds collected by the DFMC team to the best and brightest researchers investigating basic science who are leading the way to novel therapies for all types of cancer. This type of support is critical to the essential understanding of cancer. “My husband, Wayne, and I are so proud of the dedicated athletes whose fundraising supports the program named in honor of my mother,” said Delores Barr Weaver. “They are an inspiration to us, and we are encouraged that these funds will lead to an even greater understanding of cancer and to new treatments.” A PERSONAL RACE For Tom Zappala, running the DFMC started out as a challenge from a close friend. Determined to honor the memory of his mother, a leukemia patient, and run the Boston Marathon in less than four hours, Zappala’s goals were not realized when the weather on that race day in 1993 was less than ideal. Finishing in four-and-a-half hours, he resolved to beat his time and set a personal best record. While training that next year, Zappala was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After completing treatment, he fixated on running the following year. That fall, however, Zappala’s disease returned. “At that time, I had a wife, a fouryear-old daughter, and an infant son, and I was worried about my family,” said Zappala. “I was given a thenemerging treatment at Dana-Farber: high-dose chemotherapy supported by an autologous stem cell transplant, and I was able to see firsthand a number Cancer survivor Tom Zappala has been a part of of important new protocols that came the DFMC team for 16 years. about through research funding.” Zappala is cancer-free and ran for the 16th time this year with the DFMC team. What started as a way to take on a challenge has now become something much more. MOTIVATED MARATHONER As a Boston Marathon time-qualifier, six-time DFMC team member Matt Whitcomb does not need to run for a charity to receive a race entry—yet he continues to do so. When he took on the challenge of his first marathon in 2006, he wanted to run for an organization whose mission resonated with him. Having a couple of close friends with cancer, Whitcomb applied to run for Dana-Farber and was accepted. Matt Whitcomb waved to the crowd en route to his 14th marathon finish. John Legere, the DFMC's all-time leading fundraiser, reached the $1 million fundraising mark this year. “When I first started training with the DFMC team, I was running because I believed in what the funding from the Barr Program was supporting,” explained Whitcomb. “Through the help of the team’s training advisor Jack Fultz, a few years later I qualified for my own number.” By that time, however, Whitcomb had grown close to his fellow team members. In addition, his stepfather was diagnosed with Stage IV liver cancer, yet another reason to keep running with the DFMC team. “This race was my 14th marathon,” said Whitcomb. “When I am training, I think of my stepfather and all the people I know who have been affected by this disease, and this is great motivation to keep going.” ■ Family joins forces to solve mystery of pancreatic cancer T homas Pappas and his brother, Judge John Pappas, were born in Greece at the turn of the century. Their father, Constantine, brought them to America in 1908 and started a food business from a push cart in Boston’s North End. Despite their humble beginnings, the two brothers rose to prominence in business and politics. Today, the two branches of the Pappas family—the descendents of these two influential brothers—are working together with a new goal in mind: finding a way to prevent and ultimately cure pancreatic cancer. The Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation, Inc., and the Judge John C. and Katherine A. Pappas Family Charitable Foundation, Inc., joined together to establish a $1million research fund known as the Pappas Family Research Fund for Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in men and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. The pancreas, a vital part of the digestive system, lies deep in the abdomen between the stomach and the spine. Because of its location, when cancer strikes this deeply buried structure, it often comes without warning. “This disease is a silent killer,” said John Pappas, spokesman for the Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation and grandson of Thomas Pappas. John’s father, Charles Pappas, died from pancreatic cancer in 2000. Because of the difficulty detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages, survival rates are low. According to the American Cancer Society, only 20 percent of patients diagnosed with the disease survive more than a year. But Dana-Farber is leading the fight against this deadly disease. In recent years, researchers lead by Charles Fuchs, MD, MPH, director of Dana-Farber’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center, have found a link between diet and an increased risk of developing the disease. In addition, in 2009, Fuchs performed the first systematic scan of the human genome looking for inherited genetic markers that could predict pancreatic cancer. 6 Impact SPRING 2011 “The possibility that doctors could identify people most at risk for developing the disease was very encouraging,” said John Pappas. Inspired by Fuchs’ research, the two branches of the Pappas family came together to formulate a plan to join in the fight. “We had our whole family tested, hoping we could help in the research to find a common link to pancreatic cancer, but they haven’t found anything yet,” said Jim Pappas, spokesman for the Judge John C. and Katherine A. Pappas Family Charitable Foundation, Inc., who lost his brother, Jack Pappas, and sister, Sophia Martha Tsiros, to the disease. “We are investing in cures, A joint $1 million gift from the Pappas family and Dana-Farber is equipped with will help Charles Fuchs, MD, MPH, lead the the best technology and research staff fight against pancreatic cancer. to someday win this fight.” The joint $1 million gift, given in memory of Charles Pappas, Sophia Martha Tsiros, and John Pappas Jr., will support research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of pancreatic cancer. “Understanding and overcoming pancreatic cancer is a tremendous challenge,” said Fuchs. “But thanks to the commitment and generosity of the Pappas family, we’re one step closer.” ■ Impact is available online at JimmyFund.org/impact Pew Charitable Trusts, a strong partner in biomedical research T o honor the entrepreneurial spirit of their parents, the sons and daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary, established the Pew Charitable Trusts. With a presence throughout the United States and abroad, Pew is one of the nation’s largest scientific advocacy organizations. Early in 1948, Pew made a commitment to support cancer research, a focus that remains a priority 63 years later. Continuing their tradition of supporting creative approaches to research, Pew has named Dana-Farber’s Alexander Gimelbrant, PhD, a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. Pew Scholars receive $240,000 over a period of four years. “Motivating scientists is essential to advancing discovery and innovation, and Pew is honored to continue its commitment to this cadre of high-quality researchers,” said Rebecca Rimel, president and CEO of the Pew Charitable Trusts. “There are many advantages to being an award recipient of the Pew Trusts, but perhaps the most important benefit is the interaction with other Scholars,” said Gimelbrant. “Some of our best, most creative thinking is motivated and energized by spontaneous friendly discussions, and this is a great group of scientists with varied perspectives and insights.” The award allows Gimelbrant to expand his research into how cells acquire distinct identities during development, even though they are genetically indistinguishable. Given that the majority of human cell-types have two copies Johnson & Johnson support allows new look at multiple myeloma M ultiple myeloma, an incurable form of cancer typically found in the bone marrow, is managed through a combination of therapies, and thanks to great advances in treatments, patients are living longer. But, as a result of this longevity, the disease is manifesting in other areas of the body where it has not been before, including the lungs and their pleural space—the cavity that surrounds them. Because of this, Johnson & Johnson has made a gift to Dana-Farber investigators Paul G. Richardson, MD, clinical director, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, and Constantine Mitsiades, MD, PhD, working with Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center and the LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics and the Kraft Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and other members of their team, to further research into the disease. “We have worked with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for many years and are again pleased to be part of their important research,” said Robert Zivin, PhD, senior director of the Corporate Office of Science and Technology at Johnson & Johnson. “We have enjoyed our collaborations with Dana-Farber, and have found them to be open and exciting allies in the fight against cancer.” This support will help Richardson and Mitsiades, together with their teams, to develop new models for treatment outside the bone marrow, which could lead to breakthroughs in therapies for other forms of cancer, as well. “Johnson & Johnson was extremely forward thinking and generous in recognizing that this disease may be better controlled with existing therapeutics in certain areas of the body, such as the bone marrow, but that it can recur later in the course of the disease in other tissues. Currently available therapeutics in many cases do not offer optimal control of the disease in those sites,” said Mitsiades. “We’ve learned over the last 10 to 15 years that investigation of these patterns of relapses can lead to the development of key strategies to target resistance and so prevent treatment failure not only in multiple myeloma but in other malignancies as well.” ■ Visit participating Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and The Paper Store locations in New England. of each chromosome, a maternal copy and a paternal copy, and thus two alternative forms of each gene, Gimelbrant is interested in understanding why some cells consistently favor the expression of DNA from one parent over another. Because the perpetual inactivation of one parental copy of a gene can lead to the progression of cancer in some cases, further understanding such cellular choices can help us determine the molecular bases of cancer and other diseases. “The Pew Trusts award allowed us to go in a new, challenging direction and aim to develop a new technological approach for detection of genomewide allele-specific expression,” said Gimelbrant. ■ Recognizing his creative approach to research, the Pew Charitable Trusts named Alexander Gimelbrant, PhD, a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. Mathers Charitable Foundation grant advances human genome research E stablished in 1975, the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation supports basic, fundamental research in the life sciences, providing funding for the most cutting-edge projects. Recently, the foundation awarded David Pellman, MD, the Margaret M. Dyson Professor of Pediatric Oncology and professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber, a $540,000 grant to further his investigation into polyploidy, a condition that takes place during evolution where whole genomes have been found to double. “We study genome doubling because it happens during the development of multi-cellular organisms, and there is evidence from my laboratory that it can accelerate the development of cancer,” said Pellman. “There are many reasons to think that polyploidy is detrimental— tumor development being one example—but the repeated A grant from the Mathers Charitable Foundation will use of genome doublings in allow David Pellman, MD, to further his investigations evolution suggests that in into genome doubling. certain circumstances it can be advantageous. This is what we are trying to understand.” Pellman is leveraging past funding from the foundation and this new grant to support a direct and quantitative test to measure the speed of evolutionary adaptation in Baker’s yeast cells, which share many characteristics with human cells. Much evolutionary theory has suggested common principles between the evolution of micro-organisms such as yeast and the development of cancer. What have been missing are experimental systems where the speed of adaptation can be measured as well as the ability to go back into the evolutionary history and find mutations. Pellman feels that it is a propitious time to undertake these experiments. “Our initial results have been exciting and show that the evolution of polyploidy cells in yeast is rapid,” said Pellman. “Now we are reconstructing the evolutionary history by sequencing the evolved strains.” Pellman hopes this will reveal general principles about the role of genome doublings in evolution. “The Mathers Foundation, and James Handelman in particular, has been one of the biggest supporters of my lab,” said Pellman. “Their funding has come at critical junctures, enabling us to pursue ambitious projects that might not have been possible without their grants.” ■ Impact SPRING 2011 7 Get the latest information on Jimmy Fund events, plus offers and contests, at JimmyFund.org/mobile Celebrating 20 Years of Palm Beach Philanthropy: Community raises $2.2 million F or 20 years, Dana-Farber’s numerous friends and supporters in Palm Beach, Fla., have united to show their deep and passionate dedication to conquering cancer through a series of benefit events. The community marked this milestone year at the 20th Anniversary Discovery Celebration with an announcement that more than $2.2 million had been rasied toward the Institute’s cancer care and research initiatives. “In an extraordinary show of generosity, the Palm Beach community once again demonstrated what can be accomplished when we all share the common goal of conquering cancer,” said Institute President and CEO Edward J. Benz Jr., MD. “The funds raised from these events not only advance vital cancer research and treatment at the Institute, but, equally as important, offer tremendous hope to cancer patients and their families across the globe.” This very special anniversary year was celebrated in style Feb. 19 when more than 600 guests were welcomed to Donald Trump’s exclusive Mar-a-Lago Club by Chairs Phyllis and Paul Fireman for a spectacular party. Attendees enjoyed gourmet cuisine in the Trump Tent and proceeded to the ballroom for a specialty dessert parade. Guests were then treated to an intimate concert by Academy and Grammy Award-winning actress and recording artist Jennifer Hudson, who delivered an outstanding performance. Later, guests gathered poolside for an after party and danced the night away. Beautiful mini-vases, compliments of Jay Strongwater and the Weingeroff family, were presented to guests as a remembrance of the evening. The season officially began one month before with a Jan. 19 Kick-off Party, hosted and underwritten by Discovery Celebration Vice Chairs and Grand Academy Award-winning actress and recording artist Jennifer Hudson (center), with Discovery Celebration Chairs Paul and Phyllis Fireman, treated guests to a special performance. Donald Trump, shown with his wife, Melania, welcomed guests to his exclusive Mar-a-Lago Club. Institute Trustee Robert Kraft and his wife, Myra, attended the 20th anniversary Discovery Celebration. 8 Impact SPRING 2011 Benefactors Patrick Park and Nathalie Fernandez and held at the Mar-a-Lago Club. The evening featured cocktails and cuisine, including caviar and vodka stations, as well as an informal show of fashion designer Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2011 collection, presented by Neiman Marcus Palm Beach. Discovery Celebration weekend commenced Feb. 17 with a pre-celebration dinner at the Mar-a-Lago Club hosted by Institute Trustee Phyllis Krock and her husband, Richard, and another pre-celebration dinner at the Palm Beach Country Club, hosted by Institute Trustee Judie Schlager and her husband, Larry, Institute Trustee Donald Dwares and his wife, Bonnie, Institute Trustee Sandy Krakoff, and Marty Phillips. On Feb. 18, the 10th annual Breakfast with the Doctors event, hosted and underwritten by Institute Trustee Judie Schlager and her husband, Larry, and Vicki and Arthur Loring, was held at the Palm Beach Country Club. Guests had the opportunity to pose questions to a panel of top Dana-Farber physician-scientists, who shared the latest research and news from the Institute. That evening, the Firemans greeted guests at the Platinum level of $25,000 aboard their yacht, Solemates. On a picture-perfect moonlit night, they enjoyed sushi and a raw bar surrounded by ocean waves. Gifts were provided by Lead Corporate Sponsor David Yurman. The series of events culminated March 1 at the Major Donor Dinner, hosted by Institute Trustee Michele Kessler and her husband, Howard, in their stunning home. Sponsors, chairs, and major donors at the Silver level of $10,000 gathered to celebrate the end of a very special—and successful—fundraising season. ■ Suzanne and Robert Tomsich celebrated 20 years of Palm Beach philanthropy. Patrick Park and Nathalie Fernandez served as Discovery Celebration Vice Chairs and Grand Benefactors. Institute Trustee Robert Belfer enjoyed the culmination of another successful season with his wife, Renee. Robert Korff and Nina Stuart supported Dana-Farber in style. The celebration brought together (left to right) Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with Howard Kessler and Institute Trustee Michele Kessler, who hosted the Major Donor Dinner. Sybil and David Yurman of the David Yurman Company, Lead Corporate Sponsor. A pre-celebration dinner was hosted by (from left) Institute Trustee Judie Schlager and her husband, Larry; Institute Trustee Sandy Krakoff and Marty Phillips; and Bonnie Dwares and her husband, Donald, an Institute Trustee. NFL linebacker Jason Taylor attended the celebration with his wife, Katina. Anna Burns and New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker enjoyed the festivities. The 10th annual Breakfast with the Doctors was hosted and underwritten by (from left) Arthur and Vicki Loring and Institute Trustee Judie Schlager and her husband, Larry. Institute Trustee Phyllis Krock and her husband, Richard, hosted a pre-celebration dinner at the Mar-a-Lago Club. Mayer Foundation continues steadfast support Epstein gift targets tumors’ resistance to drugs T E he Louis B. Mayer Foundation, a longtime supporter of Dana-Farber, recently gave $125,000 to support research into prostate and bladder cancers under the direction of Philip Kantoff, MD, chief clinical research officer and director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology. “We are pleased to fund DanaFarber’s cutting-edge research and are confident it will advance knowledge of these diseases and improve treatment in the future,” said Mayer Foundation Trustee Carol Farkas. “As a small foundation, we are able to fund innovative projects that might not otherwise receive support.” Kantoff and his colleagues will use the grant to explore whether intake of the supplements vitamin E and selenium affect one’s risk of developing prostate cancer and whether particular genetic variants may influence such risk. In addition, the Mayer Foundation’s grant will Support from the Mayer Foundation will enable Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, an enable Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, to continue investigator at Dana-Farber, to validate a promising investigation into bladder cancer. an exciting new finding that may lead to a better understanding of why some bladder cancers develop a more aggressive behavior pattern. “The Mayer Foundation has been a loyal supporter of our work. Their support has enabled us to make major strides in the arena of prostate cancer and will now allow us to develop a better understanding of bladder cancer,” said Kantoff. “We are extremely grateful to the Mayer Foundation for their partnership in the fight against cancer.” ■ ven before Eileen Epstein was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her husband, Mark, had generously supported research at Dana-Farber. Her treatment at the Breast Oncology Center further deepened the commitment. “My experience at Dana-Farber was the best possible. I felt embraced when I walked through the door, treated with such compassion,” said Eileen, who is now cancer-free and Grateful for the compassionate care she received serves on the Visiting Committee at Dana-Farber, Eileen Epstein, together with her for the Susan F. Smith Center for husband, Mark, made a gift to support research to benefit other patients. Women’s Cancers. “People have many choices for philanthropic gifts, and we believe Dana-Farber is the number one choice.” Keenly aware that, for many patients, the cancer journey can be tremendously difficult, the Epsteins have continued their steadfast support with a gift of $100,000 to Dana-Farber’s Susan Smith Center, under the direction of J. Dirk Iglehart, MD, chief of Surgical Oncology, director of the Susan Smith Center, and Anne E. Dyson Professor in Women's Cancer and Surgery and the Charles A. Dana Senior Investigator in Cancer Genetics, Harvard Medical School. The Epsteins’ generosity enables researchers Debajit Biswas, DSc, and post-doctoral fellow Bose Kochuparakkal, PhD, to examine whether the nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) pathway is activated in breast cancer cells that no longer respond to chemotherapy. Thanks to the pioneering work of breast cancer oncologist Ian Krop, MD, PhD, who sought to minimize biopsies for patients, Biswas and Kochuparakkal will be able to use circulating cancer cells extracted from the blood of patients with metastatic disease. “This research could lead us to identifying cell elements in the NF-kB pathway that we can disable with a targeted therapy,” explained Iglehart. “Since NF-kB appears to be involved in several cancers, Eileen and Mark’s gift could potentially help a great many patients.” ■ Impact SPRING 2011 9 Herzsteins’ gift helps close the gap between discovery and care Gratitude for Golfers A cornerstone of Dana-Farber’s mission is the rapid application of laboratory breakthroughs to patient care. This process can often be expedited through partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, but time and funds are required to develop discoveries to a stage that justifies investment from commercial partners. Recognizing this need, Barbara and Sigmund “Bud” Herzstein, gave $1 million to create the Sigmund E. Herzstein Accelerator Fund, managed under the direction of Barrett Rollins, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber’s chief scientific officer and the Linde Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber’s chief research business development officer. This gift also provided A visionary gift from the late Barbara and Sigmund “Bud” Herzstein will help investigators take ideas to the next level. vital support for the technology priority of Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer. Before she passed away in May, Barbara Herzstein said, “Bud saw the Fund as an extension of his work in venture capital. Whereas in venture capital, Bud enabled a business to move from one stage to another, with the Accelerator Fund, he hoped to create a mechanism for researchers to take an idea to the next stage of commercialization and direct patient benefit.” Sadly, Bud lost his battle with cancer shortly after facilitating this far-reaching gift, but the Herzsteins’ legacy lives on with this fund. “Our scientists are eager to see their discoveries directly impact patients with cancer. Sometimes the fastest route to this kind of application is through partnering with a commercial developer,” said Rollins. “The Herzstein Accelerator Fund is designed to help investigators advance their research to the degree necessary to make it attractive to a commercial partner. Barbara and Bud Herzstein had the remarkable vision to see how necessary this kind of fund is at Dana-Farber and how its support will lead to improving the lives of our patients.” “Barbara and Bud Herzstein had the remarkable vision to see how necessary this kind of fund is at Dana-Farber and how its support will lead to improving the lives of our patients.” — Barrett Rollins, MD, PhD Dana-Farber’s James Bradner, MD, whose laboratory focuses on discovery chemistry, often the initial step in drug development, is one of the first recipients of a grant from the Accelerator Fund. Bradner and his team previously identified that disabling the function of a specific protein can essentially make specific types of cancer cells “forget” they are cancerous and revert to normal. He and his colleagues then created the first molecule to target this protein, and through laboratory studies, proved that this molecule was effective and had the potential to be a potent therapy for cancers such as NUT midline carcinoma (NMC). In order for this new prototype molecule to make it to the clinic as a drug, it needs to be optimized to improve activity and avoid toxicity. As these experiments require a great deal of time and funds, Bradner will utilize the Herzsteins’ support to move ahead with his plans to complete the later stages of drug development, known as medicinal chemistry, at Dana-Farber. To date, Bradner and his team are currently working on these studies and have made great progress. “I am honored to receive this special and unprecedented type of funding for our lab,” said Bradner. “This project demonstrates Dana-Farber’s capability to perform extremely important and creative drug discovery that has the potential to bring new therapeutics into existence.” ■ 10 Impact SPRING 2011 Members of the Jimmy Fund Golf community were recognized for their exceptional commitment during the annual Jimmy Fund Golf Appreciation Night held at Gillette Stadium Feb. 9. The evening recognized an outstanding 2010 fundraising season, which welcomed 14 new tournaments, celebrated 22 tournament anniversaries, and raised more than $6.45 million for the Jimmy Fund. Named in honor of the former Boston Red Sox sportscaster, the Ken Coleman Extra Mile Award is presented annually to outstanding tournament volunteers. This year’s award recipients were (left to right) Brian, Kevin, and Rick Thomas of the Closed Open tournament, which, over the past 25 years, has raised more than $450,000 in memory of their brother, Gary Thomas. The evening included remarks by Tym Rourke, a member of Dana-Farber’s Pediatric Patient and Family Advisory Council, and a surprise guest appearance by Robert Kraft, Institute Trustee and owner of the New England Patriots. MAKE YOUR MEAN RUNNING MORE Register for ANY race and raise funds to help Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund save lives LEARN MORE AT /start RunDanaFarber.org Follow us on Facebook.com and Twitter.com Nuclea Biotechnologies continues to power innovative translational research at Dana-Farber haritable support from Nuclea Biotechnologies, LLC, over the past several years has enabled Massimo Loda, MD, director of the Center for Molecular Oncologic Pathology (CMOP) at Dana-Farber, to embark on numerous high-risk, high-reward projects leading to significant advances in translational cancer research. Most recently, Nuclea made two gifts to Dana-Farber: $250,000 to fuel ongoing research at CMOP, and $300,000 to help drive prostate cancer investigations in Loda’s laboratory. Both gifts will allow Loda to conduct innovative experiments that would otherwise be difficult to fund. The monies awarded to CMOP will support unfolding research efforts such as the development of immunohistochemical (IHC) assays, a staining technique that will help research scientists to visualize antibody-antigen interactions and diagnose cancerous cells. Investigations of this class are vital to CMOP’s objective to advance the Institute’s goal of personalized medicine. Funding for Loda’s laboratory will be used to support prostate cancer research, including enabling postdoctoral researchers to study microRNA (miRNA) signatures in prostate cancer. These miRNAs, or small RNA molecules, regulate gene expression and are known to aid in processes such as cell growth. “At Nuclea Biomarkers we feel confident that our gift will help bolster Dr. Loda’s ongoing work in identifying cancer promoting molecules,” said Patrick Muraca, president and CEO of the biotechnology services company. “Funding C such as this is critical as it furthers discoveries that later on can be applied to all cancers on a personalized basis.” Under Loda’s direction, CMOP has created a successful network throughout the Institute, where molecular pathology forms an integral part of research offering the ability to advance different types of studies. “A better understanding of cancer will be achieved through biochemical profiling, paving the way for the discovery of biomarkers Patrick Muraca of Nuclea Biotechnologies, LLC, (right) is supporting Massimo Loda, MD, in his and pathways associated with continuing pursuit to understand cancer through this disease,” said Loda. “Thanks biochemical profiling. to Nuclea’s gift, my laboratory is exploring new cancer research approaches in ways that would not be possible otherwise.” ■ Susan and Alan Miller create a “trust” fund Terri Brodeur Foundation supports future targeted breast cancer therapies W hen Susan Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, she told Dana-Farber’s Eric Winer, MD, director of the Breast Oncology Center at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, that her priority was staying healthy for the two things that bring her the most joy: her family and her career as an independent scholar. After meeting Winer, Susan knew that he would be the one to help her meet this goal. The Millers were referred to DanaFarber by Institute President and CEO Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, who is vice chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Mount Desert Island Biological Research Laboratory, of which Susan’s husband Alan is secretary and also a trustee. To honor their trust in both Benz and Winer, and Dana-Farber’s dedicated staff, the couple recently A gift from Alan and Susan Miller honors Danamade a $150,000 gift to the Institute, Farber's Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, and Eric Winer, MD. creating the Susan and Alan Miller Fund for Breast Cancer Research. “We wanted to recognize Dr. Benz’s excellence in leadership and the efforts that Eric Winer and his team are making to treat and conquer breast cancer,” said Susan Miller. “There are no words sufficient to describe my confidence in Eric. He is an incredible combination of compassionate human being and superbly talented physician-scientist. He’s really so rare.” Winer and his team will use the Millers’ generous gift to support clinical research in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. “I want to honor Susan’s zeal for life and Alan’s dedication to the Institute by identifying ways to reduce mortality in patients with this type of breast cancer,” Winer said. ■ T he Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation was created in 2005 to honor the memory of its namesake, who lost her battle with breast cancer. Established by two of Brodeur’s close friends, the foundation directs 100 percent of funds raised to breast cancer research, through two-year scientific grants. The grant program supports physician-scientists at early stages in their careers, enabling them to advance their research at critical juntures. This year, Dana-Farber's Yang Li, PhD, received a $100,000 grant from the foundation. “The proposals are reviewed by a team of outstanding scientists, and, after review, Li’s quickly rose to the top,” said John LaMattina, president of the board of directors of the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. “He’s really on to something.” Li’s research, based on a specific genetic signature, aims to identify breast cancer patients who have a high risk of cancer recurrence after being treated with chemotherapy. These findings could lead to a test that would help physicians choose the best initial treatment for each patient or a drug that would block tumor resistance. “I have dedicated my life to combating breast cancer, and this grant will give me the time I need to focus on growing my career,” said Li. “I hope to someday have my own lab, where I can explore ways to maximize the benefits of cancer therapy, reduce its complications, and find ways to abrogate its resistance.” ■ Culinary acrobats soar at Chefs for Jimmy Philanthropists and food lovers gathered Jan. 21 at Chez Josef in Agawam, Mass., for the 21st annual Chefs for Jimmy event, presented by Winer Levsky Group of UBS Financial Services Inc., and held in honor of Neal Webber, a longtime supporter of the Jimmy Fund. The evening, hosted by the Jimmy Fund Council of Western Mass., featured an “Under the Big Top” theme of delicious small plates prepared by 29 of western New England’s leading chefs, restauranteurs, and caterers performing their best high wire act and cooking without a net for a room of hungry and eager palates. Event Co-Chairs (left to right) Erin Sade, Michael Katz, Andrew Cohen, and Michelle Corriveau present a check for $107,000 to Jimmy Fund Director Suzanne Fountain, Institute Trustee and Event Co-Chair Barbara Sadowsky, and Jimmy Fund Special Events Development Officer Kelly See. Impact SPRING 2011 11 Get involved, have fun, and beat cancer — visit JimmyFund.org today Kraft continued from page 1 In addition, the gift from the Kraft family will support women’s cancers research and care, including personalized medicine, under the direction of Ursula Matulonis, MD, director of Medical Gynecologic Oncology at Dana-Farber. The Krafts’ support will enable Dana-Farber to advance its goal of delivering personalized medicine—the right drug to the right patient at the right time— to gynecologic cancer patients. This gift will also allow Matulonis and her team of physician-scientists to conduct cutting-edge research to better understand gynecologic cancers and to create new tools for early diagnosis and novel targeted “There are far too many people without access to the life-changing, lifesaving care of the world’s best medical professionals.” — Robert Kraft therapies. It will be an integral component of Dana-Farber’s commitment to advancing the delivery of personalized cancer care for all patients. “I am tremendously grateful to the Kraft family for their generous and thoughtful support, which will allow us to bring our services directly into our neighborhoods and to continue leading the way in fighting women’s cancers,” said Benz. “The Kraft family’s support of these important initiatives will have a long-lasting and far-reaching effect on the future of cancer care. I thank them for partnering with us in our mission to conquer cancer.” ■ American Lung Association helps fulfill research need T he American Lung Association (ALA) has long been committed to preventing lung cancer and raising awareness of lung cancer risk factors, such as smoking. In recent years, the organization has also identified a need for more research and resources to be put into the detection and treatment of lung cancer. To meet this need, the ALA recently made two important grants totaling $350,000 to support the research projects of Dana-Farber’s Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD, co-director of the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, and Kwok-Kin Wong, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber’s Thoracic Oncology department. “When we ask researchers to submit grant applications, we ask them to think outside the box. We are looking for novel and creative ideas that will help treat lung cancer,” said Norman Edelman, MD, chief medical officer of the ALA. “These two projects are excellent examples of that.” Meyerson’s Diane Emdin Sachs Lung Cancer Award, made possible with the support of the Emdin Sachs family and the ALA of New York, supports Meyerson’s research to uncover and validate the key genes that promote the growth of small cell lung cancer. “Small cell lung cancer is one of the very deadliest of all cancers and one of the most difficult to study,” said Meyerson. “The ALA makes it possible for us to study this challenging disease.” Wong, who received the Lung Cancer Discovery Award co-funded by the ALA and the ALA of New England, is working to better understand the processes involved in lung cancer progression and metastasis using animal models. “The grant from ALA allows me to perform pilot studies,” said Wong. “These resources are absolutely essential to generating preliminary data that can be leveraged down the line for federal funding for this research, which I hope will subsequently make an impact in the lives of lung cancer patients.” ■ Breast Cancer Research Foundation supports multiple genetic studies C ontinuing its longstanding support of research at Dana-Farber, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation awarded a group of physician-scientists at the Institute’s Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers $1.5 million to advance understanding of the genetic factors involved in breast cancer. “The diverse portfolio of investigators at Dana-Farber is representative of what we and our supporters believe will ultimately lead to prevention and cures for breast cancer,” explained Margaret Mastrianni, deputy director of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The foundation traces its beginnings to the early 1990s, when Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice president of The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., sought to right two intertwined wrongs: the lack of breast cancer awareness and insufficient funding for breast cancer research. Lauder and Alexandra Penney, then editor of Self magazine, developed “the pink ribbon.” Their design has become an international symbol of breast health, focusing attention on a disease that takes the lives of approximately 400,000 women around the world every year. Then, in 1993, Lauder founded BCRF, an organization that has raised more than $300 million to support innovative clinical and translational research at leading cancer institutions around the world. Having awarded a total of more than $8 million to Dana-Farber scientists to date, the foundation has made a remarkable impact on advances in breast cancer research at the Institute. “BCRF’s steadfast generosity has enabled our scientists to pursue multi-year, complex investigations, helping elucidate the factors that increase the risk of developing breast cancer, that drive the growth and proliferation of disease, and that are involved in tumors’ resistance to standard treatments, among others,” explained J. Dirk Iglehart, MD, director of the Susan Smith Center. One of the research initiatives BCRF supported led to the dramatic discovery that the over-expression of a particular gene identifies tumors that are likely to be resistant to a widely-used class of chemotherapy drugs. This finding by Iglehart and Dana-Farber's Andrea Richardson, MD, PhD, and Charles Wang, MD, PhD, will ensure that, from the outset, physicians will be able to use an alternate drug to treat patients whose tumors have this signature. The foundation continues its support of the work of Iglehart, Richardson, and Wang as they turn their attention to identifying which microRNAs— cellular components that regulate gene expression—are involved in drug resistance and cancer metastasis. The BCRF grant also enables additional investigations into how localized tumors transform into metastatic disease by David Livingston, MD, chair of the Dana-Farber Executive Committee for Research and deputy director of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center; William Kaelin Jr., MD; and Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD. It supports the efforts of Nancy Lin, MD, to find the optimal combination of drugs to treat cancer that has metastasized to the brain and the research of Ursula Matulonis, MD, medical director of the Gynecologic Oncology Program, and Charles Wang into the implications of the genetic similarities between an aggressive subtype of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. “The value of BCRF’s partnership in our studies is so important to the progress we’re seeing,” said Judy Garber, MD, MPH, director of Dana-Farber’s Cancer Genetics and Prevention Center, whose research also receives funding from the foundation. “It allows us to develop creative and novel projects—high risk, but potentially high yield—that bring us ever closer to matching the best treatment option to the characteristics of a patient’s tumor—truly personalized cancer medicine.” ■ LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE JIMMY FUND THROUGH GOLF GET ON THE RIGHT COURSE TO FIGHT CANCER® JimmyFund.org/golf 12 Impact SPRING 2011 Legacy of courage paves the way for research funding Why Every Step Counts A sports fan from Greensboro, N.C., Neil Maddux loved college basketball and football, in her spare time learned to play golf, and also volunteered with the Junior League to help underprivileged youth. After marrying William Miller, her law school sweetheart, she created a life surrounded by her best friends, her mother Carolyn, sister Meriwether, and brother-in-law Tanner. Life seemed perfect for the 26-year-old aspiring lawyer. In June 2007 Neil Maddux Miller was diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, but Miller took this in stride. She continued working full-time, finished law school, and passed the bar exam, all while she was undergoing therapy. By late 2008 her cancer had reappeared. Then the Millers met Eric Winer, MD, director of Dana-Farber’s Breast Oncology Center at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, and Rachel Freedman, MD, MPH, who was a fellow in the Dana-Farber medical oncology program at the time. The bond between Miller and her providers at Dana-Farber was immediate. From that point forward she considered Winer and Freedman her primary The late Neil Maddux Miller, with her husband, oncologists. William Miller, inspired a gift that will propel breast Despite everyone’s best efforts, cancer research in young women. Miller passed away in August 2010. To honor the fighting inspiration she left behind, her family established the Neil Maddux Miller Breast Cancer Research Fund with a gift of $100,000, managed under Winer. “Neil was an amazing woman, determined to live as long as possible, and equally committed to living each day as well as she could,” said Winer. “She had a great relationship with Drs. Winer and Freedman and trusted them completely,” said William Miller. “We consider it a blessing that Neil was in the care of such wonderful people during her final days.” ■ The Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai held its annual Extra Mile Brunch, with nearly 700 attending. It was a morning of celebration where Pacesetters (walkers who individually raised $1,000 or more), sponsors, top Team Captains, and Walk Heroes were honored for their unwavering commitment to the 2010 Walk. The combined efforts of 8,400 walkers contributed to a record-setting $6.5 million to benefit Dana-Farber. Held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel March 27, the event featured remarks by Stephen Sallan, MD, chief of staff at Dana-Farber and dedicated walker, who described the breakthroughs made possible by walkers going the extra mile. Sarah McHugh (above), captain of Team EmmaBelle, shared the inspiring story of her 4-year-old niece whose battle with neuroblastoma did not stop her from lacing up her sneakers to join Sarah in the Walk last fall. Team EmmaBelle’s 71 members raised more than $40,000 in their inaugural year and plan to hit the pavement again this year. To join them and register for the Sept. 18 Walk, visit JimmyFundWalk.org. Uniting Against Lung Cancer joins forces with Dana-Farber researchers L 1 3 & 0 3 AUGUST IDNIGHT ! N I E TUN OM 6 A.M. T R E C N UT CA O E K I STR CALL 877-738-1234 TO HELP STRIKE OUT CANCER OR VISIT JimmyFundRadioTelethon.org ung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Millions of dollars have been spent developing therapies that increase patient survival, yet even the most successful have translated to extended survival of only a few months. Uniting Against Lung Cancer (UALC), which aims to change these odds by funding innovative and collaborative research and supporting promising young investigators, recently awarded Dana-Farber’s Heidi Greulich, PhD, and KwokKin Wong, MD, PhD, grants of $100,000 each to further their investigations of therapies to battle this disease. “Both are outstanding scientists, working on critical projects in lung cancer research,” said foundation Scientific Program Director Holli Kawadler. “Dr. Greulich is finding new genes that cause non-small cell lung cancer to add to our arsenal of targeted therapies against the disease, which is understudied and underfunded. Dr. Wong will help us understand what causes the disease and lay groundwork for new treatments. We are excited to see the results of their work hopefully translate to the clinic.” “The grant will enable us to indentify novel oncogenes and therapeutic targets for lung cancer through systematic experimental evaluation of genomic alterations found by sequencing DNA from cancer patients,” said Greulich. “I’m honored that they have chosen to fund our work.” This funding from UALC, which has supported Wong’s research in the past, will allow his lab to build upon previous results. “I am deeply appreciative of the UALC funding,” said Wong. “It allows my lab to study the mechanisms of pathogenesis in small cell lung cancer, an area which is poorly understood.” ■ Impact SPRING 2011 13 Lupron Settlement continued from page 1 Lupron has proven effective, such as early-onset puberty. DF/HCC and PCF will each administer research funds through their respective competitive grant programs. PCF will steward $5 million of the funding to support, on a national basis, the best scientific ideas for fast-forwarding new treatments and cures for prostate cancer. “This was an historic decision and represents strategic use of these unclaimed funds,” said Jonathan Simons, MD, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “The court’s decision as well as our partnership with DF/HCC will benefit millions of American families for years to come.” The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the largest source of philanthropic support for accelerating the world’s most promising research for discovering better treatments and cures for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $400 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 researchers at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is the largest comprehensive cancer center in the world, bringing together the cancer research efforts of our seven member institutions: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital. ■ V Foundation funding shoots for success I t was college basketball coaching legend Jim Valvano who said “Don’t give up … Don’t ever give up!” Valvano was not only talking about the long odds he and North Carolina State overcame to win the 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship, but also his personal battle against cancer. In 1993, Valvano, then an awardwinning broadcaster, teamed with the cable television network ESPN to establish The V Foundation for Cancer Research with the hopes of eradicating cancer, the disease that ultimately claimed Valvano’s life. Since then, The V Foundation has raised more than $100 million and awarded cancer research grants in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Today, The V Foundation assists promising cancer researchers with critical-stage funding support and has recently awarded grants totaling $1.6 million to three of Dana-Farber’s most innovative investigators. Pediatric Oncology’s A. Thomas Look, MD, was awarded $1 million from The V Foundation’s Designated Grants program for his multidisciplinary and cross-institutional work in leukemia. The grant was funded by the foundation’s Wine Celebration event, inspired by, and in honor of, leukemia survivor and V Foundation supporter Teri Kuhn, acclaimed vintner of Pillar Rock Vineyards in Napa Valley. A Translational Grant of $600,000 was also given to DFCI’s Nancy Lin, MD, and Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, a 2001 V Scholar grant recipient, for their pioneering research into breast cancer pathways. “Since 1997, when the first V Foundation grant was presented to Dana-Farber, we have awarded 15 grants to this outstanding institution,” said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano. “We continue to be impressed by the dedication and high quality of research conducted at DFCI. The V Foundation funding not only advances the careers of these fine scientists, but it also accelerates findings to help patients more quickly.” TAKING AN IDEA “FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE” The Designated Grants program provides gifts to cancer facilities throughout the country, with a flexibility that allows The V Foundation donors, along with guidance from the foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, to choose the particular institutions and types of research to fund. Look was awarded this grant for his research in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in a project that has the potential to revolutionize treatment of patients with these diseases. Together with his colleagues, Look is poised to leverage a recent discovery that 40 percent of patients with AML and APL have an aberrant activation of the MET receptor. MET receptor activation leads to increased growth and survival of AML cells, and this activity can be blocked using MET inhibitors, leading to AML cell death. Using this funding, they are studying the mechanisms underlying clinical response to MET inhibition to overcome drug resistance, while also investigating the combined use of MET inhibitors with other promising AML therapies. The V Foundation Translational Grant is designed to accelerate laboratory findings, with the goal of getting treatments to patients faster. Lin and Polyak are focusing on an insidious form of stem cell-like cancer cells across all breast cancer subtypes, which have been shown to contribute to aggressive and invasive breast cancer, breast cancer recurrence, and therapeutic resistance. “A better understanding of this cell population and the molecular pathways that drive and sustain it may help explain our inability to cure many patients with conventional treatments,” said Lin. “We are enormously grateful to The V Foundation for its tireless support of Dana-Farber and its unwavering commitment to defeating all forms of cancer.” ■ 14 Impact SPRING 2011 Honoring birthdays with a gift to help families facing cancer W hen Paul Milbury was approaching a special birthday in 2008, his wife, Heidi Lehner, honored him by establishing a fund through her family’s foundation to support Dana-Farber’s Betty Ann Blum and Marjorie Blum Pediatric Resource Room. This year, when a notable birthday came up for Heidi, Paul continued their support by creating another fund, the Paul Milbury and Heidi Lehner Endowed Fund for Pediatric Support Services, with a gift of $250,000. The Blum Pediatric Resource Room provides young patients with the opportunity to take part in fun activities with their peers and family members. “We wanted to do something that would be impactful for people today,” the couple said. “After visiting Dana-Farber and witnessing all of the wonderful things the Institute is doing for patients and families, we are pleased to be able to help, whether it is by providing something fun for kids or by easing the burden of cancer for a family.” Building on their earlier support, this fund will aid Dana-Farber’s pediatric patients and their families in two important ways. First, it will provide monies for the Blum Pediatric Resource Room, an exceptional place where patients and families can participate in fun, educational programs such as cooking classes and art activities. This fund will also provide support services, such as toiletries or coupons to local restaurants, to parents of patients who have to stay longer than expected for treatment. “Paul and Heidi’s generosity has already brought hundreds of smiles to our very special children in the Jimmy Fund Clinic and to their parents,” says Martha Young, MS, CCLS, patient family education program manager. “Parents are able to watch their children participate in fun activities, discover new talents, and make new friends.” ■ ER B M E T EP 18 S ! ODAY T R E T REGIS lk.org a W d Fun Jimmy To include Dana-Farber in your estate plans, contact us at 617-632-3756 Investing in cures for a lifetime and beyond L ongtime Dana-Farber donor Marvin Fried truly understands what is valuable in life—helping children and animals, rooting for the Boston Celtics, and the pleasure of giving to others. The Boston native became particularly dedicated to the Jimmy Fund in the late 1960s, when his only son, Scott, required brain surgery for a tumor. Sadly, Scott ultimately passed away because of complications from the operation. In 2002, Fried took advantage of an opportunity that allowed him to combine his passion for children with a commitment to giving; he established a charitable gift annuity (CGA) at Dana-Farber. Fried discovered that establishing a CGA with Dana-Farber provided him with a fixed income and tax benefits, while also supporting cancer research and patient care. For Fried, this translated to more than financial security; it was assisting one of his favorite charities. “I don’t have any heirs, so I want to leave what I have to others,” said Fried, a business owner who retired 12 years ago. Since then, Fried has been so pleased with the gift vehicle that he established five more CGAs benefiting Dana-Farber, his sixth was completed in November 2010. “I’m truly a CGA man,” said Fried. “Charitable gift annuities are made for me, because they allow me to enjoy the sense of giving while I’m Marvin Fried, dedicated to the Jimmy Fund for alive, and I want to relish it while decades, enjoys the satisfaction of giving through I can.” ■ charitable gift annuities. Family hopes Magic Wand Fund grants clinicians’ wish for new treatments I n the fall of 2009, Molly McKenna, a pretty, smart child, full of life and curious about the world and its inhabitants, began experiencing weakness on her left side. One month before her fifth birthday, Molly was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma in her thalamus, the part of the brain that controls sensory perception and regulation of motor functions. Within a year, her tumor revealed itself to be a glioblastoma—a highly aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer—and Molly lost her battle shortly thereafter. To honor Molly’s memory and to help find a cure for pediatric glioblastoma, her parents, Mary Ellen and Timothy McKenna, pledged $100,000 to establish the Molly McKenna Magic Wand Fund to support Mary Ellen and Timothy McKenna honor the Mark Kieran, MD, PhD, medical memory of their daughter, Molly, with a gift to director of Dana-Farber’s Pediatric advance research into pediatric brain tumors. Medical Neuro-Oncology department. “This fund is about hope,” said Mary Ellen McKenna. “We hope this support is Dr. Kieran’s magic wand to find a cure to prevent another child from experiencing what Molly did and another set of parents from having to lose a child.” Pediatric brain tumors remain significantly under-researched compared to other forms of cancer. This is largely due to the small population of patients, resulting in a lack of testable tissue samples, coupled with resistance by drug companies to launch studies involving children. “Much of the progress we have achieved to date in pediatric brain tumor research is because of parents like the McKennas taking up the cause,” said Kieran. “Molly was a brave and wonderful child, and her legacy brings us closer to lesstoxic, more effective treatments for all types of gliomas.” ■ Pleasing Palates with Helpings of Hope More than 350 local epicureans and members of the Dana-Farber community joined together March 3 to indulge in delicacies at the 13th annual Chefs Cooking for Hope event. Hosted by Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the evening raised nearly $50,000 to support innovative research and expert, compassionate care at DFCI. Friends’ Board Members and Chefs Cooking for Hope Co-chairs (from left) Lesley Prowda, Nikki Lank Bialow, and Lisa London were pleased to welcome Mary Dumont of Harvard Square’s Harvest as the evening’s Honorary Chef. A participant on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef, Dumont charmed the crowd with her maple bacon cotton candy. From lobster bisque and truffled cheeses to lamb chops and a smorgasbord of cupcakes, the atrium at 125 High Street in downtown Boston was filled with the finest of fare and libations, all generously prepared and provided by 50 of Boston’s top caterers and restaurants, including Rialto, Mooo, and Woodward. Join our fight against cancer. Establish a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In return, Dana-Farber will pay you a fixed income for life, a portion of which is tax-free. Your gift of cash or securities creates an opportunity like no other: to aid in our lifesaving mission while receiving a guaranteed rate of return for the rest of your life. To learn more, please contact Alice Tobin Zaff at 800-535-5577 or e-mail Alice_Zaff@dfci.harvard.edu Impact SPRING 2011 15 Impact SPRING 2011 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Division of Development & The Jimmy Fund 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor Brookline, MA 02445-7226 dana-farber.org and jimmyfund.org Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Dana-Farber THANKING THOSE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED Boston Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie had fun with Jessica Crane during a visit to the Jimmy Fund Clinic in May. JULY 15-16 Swim Across America Dive in and support the David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic at Dana-Farber. The Boston Harbor Island Swim is a 22-mile, relay event on July 15. Swimmers age 12 and older can come to Nantasket Beach for a half-mile recreational swim or one-mile competitive swim July 16. Visit swimacrossamerica.org or contact Dana Kelly at dana_kelly@dfci.harvard.edu. 16-17 Mass Dash Lace up your sneakers and create a team of six to 36 runners to embark on this 200-mile, non-stop relay across the state of Massachusetts. Beginning in the Berkshires and ending in Boston, this second annual event was established in memory of Dana-Farber patient Neal Webber. To learn about the relay route and start a team, visit massdashrelay.org. 6-7 Join more than 5,000 cyclists as they race across the Commonwealth in support of the fight against cancer. This 32nd annual bike-a-thon has raised an amazing $303 million for the Jimmy Fund. To learn more about registering or supporting a rider, visit pmc.org. 14 AUGUST 5 Joe Cronin Memorial Fishing Tournament Cast a line for the heaviest bluefish off Nauticus Marina in Osterville, Mass., and help the Jimmy Fund reel in funds for cancer research and care. This 18th annual tournament honors the life of Joe Cronin, former Boston Red Sox great and American League president. For more information, visit joecroninfishing.com. 18 WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon Tune in to WEEI Sports Radio Network and New England Sports Network (NESN) for this 36-hour broadcast live from Fenway Park. Listen along with Red Sox Nation as DanaFarber patients, doctors, and staff, as well as celebrity guests and Red Sox players, share inspiring stories. To learn more or volunteer, visit JimmyFundRadioTelethon.org. Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai Join thousands of walkers and go the extra mile to conquer cancer at this 23rd annual event. Choose from four routes, from the 26.2mile Boston Marathon course to a three-mile walk. Register, volunteer, or support a walker at JimmyFundWalk.org. Falmouth Road Race Runner’s World, Fitness, Life, and Sports Illustrated have all called it one of the best races in the country. Join DanaFarber’s official team for this seven-mile race that stretches from Woods Hole, alongside Martha’s Vineyard Sound, to the beach in Falmouth Heights. To learn more or join our team, visit RunDanaFarber.org/Falmouth. 30-31 SEPTEMBER Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) OCTOBER 9 Catamount Classic – Lacrosse for a Cure Lacrosse teams from the Northeast will compete at this fourth annual tournament, which raises vital funds for cancer research at Dana-Farber. To learn more, visit catamountclassic.com. 9 B.A.A. Half Marathon® Race through the parks of Boston's Emerald Necklace toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer. To learn more, visit RunDanaFarber.org/baahalf. 15-16 An Evening with Champions The Jimmy Fund partners with Harvard University to bring world-class ice skaters to express their artistry and athletic ability before an audience of all ages. Visit aneveningwithchampions.org to learn more. For more information on all Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber events, go to jimmyfund.org or dana-farber.org.
