Donor Recognition

The world can always use more good news, so here is something great—the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), the annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country, had its best year yet, raising a record $69 million for Dana-Farber in 2022. This historic performance brought the PMC’s cumulative fundraising total to an extraordinary $900 million since 1980, an enduring testament to everyone who has come together over the years to bring cures for cancer closer by the mile.

United by this powerful purpose, 6,400 riders from 43 states and 8 countries hit the road for the 43rd PMC on August 6 and 7. Participants pedaled 16 routes from 25 to 211 miles across Massachusetts during one of the hottest rides on record, supported by 2,700 volunteers and countless cheering fans along the way. One hundred and forty Dana-Farber faculty and staff rode or volunteered, as did a record 950 cancer survivors and patients who are considered Living Proof of the PMC mission.

The PMC’s power is generated by the commitment of folks like Nancy Cantor, a 24-year PMC participant and captain of Team Ovarian Cancer. For 16 years she rode with the Stem Cell Cyclists to support the research of Corey Cutler, MD, medical director for Dana-Farber’s Adult Stem Cell Transplantation Program. But in 2022, she chose a different route, establishing

Team Ovarian Cancer in honor of Janet Snider and Mara Castello, two ovarian cancer patients she met through the Dream Factory Community, a forum for women entrepreneurs that she founded. Nancy’s new team raised over $75,000 to support a groundbreaking immunotherapy trial led by Ursula Matulonis, MD, chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Brock-Wilson Family Chair at Dana-Farber.

Like many in the PMC, Cantor rode for lost loved ones, such as Snider; those who are living with cancer, such as Castello; and for the research that will ultimately save more lives, such as Matulonis’ study. She was glad to spend time with her team, grateful to all who propelled their success, and proud of the difference they made together. “It takes a community to cure cancer, and everyone’s support makes us want to work even harder,” said Cantor.

Her efforts and those of the entire PMC community have a maximum impact on patients because, thanks to the support of 200 corporate sponsors, including co-presenting sponsors Red Sox Foundation and M&T Bank, every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber’s world-class cancer research and care. And as the Institute’s largest single donor, accounting for more than 60% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue, the PMC fuels everything the Institute does to defy cancer. Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, Dana-Farber president and CEO, the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine, and 7-year PMC rider, sees the impact of PMC funding each day across the Institute’s labs and clinics and beyond. “Because of the PMC, Dana-Farber is forging scientific breakthroughs, translating these advances into better therapies, and delivering on our promise of extraordinary patient care for all,” said Glimcher. “And for that, the PMC will always have our deepest gratitude.”

According to Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC and an Institute Trustee, this year was special precisely because it was normal, as many COVID-19 restrictions from the past two years were lifted and the ride returned to its traditional pre-pandemic form. “It was a blessing to live this weekend as we knew it, with all its greatness and humanity,” Starr said. “The PMC is bigger than any one of us, and what we achieve together lifts us all.”

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Dana-Farber is committed to providing the best possible care to patients from all walks of life. In recent years, the Institute has prioritized expanding its clinical facilities into surrounding communities to better reach medically underserved patients with the Institute’s signature Total Patient Care model, which includes supportive services from the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (POPC). To further this mission, Institute Trustee Alison Poorvu Jaffe and her husband, Daniel G. Jaffe, recently made a substantial gift to establish the Poorvu Jaffe Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care at Dana-Farber and to launch the Initiative to Integrate Supportive Oncology and Health Equity. The initiative is aimed at advancing the Institute’s mission to eliminate racial, socioeconomic, cultural, and other disparities in patient care and outcomes.

Historically, the majority of patients seen by caregivers in POPC have been white, educated, English-speaking patients, most often self-referred and treated on the Longwood campus. This is something the Poorvu Jaffe family would like to see change. As a former patient and longtime supporter of palliative and psychosocial care at Dana-Farber, Poorvu Jaffe knows how integral managing the emotional and physical side effects of cancer treatment is to one’s cancer journey.

“Since I have been connected with Dana-Farber I have been impressed by the Institute’s commitment to treating and supporting the whole person throughout their journey,” said Poorvu

Jaffe, who also recently joined the Dana-Farber Society with a legacy gift through her estate plan. “But I know there is still work to be done to expand access and integrate supportive care for patients who come from underserved backgrounds. Dana-Farber recognizes those barriers to care, such as cultural sensitivities and language, and we wanted to do our part to improve the Institute’s ability to meet the needs of all populations. It was important to know that the health equity initiative does not just focus on getting people into the door once, but on providing them access to the cancer support and care needed throughout their cancer journey.”

The Poorvu Jaffe Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care is the first chair in this field established at Dana-Farber and one of only a few endowed chairs in palliative care or psychosocial oncology in the country. This permanent endowment will support research and patient care priorities and advance the field of psychosocial oncology and palliative care overall, in perpetuity. The inaugural incumbent is James Tulsky, MD, who serves as chair of POPC.

“James has devoted his career to improving the patient experience,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “His work has helped to identify what matters most to patients and how to improve the experience of living with cancer. As the inaugural Poorvu Jaffe Chair, James will continue to innovate and advance this critical field.”

Bolstered by funds from the Poorvu Jaffes’ gift, Tulsky is launching an initiative to ensure that patients from priority neighborhoods in Boston have access to and education about supportive oncology services as part of their cancer treatment, and, ultimately, see Dana-Farber as a trusted provider of choice.

“As the Institute continues to expand its geographic footprint to reach more patients from diverse backgrounds and identities, our team is working to fully integrate psychosocial and palliative services into all aspects of clinical care,” said Tulsky. “The Poorvu Jaffe family’s support through many years has been transformative, and this gift is another example of that.”

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In 2017, a mammogram revealed that Langley Perer had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the very earliest, and highly treatable, stage of breast cancer. Because she also tested positive for BRCA2, an inherited gene mutation that increases her risk of developing certain cancers over her lifetime, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy to ensure the cancer wouldn’t return. It was a difficult decision, but afterward, she felt ready to move forward with her life, her career, and taking care of her two small children, Bowie, age 5, and Sawyer, age 7.

But then in 2021, Langley noticed one of her eyelids was drooping. Another series of tests later, she received devastating news: at 40 years old, she had leptomeningeal metastases. Her cancer had spread to her bones, brain, and spinal fluid.

Leptomeningeal brain metastases (LBM) are rare and difficult to treat, with progress stalled largely due to lack of funding for clinical trials that include this specific subset of patients. Langley and her husband, Scott Rosenberg, both work in the film industry and are savvy about getting projects off the ground. They have applied this approach to philanthropically supporting the work of Langley’s doctor, Nancy Lin, MD, with a substantial $2 million commitment—the largest gift ever to LBM research at Dana-Farber. Lin serves as director of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Program and of the Program for Patients with Breast Cancer Brain Metastases at Dana-Farber, and is considered one of the foremost experts on LBM in the country.

“I learned from Nancy that there hasn’t been a change in the way we treat LBM in 30 years or so,” said Langley. “It’s not just about saving my life—if 5-10% of people with a breast cancer diagnosis have LBM, that is not a small number of people. There is a better way of treating this out there, and we can provide the resources to find it.”

This gift has enabled Lin to launch a groundbreaking clinical trial to test a class of drugs called antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), and for the first time ever, a sub-cohort of LBM patients will be eligible to participate. Often referred to as “smart bombs,” ADCs combine an antibody protein with chemotherapy. The protein enables the therapy to recognize and latch onto the cancer cells to deliver high doses of the drug. Unlike conventional chemotherapy, ADCs are extremely selective, thus sparing more healthy cells.

“Historically, due to its rarity, poor prognosis, and the assumption that most anti-cancer molecules were too large to pass through the blood brain barrier, patients with LBM have been excluded from nearly all clinical trials,” said Lin, who is also the associate chief of the Division of Breast Oncology within the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers. “ADCs have strong potential to provide therapeutic benefits for many of these patients, and this gift from Langley and Scott fills a critical gap in funding for the clinical trials.”

In addition to pledging $2 million of their own money, and thanks to the generosity of some of their friends and family, Langley and Scott are also committed to raising further funds to support additional clinical trials and expand the team of researchers developing treatments for LBM.

“I’d like to believe there is a reason we’re facing this,” said Scott. “Because we have the means to help, and know a lot of others who wish to help, maybe there’s a good chance we can save a whole lot of people.”

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The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) attracts runners from across the globe as they take on 26.2 miles in support of innovative basic research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute each year. The 2022 team included more than 500 dedicated individuals who ran the renowned route from Hopkinton to Boylston St. for the 126th Boston Marathon.^® The roster of runners included cancer patients and survivors, Dana-Farber employees, and friends and family participating in tribute to loved ones affected by cancer. While each teammate brought a unique perspective, all were united in their unwavering commitment to accelerate Dana-Farber’s pace to the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.

This season’s DFMC team raised nearly $7 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. The program selects the brightest, most creative scientists and funds their most innovative ideas to propel basic research discoveries that transform cancer treatment—bolstering a key strategic priority of The Dana-Farber Campaign. Since the Marathon Challenge’s inception in 1990, one hundred percent of all DFMC fundraising efforts have supported the Claudia Adams Barr Program, with more than $115 million raised by the team to date.

“We see our fundraising dollars drive meaningful progress through the results of the program investigators,” said Scott Raven, a six-time DFMC runner who runs to honor his mother, who passed away from breast cancer. “If you get what you give in this world, then being an advocate for Dana-Farber is one of the easiest ‘gives’ of my life.” This season was especially important to Scott as he proudly achieved $100,000 in lifetime fundraising for DFMC.

Many runners return year after year not only to support Dana-Farber’s mission, but also for the team camaraderie. Heather Daley and Heather Kispert Hagerty each celebrated their 25-year milestones with DFMC this season. Heather Daley’s commitment to Dana-Farber goes beyond running, as she has worked in the Novel Cell Therapy Lab at the Institute for more than 40 years. “I have seen firsthand that research leads to lifesaving treatments, and I plan to continue to run the marathon with Dana-Farber as long as my body is willing,” she said.

Heather Kispert Hagerty’s relationships extend beyond her teammates thanks to her Patient Partner Program participation. “I have been partnered with two patients,” Heather said. “I became very close to the first patient’s family, continuing to run in her memory since her passing. The second patient is the daughter of family friends who was diagnosed with cancer at age four. She recently graduated from college, with plans to be a pediatric oncology nurse. I continue to write their names on my legs each year—they are the wings that carry me.”

Alfonso Carrillo and Stephany Garza embarked on their first marathon together with DFMC in April. “Surreal does not even begin to describe our first marathon experience,” Alfonso said. “One of our family members was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after we completed the marathon and Dana-Farber was there to help us navigate this difficult situation.” Stephany notes that their efforts have taken on new meaning now that they are feeling the blanket of support from Dana-Farber. “It’s hard to express the gratitude that we feel seeing the research and care directly benefitting our family. We have many more miles to run to continue to support Dana-Farber, and we encourage others to do the same.”

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For 34 years, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute supporters have come together for a day of inspiration and hope at the Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, raising lifesaving funds to defy cancer for patients everywhere. The Jimmy Fund Walk is Dana-Farber’s signature event, raising more than $160 million since its inception. Historically, thousands of walkers have gathered on the world-famous Boston Marathon^® course each fall.

For the past two years, the event shifted to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with supporters walking in their own communities. On October 2, the Jimmy Fund Walk celebrated a triumphant return to the Boston Marathon course, with more than 7,500 dedicated walkers participating in person or virtually, raising more than $8 million from generous donors. Walkers came from 44 states and 13 countries all over the world, to be part of this impactful day.

Walkers chose from four distances along the Boston Marathon course ranging from a 5K to the full 26.2-mile marathon. They were cheered on by more than 750 volunteers, who provided both logistical and moral support. For participants who preferred to remain walking in their own communities, virtual options were available. Hyundai proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the event, marking more than 20 years of unwavering philanthropic commitment, and Team Hyundai, made up of Hyundai Motor America employees and Eastern Region Hyundai Dealerships, raised an incredible $200,000. Along the course, walkers stopped to refresh at 12 refueling stations with complimentary food and water provided by other generous sponsors. All routes ended at the Copley Square Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric, for a celebration complete with food, music, and an inspirational speaking program.

Many walkers and teams, including Team Owen’s Army, were excited to return to the Boston Marathon route this year. Owen’s Army has taken part in the Walk since 2011, walking in honor of Owen Lynch, who passed away at age 3 from rhabdomyosarcoma. The team is led by Owen’s parents, Michael and Julie Lynch, and includes Owen’s three siblings, Casey, Olivia, and Jack, and many extended family members and friends.

“The annual Walk has become a treasured date on our calendar,” said Michael and Julie. “We value the opportunity to gather with family and friends to celebrate Owen, his joyful soul, and support the exemplary institution that provided Owen with unparalleled care.”

This year marked an incredible milestone for Owen’s Army, as the team surpassed $1 million in cumulative fundraising.

“Finding a cure for the cancer that took Owen’s life, and for all cancers, is an enormous undertaking,” his parents continued. “It requires financial resources to fund innovative research for more effective treatments, and to enable care that enhances the quality of life for patients.”

For Owen’s sister Casey, the Jimmy Fund Walk is where she feels most profoundly connected to her brother. “Instead of moving away from Owen—doing things to avoid thinking about our loss—I am moving for him, doing for him.” Casey, along with siblings Olivia and Jack, walk every year in Owen’s memory.

Like Owen’s Army, the entire Jimmy Fund Walk community plays a pivotal role in accelerating Dana-Farber’s mission to prevent, treat, and defy cancer.

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The Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation has made a generous grant to establish the Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The grant will create new awards open to early career physician-scientists in the greater Boston area as they launch their research careers. The Lubin Scholars will receive a four-year financial award of $150,000 per year and work under the tutelage of a Lubin Scholar Mentor to help guide them during this pivotal time in their career. Four Lubin Scholars will be selected annually.

William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, a 2019 Nobel Prize recipient and the Sidney Farber, MD, Professor of Medicine, will serve as the Scientific Director of the Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award program. Candidates will be invited to apply from Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center institutions, which include Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Many studies have shown that physician-scientists leave academic research early in their careers for a number of reasons, including financial limitations and more opportunities in the private sector. Surmounting these formidable barriers to retention in academic research is critical to the future of Dana-Farber’s research enterprise and to the broader community of academic medical centers. The Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award will create new avenues for early career physician-scientists to reach professional and financial stability within the field of academic research.

The Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation, whose Board consists of Richard and Nancy Lubin, Kate Lubin and Glen Sutton, and Emily and Greg Woods, have been longtime supporters of Dana-Farber.

“We are deeply grateful to the Lubin Family for their continued partnership with Dana-Farber, especially for their generous support of our world-class faculty,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “The innovative Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award sets an inspiring example for how we encourage physician-scientists and early career investigators to continue their promising research—by providing them with crucial mentoring and financial resources at a pivotal stage in their careers. This prestigious award will not only help scientists in the field today, but also create a pipeline and support system for future talent who will someday drive the next major breakthroughs and change the landscape of cancer care as we know it.”

Lubin Scholars will be among the most promising early career investigators who are pursuing cancer-relevant basic or translational laboratory-based research and who have demonstrated potential to become the next generation of leaders in cancer research. The selection of Lubin Scholars will focus primarily on those working in fundamental science because many of today’s most important advances in cancer can trace their origins back to research of the basic principles of biology and chemistry.

“I have tremendous admiration for Dana-Farber and respect for its commitment to training the future leaders who will shape the field of oncology. I am pleased that our foundation has been able to work with the Institute to bring to fruition an award that will help the next generations of scientists succeed in their academic research careers,” said Richard Lubin, who has served on Dana-Farber’s Board of Trustees since 1983.

“I know from experience that mentoring colleagues early in their careers has a positive impact on scientific research. Certainly, mentorship combined with a financial award will be incredibly beneficial to young scientists, and this new award will assure that early career researchers can remain focused on their science and scientific training during their critical transition to independence,” said Kaelin. “I am grateful to the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation for its vision and commitment in establishing this important and innovative award.”

This grant is another example of the Lubin family’s legacy and support for Dana-Farber’s faculty, including a gift in 2018 to establish the Richard and Nancy Lubin Family Chair at Dana-Farber and the Richard and Nancy Lubin Research Fund.

This commitment also supports The Dana-Farber Campaign, the Institute’s ongoing and ambitious, multi-year $2 billion fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer by accelerating revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities. Richard Lubin serves on The Dana-Farber Campaign Cabinet.

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Nurses are a critical part of oncology care, helping patients navigate treatment, manage symptoms and side effects of treatment, and facilitate communication among the entire care team. Nurses form close and lasting bonds with patients and families by providing comfort, information, support, and always advocating for their needs. In order to better reflect the full, diverse community of patients served, Dana-Farber is committed to recruiting and training the best nurses from all backgrounds—enhancing the Institute’s ability to provide exceptional, culturally competent patient care. To help achieve this goal, Institute Trustee Phill Gross and his wife, Elizabeth Cochary Gross, PhD, have made a gift of $3.5 million to two nursing programs at Dana-Farber focused on diversifying and strengthening our nursing talent pipeline. Their generous gift supports The Dana-Farber Campaign’s priority to provide extraordinary care and enhances the Institute’s commitment to increasing the diversity of its workforce.

As a member of The Dana-Farber Campaign Cabinet, Phill attended a cabinet meeting that included a presentation by Anne Gross, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer (no relation), in which she described several ways that the Institute is actively working to mitigate the shortage of registered nurses and increase the diversity of the oncology nursing staff.

“We wanted to give where our investment could have a clear and immediate impact on the scale and, particularly, the diversity of the nursing pipeline,” said Phill and Liz. “Nurses are the linchpin of cancer care, and Dana-Farber’s plans to grow and diversify the nursing staff will help patients today and for years to come. These programs specifically focus on nursing students from diverse backgrounds, which is a key objective for the Institute.”

Of the Grosses’ gift, $2.5 million supports the Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program, a one-year program that trains newly licensed nurses from diverse backgrounds to become clinical experts through participation in direct care experiences, classroom learning, professional development, and mentorship activities to develop the knowledge and competencies to care for oncology patients. The Grosses’ contribution will increase the number of participants by five per year for each of the next five years and strengthen the pipeline for the future.

The remaining $1 million will expand the Bridge to Nursing Program, a professional pathway to nursing careers for clinical assistants looking to advance themselves professionally by pursuing a degree in nursing during their employment at Dana-Farber. The program offers mentoring, career development, tutoring, and, as needed, financial assistance. The Grosses’ gift will be specifically directed to clinical assistants from underrepresented groups.

“Oncology nursing is a highly specialized profession,” said Anne Gross. “Growing our pipeline of skilled nurses from all backgrounds is key to maintaining and improving the level of compassionate, personalized, and expert care for all who seek it. I am so grateful to Phill and Liz for their generous investment in our nurses.”

“Over the years, Phill and Liz’s support for Dana-Farber has touched so many aspects of our work—from their investments in basic and translational research, to funding for fellowships, to our emergency response to the pandemic, and now to our acclaimed nursing program,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, Dana-Farber president and CEO and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “We are truly fortunate for their partnership.”

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Institute Trustee Louise Svanberg has long been interested in oncology, and closely follows the latest advances and innovations in cancer research. A few years ago, this interest took on a new significance when her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer—which, had they known about it sooner, would have been easier to treat. Then, Svanberg herself was diagnosed with cancer. Now having the dual perspectives of patient and caregiver, she was inspired to take a more active role in supporting cancer research—especially research to advance early detection, a key strategic priority of The Dana-Farber Campaign.

To that end, Svanberg made a $3 million gift to permanently endow the Svanberg Family Chair at Dana-Farber. She was especially interested in increasing awareness for women’s cancers that are not as well-funded or common as other cancers. She met with Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO of the Institute and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine, and other leaders, to discuss candidates for the chair. “If we can figure out the way to really get early detection working on a broader scale, that could potentially save more people than any treatment,” said Svanberg.

Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, who is chief of the Division of Radiation and Genome Stability, as well as co-founder and co-director of the Center for BRCA and Related Genes, was named as the chair’s inaugural incumbent. He and his lab have developed a platform to examine microRNAs in blood for early signs of cancer—specifically for ovarian cancer, for which there is currently no FDA-approved early detection test. They discovered a distinct microRNA pattern associated with a higher risk of the disease, and now they are testing whether this molecular pattern from a blood test can help predict whether a woman with high genetic risk will go on to develop the disease.

“I am extremely honored to serve as the first incumbent of the Svanberg Family Chair,” said Chowdhury. “Early detection is one of our most effective strategies against cancer, and with Louise’s support, we are working toward a future where we are able to treat more cancers at their earliest and most treatable stages and provide renewed hope for patients everywhere.”

As a cancer patient, Svanberg also understands that treatment is only half the story—the emotional aspects of the cancer journey are equally important. “Cancer lives everywhere in our society, and we need to have a better understanding of who it is,” said Svanberg. “We will all be faced with the questions around cancer at some point in our lives. The more we understand and get to know the early signals we can read in ourselves or in others, the better off we will all be. It’s important to get involved in this effort—the giver is the biggest receiver.”

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Sean Fox was a true champion on and off the lacrosse field. Winner of five national titles as a player and coach at Hobart College, Fox learned valuable life lessons from the sport and promoted them as a successful executive and devoted husband and father. Although, sadly, Sean passed away from liposarcoma in August 2021, his son Connor, along with friends Ben Baranker and Tommy Hale, followed his lead in leveraging lacrosse for maximal social impact by raising funds to defy cancer through the Hope Street Foundation.

Recently, the foundation made a gift of more than $1 million to establish The Sean Fox Fund in support of liposarcoma research led by George Demetri, MD, director of the Sarcoma Center, senior vice president for experimental therapeutics, and the Quick Family Chair in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber. This generous gift was generated through Hope Street’s “Lacrosse for Life” fundraiser on April 2–3, in which players from 43 college programs nationwide had their heads shaved, with the foundation contributing $1,000 per participant.

The Hope Street Foundation’s fundraising success springs from the closeness of the lacrosse community and the leadership of co-founders Baranker, Fox, and Hale, who were classmates and teammates at Brown University. Grounded in their deep personal experience with and commitment to philanthropy, they established the foundation while living together in their college house on Hope Street in Providence, R.I. After reaching out to friends on collegiate lacrosse teams across the country to support their cause, their call to action quickly spread through word of mouth like a ball passed around for the best shot on goal. And like a score on the field, this winning effort may bring closer their hopeful vision of victory against liposarcoma.

In pursuing this mission, Baranker, Fox, and Hale are thrilled to team up with Demetri because he and his colleagues in Dana-Farber’s Sarcoma Center are such dedicated and accomplished leaders in their field. Demetri, in turn, appreciates the foundation’s strong partnership in propelling progress. “Ben, Connor, and Tommy are providing a beacon of hope to patients with liposarcoma through the innovative science they are accelerating, and we are very grateful for the trust and support from this new generation of philanthropists to our mission,” said Demetri.

For the three friends behind the foundation, advancing liposarcoma research and care is as important as sticks are to lacrosse because, given its rarity, liposarcoma receives less funding and attention than other cancers, yet is no less devastating to patients like Sean Fox and families like his. “We are proud to support Dana-Farber’s Sarcoma Center and hope others will continue to join this effort,” said Connor Fox. “Even small strides help to drive significant impact, and with everyone’s help Dr. Demetri and his team can do more than ever to improve the lives of patients and families.”

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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has awarded $1,359,000 in career development grants to three Dana-Farber physician-scientists who are working to develop and refine treatments for blood cancers.

The foundation is a global leader in the fight against cancer, with the goal of finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma, and other blood cancers. For more than four decades, LLS has partnered with Dana-Farber researchers to achieve important breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of these diseases.

Caron Jacobson, MD, MMSc, received an LLS Scholar in Clinical Research grant to investigate the safety and effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory primary and secondary central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL), an extremely rare and deadly form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CAR T-therapy is a revolutionary cellular therapy that uses specially altered T cells to strengthen the inherent cancer-fighting power of these immune cells.

She and others conducted clinical trials that resulted in recent FDA approval for a different type of CAR T-cell therapy for patients whose large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) or follicular lymphoma (FL) relapsed or wasn’t responding to standard treatments. The LLS grant will enable Jacobson to test this therapy, called axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cell), against central nervous system lymphomas.

“We know that the currently available treatments don’t work in many patients with CNSL, and when they do, the effects are not long-lasting,” said Jacobson, medical director of the Dana-Farber Immune Effector Cell Therapy Program. “We think CAR T-cell therapy may represent the most promising treatment option.”

Andrew Lane, MD, PhD, studies blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an aggressive and uncommon blood cancer that has some of the features of leukemia and lymphoma. It also presents with characteristic skin tumors.

“My goal is to figure out what makes BPDCN tick and translate that knowledge to new therapy,” said Lane, director of Dana-Farber’s Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Center. He is using his LLS Scholar grant to investigate how BPDCN cells differ from normal blood cells, learn why the disease affects men more than women, and develop targeted therapies that can improve survival and minimize side effects.

Christopher Reilly, MD, a physician in Dana-Farber’s Hematologic Oncology Program, received an LLS Special Fellow grant to determine the role of telomere maintenance in intestinal regeneration and mortality among patients receiving a stem cell transplant for a blood cancer. A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome that protects the chromosome from becoming frayed or tangled.

“LLS is pleased to be able to support these Dana-Farber physician-scientists who are working relentlessly to achieve better outcomes for patients with blood cancers,” said LLS Chief Scientific Officer Lee Greenberger, PhD. “LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, and Dana-Farber’s work is a cornerstone that will lead to better care and help accelerate the discovery of cures.”

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The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) has made $1,725,000 in awards to three Dana-Farber researchers who are working to accelerate precision oncology treatments for men with prostate cancer.

The foundation is the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding lifesaving research into prostate cancer, which affects 1 of every 8 adult males. Every year, about 35,000 men in the U.S. die from the disease and another 270,000 are newly diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society. Since 1993, PCF has raised close to $1 billion to support cutting-edge research to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of this cancer.

The foundation has awarded Dana-Farber’s Matthew Freedman, MD, its prestigious $1 million Movember-Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride-PCF Challenge Award. This will support ambitious team science that leverages knowledge of epigenetics to identify promising new treatments for metastatic prostate cancer, which has no known cure. Epigenetics is the study of how genes and gene programs are turned ‘on’ and ‘off’ in a cell. These gene programs are driven by proteins called transcription factors (TFs), which are fundamental in governing how a tumor progresses as well as how it responds to treatment.

Freedman and his team have identified a set of TFs that control the progression of prostate disease to a treatment-resistant, metastatic state. Their research is aimed at gaining fundamental insights into how those regulators work and how they might be targeted to prevent the disease from progressing.

“Thanks to this award, we have the potential to greatly expand therapeutic options for those patients who cannot be cured with currently available strategies,” said Freedman, whose coinvestigators include Mark Pomerantz, MD, Sylvan Baca, MD, PhD, and collaborators in the Netherlands.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is also supporting the work of Himisha Beltran, MD, who is co-directing a new Center of Excellence focused on facilitating best-in-class precision medicine for New England veterans with prostate cancer. The new Blavatnik Family Foundation – PCF Precision Oncology Center of Excellence at Dana-Farber and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, is one of 13 funded by the PCF’s $50 million Veterans Health Initiative to deliver innovative, best-in-class care to veterans with prostate cancer.

Alok Tewari, MD, PhD, received the Advanced Accelerated Applications-PCF Young Investigator Award for his research into the mechanisms that cause high-risk localized prostate cancer to become resistant to intensive androgen therapy.

“We are proud to invest in the work of these gifted Dana-Farber physician-scientists because we know their discoveries will move us closer to our goal of reducing the death and suffering from prostate cancer,” said PCF President and CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD.

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Symptom management is a critical, yet often overlooked, facet of the cancer experience. This reality, along with the extraordinary care and revolutionary science taking place at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, inspired the Fireman Family to make a generous gift of $2.5 million from the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation. This gift to the Institute will support the development of a symptom management platform that will greatly ease the burden of cancer and its treatment for patients. By leveraging Dana-Farber’s existing knowledge and resources in this area, cross-team experts will create a next-generation, evidence-based symptom management solution that will use a patient-centric model to enhance clinicians’ ability to preemptively address and effectively treat the symptoms of cancer.

The Fireman Family is committed to helping Dana-Farber improve patient care. Nausea, pain, and other symptoms can be debilitating for patients, increasing emergency room visits and hospital stays, and driving higher costs and lower quality of life. Dana-Farber’s symptom management platform will address these issues by combining expert guidance with technology-based protocols to support patients, clinical teams, and caregivers through the cancer journey. Ultimately, it will improve outcomes and transform the care experience for patients.

Paul and Phyllis Fireman have supported Dana-Farber for many years, along with their children, Stephanie and Adam Rogers, Lori and Denny Baldwin, and Dan and Penny Fireman. Past gifts from the family have gone to the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living; research in lung cancer, leukemia, and sarcoma; and many more exceptional projects. Most recently, they were inspired to work with Dana-Farber President and CEO Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, and Dana-Farber staff to drive this project forward.

“Our family is honored to be able to support one of the key pillars of Dana-Farber’s mission—patient care,” said Paul and Phyllis Fireman. “We hope this gift will lead to novel approaches to care that will improve the quality of life for patients.”

Adam Reich, vice president of Business Initiatives and Alliances; Michael Hassett, MD, MPH, chief quality officer; and Terri Jabaley, PhD, RN, OCN, clinical inquiry specialist for the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, will work together with patients and care teams to develop the platform, which will be a central place for symptom reporting and tracking, education, and clinical decision support. This tool will give patients more control of their treatment, help doctors and nurses work more efficiently, and ultimately reduce cost of care and unnecessary hospital visits. The Fireman Family is also excited about the unique opportunity of this gift to create lasting impact and funding for Dana-Farber for years to come.

“I am excited and grateful for this wonderful commitment from the Fireman Family,” said Glimcher, who is also the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “This gift will ultimately benefit so many in our patient community at Dana-Farber, and patients with cancer being treated around the world.”

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