Donor Recognition

Dana-Farber has partnered with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), the leading network of immuno-oncology expertise in the world, as a member of the PICI Network with a goal of better understanding the tumor microenvironment across cancer types and translating these basic discoveries into impactful cancer immunotherapies for patients.

The PICI Network was established to promote collaboration between leading-edge research institutions in the field of cancer immunology. Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and sharing research advances enables the network to maximize the scientific value of discoveries and catalyze the development of more effective cancer immunotherapies.

Funding for centers in the PICI Network supports bold, high-risk scientific research that bridges academia and biotech through the potential formation of companies founded to develop next-generation cancer therapies. PICI also facilitates access to advanced bioinformatics, intellectual property, sequencing, immune monitoring, industry-owned drugs, cell manufacturing, genetic engineering, and clinical trial management. Network institutes also are offered resources to develop the next generation of scientific leaders as part of PICI’s Early Career Researchers program.

“Dana-Farber investigators are innovators in immuno-oncology,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, Dana-Farber president and CEO and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “As an institutional member of the PICI Network, we will expand our opportunities to work jointly with fellow leaders in the field, bringing together a powerful combination of expertise and resources that will significantly augment our impact on patients.”

Among multiple other research pursuits, scientists at Dana-Farber are drawing a clearer picture of how tumor microenvironments change in response to immunotherapy. The researchers believe this work points to potential targets for the development of more effective drug therapies.

The Center is led by Co-Directors F. Stephen Hodi Jr., MD, who also directs the Melanoma Center and the Center for Immuno-Oncology and is the Sharon Crowley Martin Chair in Melanoma at Dana-Farber; Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, director of Dana-Farber’s Breast Immuno-oncology Program and co-director of the Breast Cancer Clinical Research Program; and Kai Wucherpfennig, MD, PhD, chair of Cancer Immunology and Virology and director of the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy Research at Dana-Farber, and the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Neurology in the Field of Medical Oncology. The PICI grant supports The Dana-Farber Campaign, Dana-Farber’s ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer by accelerating revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities.

As PICI Network collaborators since 2017, Dana-Farber researchers already have contributed to high-profile PICI cancer research studies, including the AMADEUS, REVOLUTION, and PRINCE clinical trials; TRIBUTE, a data-driven approach to metastatic triple-negative breast cancer; the Tumor Neoantigen Selection Alliance; and the revolutionary discovery of a cancer detection protein in the immune system.

“As a PICI Network member, Dana-Farber will be an even more integral part of a national and international team of scientists working in concert to deliver cures to patients,” said John Connolly, PhD, PICI chief scientific officer. “We welcome the progression of our partnership and look forward to even greater collaboration ahead.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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Dana-Farber's Bing Center for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia is the world’s largest referral center for a rare blood cancer that occurs in only about 1,500 patients each year. Tim Bliss, of Santa Barbara, California, is one of them.

When Bliss was diagnosed in 2017, his research quickly led him to Dana-Farber and Steven Treon, MD, PhD, director of the Bing Center. It wasn’t long before Bliss began commuting from the West Coast several times a year for consultations and treatment.

"The team at the Bing Center are extraordinarily capable, but, more than that, extremely passionate,” said Bliss, a partner in Partners Fund Capital. “They want to solve Waldenström’s in the worst way. It’s a life’s work for them.”

That’s why Tim and his wife, Ginny, are giving Dana-Farber $2.2 million to establish an investigatorship to support the work of a mid-career researcher to be selected by Treon. Computational biologist Zachary Hunter, PhD, has been named the inaugural incumbent.

“The reason we have made so much progress in the Bing Center is because we’ve been able to do basic as well as translational science,” said Treon, crediting Hunter’s key role in the breakthrough discovery of the MYD88 mutation. Hunter later found the second-most common mutation in Waldenström’s, the CXCR4 gene. Knowing which mutation a patient has allows doctors to offer the treatment regimen most likely to be effective.

“Literally thousands of lives have now been impacted by these truly seminal discoveries and the Blisses have given us the opportunity to make generational advancements in this disease,” Treon said, noting that the couple have also made previous gifts to support Hunter’s research. “Zach is one of the most respected individuals in the genomics field for our disease. We’re so happy that the Blisses have enabled him to continue his career at our Institute.”

Endowed investigatorships support the work of one or more leading physician-scientists at the mid-point of their career and help Dana-Farber attract and retain faculty of the highest quality.

By endowing the new investigatorship, said Tim Bliss, “we feel we’re supporting research for a disease that doesn’t get a lot of financial support, and a team that’s really exceptional, passionate, and capable.”

Hunter said the Blisses’ gift will fund more early stage research as well as provide financial stability for him and his family. “It’s a really big deal,” he said. “I’m so thankful.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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Each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund participates in a worldwide celebration of generosity known as GivingTuesday. And each year, thousands of generous supporters step forward in response. More than 6,500 people across the country gave more than $1.7 million to the Institute during the 2022 GivingTuesday campaign, surpassing the $1 million goal. 

“We are so touched by the outpouring of support for our patients, our staff, and our efforts to support patient care, fund our world class research, and make cancer care more equitable,” said Melany Duval, senior vice president of philanthropy and chief development officer. “Everyone who donated on GivingTuesday is advancing our research and also helping us offer services insurance doesn’t cover—things like social and emotional support, help with housing or groceries, and outreach to ensure that everyone has access to our world-class care.”

Cael, a 3-year-old patient in Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic who has leukemia, was featured during the GivingTuesday campaign. “When your child is sick, the whole family is sick,” said Cael’s mother, Yuli. “But the Jimmy Fund Clinic staff care so much about the children and the parents, too. Cael loves going to the clinic and playing with stickers and Play-Doh.”

Arbella Insurance Group generously matched the first $50,000 in donations—doubling their impact. Among the gifts received for GivingTuesday was a $100,000 donation from an anonymous donor who was inspired to contribute because Dana-Farber is “not only a leader in cancer care, but a model for all health care.”

Begun in 2012 as a day to do good after the post-Thanksgiving days of consumer spending, GivingTuesday has grown into a “global generosity movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity year-round,” according to GivingTuesday.org. Dana-Farber joined the movement in 2014 and since that time our generous community of support has contributed a more than $9.8 million to our lifesaving mission.

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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In 2001, Janet L. Abrahm, MD, joined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a palliative care physician, becoming a pivotal force in founding and nurturing the Adult Palliative Care Program—a move that created a sea change in how Dana-Farber cares for patients with  cancer and brought much-deserved attention and recognition to the field. Palliative care physicians ensure patients with serious illness maintain their best quality of life and manage physical symptoms by identifying what matters most to patients—essentially aligning care plans with individual values.

Today, Dana-Farber, is one of the few cancer centers that has an integrated Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Department. As a national leader, Abrahm understood the importance of supporting patients’ emotional well-being through the uncertain journey of cancer treatment and survivorship. Now, Abrahm is once again elevating this important discipline by providing opportunities for the next generation of professionals by establishing a Research Fellowship.  A pioneer professionally and philanthropically, Abrahm decided to provide annual support to establish and sustain the fellowship during her lifetime while ensuring it lasts in perpetuity by endowing the fund with a $1 million bequest.

This fellowship is a generous and significant tribute to the life work of Abrahm and her dedication to Dana-Farber’s core value of compassionate care. Throughout her career, Abrahm has mentored countless physicians and tirelessly supported the growth of Dana-Farber’s nationally recognized department. This fellowship will sustain that work and allow Dana-Farber to attract the brightest early career palliative care clinician-researchers and grow the next generation.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Janet’s generosity and thoughtfulness,” says James Tulsky, MD, chair of the department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, and the Poorvu Jaffe Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care at Dana-Farber. “She is one of our field’s great pioneers, and her dedication to patients and to the Division of Adult Palliative Care over the last 20 years is unmatched. This gift exemplifies her commitment to the Institute’s mission and to advancing the science and practice of palliative care. It is an honor to partner with Janet in considering her legacy.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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Career venture capitalist and Institute Trustee Howard Cox and his wife, Wendy Cox, are no strangers to the revolutionary science and clinical treatments happening at the Institute. “Dana-Farber covers everything from doing the research, to the clinical trials, to getting the clinical trials approved and then getting it translated into pharmaceuticals that can significantly help people,” says Howard

When Howard and Wendy Cox saw an opportunity to further help Dana-Farber’s mission to defy cancer, they didn’t hesitate to act. The Coxes committed $1 million to establish the Howard & Wendy Cox Colorectal Cancer Therapeutics Discovery Fund, which will support discoveries into new therapeutics that promote differentiation and cancer cell death in colorectal cancer.

“This gift reflects our confidence in this world-class institution,” says Howard. “We have some of the greatest researchers in the world at Dana-Farber, and they’ve proven their ability to make significant advances in treating this horrible disease. Hopefully our gift can combine with others’ generosity to help discover more cures.”

This fund will support research under the direction of James Cleary, MD, PhD, director of clinical research in the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Nilay Sethi, MD, PhD, in the Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center, as they work together to translate the cutting-edge science happening in Dana-Farber labs into real-life treatments for patients. “It’s very powerful putting together the researcher with the clinical doctor—the work that they’re doing is very innovative,” Howard explains.

While this most recent gift from the Coxes to Dana-Farber will help spark new innovations in colorectal research, Cox has been a longtime supporter of the Institute and its mission. Always looking for ways to creatively invest in what’s next in research and treatments, Cox has supported Dana-Farber in a wide variety of ways, including funding for various entrepreneurial-minded programs such as the Presidential Entrepreneurial Initiatives Fund; cutting-edge technology such as single cell analyses; and helping Dana-Farber recruit and retain world-class faculty.

“Truly, we cannot pursue the bold studies needed to spark life-changing advances without philanthropic support, and we cannot thank Howard and Wendy enough for entrusting us with theirs,” says Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, Dana-Farber president and CEO and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine.

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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When the Lustgarten Foundation was founded in 1998, fewer than 10 principal investigators across the U.S. had a primary focus on pancreatic cancer. At the time, less than .05% of federal funding was allocated to pancreatic cancer research, and few scientists had the resources to translate findings from the lab to the clinic. Since then, the foundation has become the world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, contributing nearly $250 million to the cause.

In 2022, the Lustgarten Foundation awarded nearly $1.5 million to support a Dana-Farber clinical trial that will test a promising new immunotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Under the direction of James Cleary, MD, PhD, director of clinical research in the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, and William Freed-Pastor, MD, PhD, this phase 1 trial will test the safety and efficacy of a CD40 agonist in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor and an anti-TIGIT antibody—a novel immune checkpoint target—in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Investigators hope that these three treatments together will marshal enough immune forces to induce a significant response in patients with pancreatic cancer.

“Because we know that most patients develop metastatic disease even after successful chemotherapy and that chemotherapy itself alters the immune population surrounding a tumor, it’s essential that treatments, as reflected in Dr. Cleary and Dr. Freed-Pastor’s approach, are tailored considering these alterations,” said Linda Tantawi, Lustgarten Foundation CEO. “We believe Dana-Farber’s clinical trial is critical to giving pancreatic cancer patients more time and hope for better outcomes.”

This trial is being launched on the heels of very promising lab-based studies led by Freed-Pastor. Using mouse models of pancreatic cancer, Freed-Pastor found that combining a CD40 agonist with anti-PD-1 and anti-TIGIT antibodies showed significant activity against pancreatic cancer. These drugs induced a substantial immune response, with half the models showing some sensitivity and 25% of them achieving a complete response. This is an extraordinary result for pancreatic cancer, which has proven to be largely resistant to traditional immune therapies. 

“Thanks to the Lustgarten Foundation’s generosity, we are bringing a groundbreaking therapeutic approach to a group of people with few treatment options,” said Cleary. “Now, we can make these early studies really count for patients.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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A dedicated supporter of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for more than 28 years, Expect Miracles Foundation marked a record-breaking year in 2022 by raising $1.25 million in support of the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber. To date, the foundation has donated a cumulative total of more than $13 million to Dana-Farber in its quest to generate hope and improve outcomes for cancer patients. 

Expect Miracles Foundation rallies members of the financial services industry and beyond to invest in cancer research—from leading financial services companies to start-ups, senior executives to young adults, and corporate foundations to family trusts. In addition to funding research, the organization aims to advance the financial and emotional health of young adult cancer survivors through its financial assistance Samfund grants program.

Funds are raised through a variety of events each year. In 2022, this included fitness fundraisers, networking events, and two signature golf tournaments. Financial industry executives came together at the foundation’s longest-standing event, the 28th Annual East Coast Classic golf tournament in July, which was held at the Pinehills Golf Course in Plymouth, Mass. In October, despite an overcast, rainy day, over 330 golfers were determined to putt for a purpose, joining Expect Miracles Foundation at the Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, N.J., for the foundation’s largest tournament to date: the 5th Annual Atlantic Coast Classic. 

“I am immensely proud that Expect Miracles Foundation is one of the top 75 donors of Dana-Farber since it was founded in 1947 and want to express my gratitude to our supporters whose steadfast generosity led to us achieving a fundraising record in 2022,” said Frank Strauss, founder and chairman of Expect Miracles Foundation. “Together, we are fueling revolutionary research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that will have a lifesaving impact.”

All funds raised for Dana-Farber benefit the Belfer Center, a fully integrated oncology research center where academic physician-scientists collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies to drive the development of next-generation cancer therapies.

“Support from Expect Miracles Foundation has propelled our progress,” said Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, director of the Belfer Center and of the Carole M. and Philip L. Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancers. Jänne is also the David M. Livingston, MD, Chair at Dana-Farber. “The funding allows investigators to efficiently tackle challenges in clinical research and drug development, improving how we detect, treat, and defy cancer.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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Since 1953, the Boston Red Sox have had a deep and multifaceted impact on patients with cancer through the team’s strong partnership with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. A shining example of this is the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon presented by Arbella Insurance, the yearly fundraiser through which the Red Sox have pitched in to strike out this disease since 2002.

Taking place on August 23 and 24, 2022 at Fenway Park, the 20th annual Radio-Telethon generated over $3.5 million for adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber, bringing the program’s cumulative total to $65 million since 2002. This strong team effort was propelled by gifts from the Red Sox Partners Challenge, NESN employee fundraising and company match, and generous contributions from Rob Hale, Ernie Boch Jr., Rockport Mortgage, and the Arbella Insurance Foundation. Once again, WEEI and NESN executed an outstanding 36-hour broadcast that featured stories from Dana-Farber doctors, patients, and families, bolstered by special appearances by Red Sox executives, players, coaches, and alumni, as well as sports heroes and leaders from the Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics, plus other special guests.

As always, the Radio-Telethon abounded with memorable moments that moved the hearts of listeners and viewers alike. Especially inspiring were segments featuring patients who shared hopeful stories and shined in on-field ceremonies to commemorate the milestone anniversary. Several patients from past Radio-Telethons returned this year, including Tori Rando and Tanya Searle, who became close friends as teen patients in Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic; Vinny Basile, who was also treated at the clinic as a teen and celebrated his 39th birthday at the 2022 broadcast; clinic patient Ben Finer, who graduated college in 2020 and now works in tech support; and OK Eason, who is still cycling and going strong thanks to an experimental treatment at Dana-Farber that keeps his glioblastoma at bay. All embody the powerful possibilities unlocked by advances enabled through funding from the Radio-Telethon.

Radio-Telethon’s success is due in part to the continued commitment of presenting sponsor, Arbella Insurance. John Donohue, chairman, president, and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman of the Arbella Insurance Foundation, underscored the Radio-Telethon’s importance to Arbella and the communities it serves: “The Radio-Telethon shows how many people are touched by cancer and reminds us about the great work being done by the doctors, nurses, and staff at Dana-Farber. Arbella is extremely proud to support Dana-Farber in its work to treat and help prevent this devastating disease.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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It all began over 20 years ago with a simple, yet profound, act of kindness by Alex Scott, a determined little girl with cancer, who held a lemonade stand fundraiser to help other kids like her and inspired countless others to do the same. Since her passing at the age of 8, Alex’s legacy of kindness and determination has continued through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which has awarded more than 1000 research grants to 150+ institutions in North America in pursuit of her vision—a cure for all children with cancer.

ALSF recently awarded grants totaling $3.32 million to advance the Institute’s pediatric oncology research efforts, bringing the total granted to Dana-Farber physician-scientists to over $19 million since 2005. Rani George, MD, PhD, leading a group of researchers from four other institutions, received a $3 million award as part of ALSF’s Crazy 8 Initiative aimed at curing hard-to-treat cancers. George and her co-investigators will identify and target genetic drivers of osteosarcoma lung metastasis, the primary cause of death in osteosarcoma. This research will leverage cutting-edge technologies to investigate genetic changes in individual cancer cells as metastasis develops and to develop new drugs acting as “molecular glues” to stick to target proteins involved in metastatic disease causing them to be destroyed inside the cell. Such new therapies would be a milestone for metastatic osteosarcoma, which has not seen treatment improvements in decades. George also received an Innovation Award to test a novel compound that may target the synthesis of a protein called MYCN, which is critical for uncontrolled cancer cell growth in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.

ALSF gave Young Investigator Awards to Riaz Gillani, MD, and John Prensner, MD, PhD. Gillani will use his funding to study the role of inherited mutations, including those involved in DNA damage repair, in the development of neuroblastoma and to identify specific mutations associated with high-risk neuroblastoma, which is the most difficult to treat. Prensner will explore how a newly identified protein, ASNSD1 uORF, and other proteins derived from un-mapped regions of the “dark genome" are regulated by and work in conjunction with MYC, a well-known genetic driver of medulloblastoma.

ALSF also made four grants to fund pediatric oncology student research projects, supporting the Institute’s commitment in training the next generation of oncology researchers. ALSF co-executive director Liz Scott shared, “My daughter Alex left a legacy that has allowed us to change the lives of other children with cancer and their families. These grants represent our continued commitment to funding the most promising scientists and ideas that will lead to new cures for all children with cancer.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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OOFOS, a company dedicated to helping people recharge their bodies through recovery footwear, has taken major steps in the fight against cancer by donating more than $1.4 million in 2022 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with cumulative total funding of more than $3 million. Their generous philanthropic support will fund breast cancer research and honor the legacy and memory of former OOFOS Brand Leader and Marketing Director Duncan Finigan.

In 2014, Finigan was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. A lifelong athlete, loving wife, and mother of four, Finigan and her family were stunned by her diagnosis. She underwent treatment at Dana-Farber, but, sadly, passed away in 2019.

Inspired by Finigan, OOFOS launched Project Pink in 2015, an initiative created to give back to Dana-Farber and fund new medical breakthroughs. Over the course of the year, OOFOS donates 2% of every online purchase from OOFOS.com to breast cancer research at Dana-Farber. Additionally, each October OOFOS designs a limited-edition Project Pink footwear style, generating excitement amongst their loyal customer base. This special campaign, as well as a few other exclusive annual campaigns, donates 100% of profits. Through its Project Pink initiative, OOFOS has demonstrated dedication, motivation, and love.

“OOFOS is extremely proud to have reached the significant milestone of $3 million donated to Dana-Farber,” says Lou Panaccione, OOFOS co-founder and CEO. “We are honored to raise funds to support breast cancer research and patient care in memory of Duncan, one of OOFOS’ first employees and a close friend.”

Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Breast Oncology in Dana-Farber’s Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, has been a critical partner for OOFOS. She and her team have made significant progress, including the creation of a translational hub. This hub has led to building a unique biorepository for blood/tissue/stool collection from patients with breast cancer and hiring a dedicated research scientist and research pathologist to efficiently organize the complex data, thus helping more patients.

“The support from OOFOS is allowing us to move in a direction that will have transformational impacts on the lives of patients with breast cancer,” says Tolaney. “We are now able to address multiple important scientific questions in breast cancer, and for this, we are so grateful.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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The Edward P. Evans Foundation, which funds the most promising research in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a type of blood cancer, has awarded grants totaling $2.325 million to five Dana-Farber researchers who are pursuing innovative MDS strategies.

As director of the Edward P. Evans Center for MDS at Dana-Farber, R. Coleman Lindsley, MD, PhD, is investigating the role of telomere dysfunction in MDS. Telomeres are caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect chromosomes. Lindsley previously reported that inherited defects in the maintenance of telomeres are linked to MDS and that patients who have short telomeres have poor survival after bone marrow transplantation. This new funding will support improved clinical testing, influence treatment decisions, and aid in the design of new therapies for patients with MDS.

“I am grateful for the Evans Foundation’s support of this research. An improved understanding of how telomere damage influences development and treatment of MDS may further inform prognosis and drive the discover of better treatment approaches,” said Lindsley.

With her grant, Zuzana Tothova, MD, PhD, is using research models of cohesin-mutant MDS to study the role of inflammation during disease development. Mutations in the cohesin protein complex occur in up to 20% of MDS. She will also investigate whether reactivating transposable elements, fragments of DNA inserted into our germline from ancient viral infection, drives MDS inflammatory changes, which could aid in developing new treatments.

Philipp Rauch, MD, is using barcoding technology to track blood cells to understand how the behavior of cells carrying a mutation for clonal hematopoiesis, an MDS precursor condition, differs from that of normal cells, which may help identify new therapeutic targets.

Previously, Rahul Vedula, MD, found that MDS cells carrying a specific mutation in the U2AF1 gene often have a mutation in the BCOR gene as well. He is studying the molecular mechanisms by which the two genes cooperate to drive MDS.

Hypomethylating agents are cornerstone treatments for MDS, but their anti-tumor mechanisms remain poorly understood. Rishi Puram, MD, PhD, is investigating epigenetic mechanisms that modulate cellular responses to hypomethylating agents, which may offer insight into new therapies that target DNA methylation in MDS.

“We are grateful for the talent, dedication, and commitment of our supported Dana-Farber investigators to finding solutions to the complex challenge of MDS, and we are proud to support their work,” said Michael Lewis, president of the Edward P. Evans Foundation.

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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In 2021, the world lost a giant of cancer medicine with the sudden passing of David Livingston, MD. An internationally recognized cancer biologist, Livingston was a renowned expert on the molecular origins of breast and ovarian cancer. Livingston was the Charles A. Dana Chair in Human Cancer Genetics at Dana-Farber and the Emil Frei III, MD, Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Medicine at Harvard Medical School at the time of his death.

Livingston’s research focused on genes that regulate cell growth in the body, and his work has been the cornerstone of many studies of cancer susceptibility linked to BRCA function and mutations. By understanding the tumor suppressive properties of BRCA1 and BRCA2, he paved the way for studying novel approaches to breast and ovarian cancer prevention.

Livingston held numerous leadership positions at Dana-Farber and emphasized collaboration as foundational to major discoveries, including the Bridge Project, which links the cancer research efforts of the Koch Institute for Integrative Research at MIT and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Above all, Livingston served as a valuable mentor, taking more than 200 students, fellows, and junior scientists under his wing throughout his 50-year career at Dana-Farber.

“David was one of the world’s leading scientists, but that only scratches the surface of why he is missed,” said Dana-Farber’s William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, a 2019 Nobel laureate and the Sidney Farber, MD, Professor of Medicine. “David served as my mentor since I first entered his laboratory, where I was immediately inspired by his intellect and infectious enthusiasm. He continued to support me and so many others throughout our careers.”

In an outpouring of support, nearly 200 of his family members, friends, colleagues, collaborators, past trainees, Dana-Farber Trustees, donors, and grant-makers contributed more than $3 million to endow the David M. Livingston, MD, Chair at Dana-Farber in his honor.

“We think that David would appreciate being recognized in this meaningful way,” said Dana-Farber Trustees Debbie and Bob First. “David was responsible for Debbie’s treatment for ovarian cancer in 1977—and why she is here today. We all miss his genius and his humor, but mostly we miss his friendship.”

“We are pleased to support the future scientific accomplishments of this new chair in memory of David, who was a monumental figure in cancer research,” said Caroline Montojo, president and CEO of the Dana Foundation.

Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, director of the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, the Carole M. and Philip L. Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, and the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancers at Dana-Farber, will serve as the inaugural incumbent of the David M. Livingston, MD, Chair at Dana-Farber.

“We are proud to support this endowed chair to honor David’s legacy, enabling his spirit of mentorship, scholarly research, and collaboration to continue,” said Mindy and Jon Gray of the Gray Foundation, who contributed a gift of $1 million to seed this chair in Livingston’s memory.

Added Kaelin: “We’ll never be able to replace David’s presence, but this endowed chair honors him by supporting the work of a leading cancer scientist in perpetuity and ensuring patients everywhere continue to benefit from his extraordinary legacy.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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Jimmy Fund Golf presented by Mohegan Sun returned in full force in 2022, with courses around New England and across the country welcoming golfers in support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund’s lifesaving mission. Thanks to dedicated volunteer tournament directors, sponsors, donors, and players, Jimmy Fund Golf raised more than $6.7 million through more than 140 golf events in 2022 to help Dana-Farber defy cancer.

Making this year extra special was the celebration of Jimmy Fund Golf’s 40th season. Since the program was officially formed in 1983 by a small group of passionate golfers and fundraisers—some of whom are still involved today—Jimmy Fund Golf has grown into a committed community united in its efforts to create a world without cancer. Contributing more than $156 million to cancer care and research, this golf community has been instrumental in advancing Dana-Farber’s revolutionary work, and Jimmy Fund Golf looks forward to another 40 years together on the fairways.

Find full coverage of Jimmy Fund Golf’s 2022 season, including photos, leaderboard, milestone anniversaries, and sponsors, in The Year in Review.

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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While the immune system is inherently able to identify and destroy harmful cells, tumors often develop ways to interrupt anti-cancer immune activity. Restoring this powerful effect in order to defeat cancer through therapies that galvanize the immune system has transformed the treatment trajectory and potential for cure in many cancers. For over 70 years, Cancer Research Institute (CRI) has fostered growth in the field of cancer immunotherapy by supporting projects and people that established this modality as a central pillar in the treatment of cancer around the world. CRI has once again invested in Dana-Farber, recognizing our shared mission of transforming all cancers into curable diseases with a total of more than $1.6 million in grants to Philip Kranzusch, PhD, Jiaxin Liang, PhD, and Xiaohan Ning, PhD.

Kranzusch received the Lloyd J. Old STAR Program grant which will support his research into understanding how a specific group of enzymes produce signals that control anti-tumor immune responses. He will build on his lab’s recent discovery that, in addition to the enzyme cGAS, which is critical to the immune response to many cancers, there are thousands of other “cGAS-like” signaling enzymes. Using an innovative approach developed by his lab to uncover the function of these enzymes, Kranzusch envisions that growing our understanding of the signals that control the immune system could help in the development of drug analogs that mimic the effects of these signals as promising new therapies.

Liang and Ning were each awarded CRI’s Irvington Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Liang will investigate certain aspects of the genetic underpinnings of mitochondria, the energy factories of cells. Specifically, Liang aims to identify genes that control mitochondrial contributions to anti-tumor immune activity and determine whether suppressing these genes could help unleash the immune system against cancer. Ning will study tumor-specific genes that regulate sensitivity to immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer, which is known to harbor a certain subtype of cancer cells that is more metastatic and resistant to immunotherapy. Building on findings from a genetic screen that identified many novel genetic targets, Ning’s research could help toward developing more effective immunotherapies for all metastatic cancers.

“We believe that basic cancer immunology research drives breakthroughs that will ultimately lead to cures for all cancers,” said Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, CRI’s chief executive officer and director of scientific affairs. “We’re delighted to continue investing in people bringing forth these bold innovations at Dana-Farber early in their careers.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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The 2022 Run Any Race season roster consisted of 71 runners who participated in various races across the globe in support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. This program enables runners to do their part to help Dana-Farber prevent, treat, and defy cancer, in an accessible manner that doesn’t require them to travel to the Greater Boston area to participate. Run Any Race had a record-setting year in 2022, with $1.07 million raised to support Dana-Farber’s race toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.

Many team members run to honor a loved one who has been affected by cancer. Andrew Kaczynski, captain of Team Beans and the top fundraiser for 2022, ran in honor of his daughter, Francesca, who passed away before her first birthday from a rare brain tumor. Twenty-two team members joined him and collectively they raised $722,962 to benefit the Infant Brain Tumor Program at Dana-Farber. “Each clinical trial and research effort gets us closer to better treatments,” said Andrew. “We want to see a world where fewer families have to bear the loss of their child or watch them suffer.”

Greg Russell, another pediatric patient parent, ran the Spartan Race at Fenway Park to show his gratitude for the care that his daughter, Emma, has received from the Childhood Leukemia Program team. Greg, also a Dana-Farber patient himself, was motivated to run to thank Dana-Farber for saving his daughter’s life. “They met the challenge, so it was my turn to make sure other families receive the same care and support that we have received,” said Greg.

Margaret Lai registered for Run Any Race not once, but twice during the 2022 season—running the NYC Half and New York City Marathon in honor of her mother who is being treated at Dana-Farber for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Margaret credits the professionalism and care that she and her family have felt at the Institute as the reason for choosing to make more meaning with her miles. “As a scientist, I recognize how important research is to the continuous fight against cancer,” shares Margaret. “I hope that my fundraising efforts support the establishment and maintenance of programs that help patients, both mentally and physically, and just makes what they’re going through easier if possible.”

For more stories about the impact of philanthropy at Dana-Farber, please visit DanaFarberImpact.org.

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