Visit this page often to hear how our community of donors, clinicians, researchers, and patients are helping Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund Defy Cancer.
The Defy Cancer Celebration at Fenway Park
March 30, 2025 The Defy Cancer Celebration at Fenway Park on Sunday, March 30 was a day filled with hope, progress, and community. It highlighted the impact, advances and innovation in cancer care and research made possible by gifts to The Dana-Farber Campaign from 2017 - 2024. Dana-Farber supporters, patients, and their families explored the interactive Defy Cancer Museum which showcased Dana-Farber’s advances in immunotherapy, cancer prevention, early detection, cancer care equity and more made possible through The Dana-Farber Campaign. Dana-Farber doctors, patients, and supporters shared stories of discovery, dedication, and innovation. And attendees wrote messages of hope for Dana-Farber...
March 30, 2025
The Defy Cancer Celebration at Fenway Park on Sunday, March 30 was a day filled with hope, progress, and community. It highlighted the impact, advances and innovation in cancer care and research made possible by gifts to The Dana-Farber Campaign from 2017 - 2024.
Dana-Farber supporters, patients, and their families explored the interactive Defy Cancer Museum which showcased Dana-Farber’s advances in immunotherapy, cancer prevention, early detection, cancer care equity and more made possible through The Dana-Farber Campaign. Dana-Farber doctors, patients, and supporters shared stories of discovery, dedication, and innovation. And attendees wrote messages of hope for Dana-Farber patients.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners the Boston Red Sox for hosting us at iconic Fenway Park, to our incredible speakers, and to the event’s talented performers.
As we move forward and continue to revolutionize cancer research and care, we invite you to stay engaged and learn more about the lifechanging work your support makes possible. We are deeply grateful for the dedication, kindness, and generosity of our Dana-Farber community. Together, we will defy cancer.
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Our Proposed Cancer Hospital
When all you do is cancer, patients benefit. Based on published data and our own research, we believe that patients in dedicated cancer centers have better outcomes than those cared for in general hospitals. In a dedicated cancer hospital, the people, facility design, resources, technology, and data collected — all the collective energy — are focused exclusively on cancer and cancer patients. The Future Cancer Hospital will be located on the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center, and adjacent to both Dana-Farber and BIDMC, creating an interlocking campus and a seamless patient experience from outpatient to inpatient care. The...
When all you do is cancer, patients benefit.
Based on published data and our own research, we believe that patients in dedicated cancer centers have better outcomes than those cared for in general hospitals. In a dedicated cancer hospital, the people, facility design, resources, technology, and data collected — all the collective energy — are focused exclusively on cancer and cancer patients.
The Future Cancer Hospital will be located on the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center, and adjacent to both Dana-Farber and BIDMC, creating an interlocking campus and a seamless patient experience from outpatient to inpatient care.
The proximity to our outpatient and research facilities in Longwood supports our continued bench-to-bedside research model.
*Construction of the Future Cancer Hospital is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals currently in process.
Richard and Nancy Lubin Recognized with Dana-Farber's Highest Honor
We are delighted to share that the Sidney Farber Medical Research Award, Dana-Farber’s most prestigious accolade, has been presented to Dana-Farber Trustee Richard K. Lubin and Nancy Lubin in recognition of their remarkable service and unparalleled dedication to advancing our mission. For over three decades, their leadership and contributions have shaped cancer research and patient care, making an indelible impact on the Institute and the global medical community. Established in 1968 to honor the visionary work of Sidney Farber, MD, this award celebrates those whose efforts reflect his groundbreaking contributions to cancer medicine. Since its inception, the Sidney Farber Medical...
We are delighted to share that the Sidney Farber Medical Research Award, Dana-Farber’s most prestigious accolade, has been presented to Dana-Farber Trustee Richard K. Lubin and Nancy Lubin in recognition of their remarkable service and unparalleled dedication to advancing our mission. For over three decades, their leadership and contributions have shaped cancer research and patient care, making an indelible impact on the Institute and the global medical community.
Established in 1968 to honor the visionary work of Sidney Farber, MD, this award celebrates those whose efforts reflect his groundbreaking contributions to cancer medicine. Since its inception, the Sidney Farber Medical Research Award has been bestowed only 26 times, recognizing individuals and organizations whose passion and generosity have driven significant advancements in cancer research and care. The most recent recipients, the Hale Family, were honored in 2023, and we are excited to add Richard and Nancy to this distinguished group of extraordinary leaders and visionaries.
Together, Richard and Nancy’s contributions blend business acumen, community support, and a strong commitment to advancing innovative research, education, and mentorship. Their longstanding partnership with Dana-Farber is emblematic of their broader philanthropic ethos—investing in the people and institutions of Greater Boston and using their resources and influence to enhance the quality of life across the region. Richard has served as an Institute Trustee for more than 30 years, and in that time, he, Nancy, and the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation have done so much for Dana-Farber, including bolstering drug discovery research; giving generously to support the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care; and empowering faculty through the establishment of the Richard and Nancy Lubin Family Chair at Dana-Farber and the Richard and Nancy Lubin Research Fund, both early investments in priorities of The Dana-Farber Campaign. Richard was an important partner in our historic campaign, serving as a member of the Campaign Cabinet.
In 2022, the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation established the Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award, which offers enhanced mentoring and financial assistance to promising early career physician-scientists, ensuring the continued advancement of cancer research. This special program is carried out under the direction of Nobel Laureate William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, and has already named three cohorts, totaling 12 current Lubin Scholars from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and MIT. Through their support, the Lubins have recognized that as cancer medicine evolves, we bear the responsibility to nurture the next generation of leaders in academic research, driving world-shaping science that will ultimately benefit patients everywhere. Earlier this fall, the Foundation made a second generous commitment to fund three additional cohorts of Lubin Scholars, extending and expanding its impact, while continuing the Lubin family’s commitment to supporting exceptional expertise, a core pillar of The Dana-Farber Campaign. The next call for applicants for the Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Award will be announced in December. More details, including eligibility criteria, can be found here.
As we reflect on the Lubin family’s extraordinary legacy, we are deeply grateful for their unwavering dedication and generosity. Thanks to their partnership, Dana-Farber continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the study and treatment of cancer. Their contributions have been instrumental in driving Dana-Farber’s mission forward, inspiring hope for a future without the burden of this disease. It is an honor to recognize them with this prestigious award.
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Philanthropic Gift Names The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes
This gift also establishes the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber The Mellen and Eisenson Families have made an extraordinary gift in support of BRCA cancer research and clinical care, adding to a legacy of support. In 2021, Trustee Michael Eisenson and his cousin Neil Mellen, who passed away earlier this year, along with their families, provided foundational support for Dana-Farber’s newly formed BRCA center, one of the few centers in the world dedicated to the care for, prevention of, and research into BRCA-related cancers. In recognition of their magnificent contributions, The Mellen and Eisenson Family...
This gift also establishes the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber
The Mellen and Eisenson Families have made an extraordinary gift in support of BRCA cancer research and clinical care, adding to a legacy of support. In 2021, Trustee Michael Eisenson and his cousin Neil Mellen, who passed away earlier this year, along with their families, provided foundational support for Dana-Farber’s newly formed BRCA center, one of the few centers in the world dedicated to the care for, prevention of, and research into BRCA-related cancers. In recognition of their magnificent contributions, The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes will now bear the families’ names. The Mellen and Eisenson Families’ gift honors Michael’s late mother, Velma Eisenson; the late Neil Mellen; and Neil’s late daughter, Nancy Ann Mellen.
The Mellen and Eisenson Family Center for BRCA and Related Genes is dedicated to reducing and eventually eliminating the devastating impact of cancer-promoting BRCA mutations and related heritable genetic anomalies in patients and families at Dana-Farber and across the globe. It is New England’s first academically affiliated BRCA center and one of the very few dedicated BRCA centers in the world. The center is directed by Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, Chief of the Division of Radiation and Genome Stability and the Svanberg Family Chair at Dana-Farber; Judy Garber, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division for Cancer Genetics and Prevention and the Susan F. Smith Chair at Dana-Farber; and Panagiotis (Panos) Konstantinopoulos, MD, PhD.
The Mellen and Eisenson Families’ latest gift provides support for the center’s research priorities, the establishment of an endowed chair, and institutional support. Additionally, the gift endows the David Livingston Early Career Investigator Awards, ensuring perpetual support for emerging leaders in BRCA research. The gift will also establish the Velma Eisenson Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at Dana-Farber, with Konstantinopoulos serving as the inaugural incumbent. The funding to establish the chair was a personal contribution from Eisenson and his spouse Barbara.
Eisenson, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1991, serves as the chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in the Institute’s history. Supporting Dana-Farber’s mission is personally meaningful to Eisenson. He lost his mother to cancer when she was only 45 years old, an experience that shaped his priorities. “I made a commitment to do what I could to help avoid this kind of loss for other families,” said Eisenson. “Every family has a story, and everyone can help. This is the way I chose to help.”
You can read more about this gift, and Michael’s leadership of The Dana-Farber Campaign, in the fall issue of Impact.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Raises More Than $2 Billion in Record-Breaking Fundraising Campaign to Defy Cancer
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the completion of one of the largest fundraising campaigns focused entirely on cancer, raising a record $2.5 billion. The Dana-Farber Campaign a seven-year initiative, has accelerated the Institute’s strategic priorities supporting revolutionary science and extraordinary care. It has funded clinical trials, addressed increased patient volume and cancer diagnoses, and is supporting prevention, early detection, and interception among other groundbreaking initiatives to further its mission. Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, who steps down from her position as President and CEO of Dana-Farber today, led The Dana-Farber Campaign and identified key priorities for philanthropic investment early in...
BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the completion of one of the largest fundraising campaigns focused entirely on cancer, raising a record $2.5 billion. The Dana-Farber Campaign a seven-year initiative, has accelerated the Institute’s strategic priorities supporting revolutionary science and extraordinary care. It has funded clinical trials, addressed increased patient volume and cancer diagnoses, and is supporting prevention, early detection, and interception among other groundbreaking initiatives to further its mission.
Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, who steps down from her position as President and CEO of Dana-Farber today, led The Dana-Farber Campaign and identified key priorities for philanthropic investment early in her tenure.
“It has been an honor to lead this historic campaign that has allowed Dana-Farber to make great strides in cancer research and patient care,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD. “I am grateful to the many benefactors whose generosity and dedication have enabled remarkable progress in the ambitious effort to find cures for cancer.”
“We are grateful for Dr. Glimcher’s leadership in helping us accomplish an extraordinary achievement during her time as CEO at Dana-Farber,” said Josh Bekenstein, chair of the Dana-Farber board of trustees. “The campaign supports Dana-Farber’s world-class leadership at the forefront of cancer care and clinical breakthroughs.”
With a broad base of support from all 50 states and 117 countries, The Dana-Farber Campaign inspired more than 2.2 million gifts from more than 900,000 donors including Jimmy Fund supporters and fundraisers (with 1.5 million gifts under $100) over the course of the seven-year campaign. The Pan-Mass Challenge was the largest single contributor to the campaign and contributed $425 million over the seven years of the campaign made up of over two million individual gifts.
Funds from the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress on many initiatives including:
Clinical Trials: Since the start of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the clinical trial program has increased by more than 22%. Today, Dana-Farber offers one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the nation with more than 1,100 active trials. While some trials are supported by federal funding, many are only possible because of our philanthropic supporters.
Patient Navigation and Cancer Care Equity: Dana-Farber more than doubled the size of its Cancer Care Equity Program, allowing support for more patients from medically underserved communities. Dana-Farber also currently has more than 90 active clinical research studies and pilot programs which relate to the understanding and/or elimination of disparities in cancer.
New Medical Facilities and Patient Volume: Dana-Farber opened three new, world-class patient care facilities in the past five years in Merrimack Valley, Chestnut Hill, and Foxborough — bringing the total number of Dana-Faber facilities to seven and allowing for care, closer to home for more patients and families. In the past year alone, Dana-Farber served over 96,000 patients—a 26% increase since 2019.
Prevention, Early Detection, and Interception: In 2023, Dana-Farber launched a first-of-its-kind, integrated clinic to increase early detection of precancerous conditions and to prevent cancer from arising in individuals at increased risk for the disease. The Centers for Early Detection and Interception at Dana-Farber brings together clinicians and researchers across many cancer types with a shared focus on precursor and hereditary conditions that can be early indicators of blood cancers and solid tumors. The Centers for Early Detection are developing novel technologies and methods for earlier cancer detection, as well as innovative ways to intervene before a cancer fully develops.
For a complete look at how funds raised are making an impact please visit DefyCancer.org.
“I am thankful to Dr. Glimcher for her extraordinary leadership, and I look forward to continuing momentum in this next chapter for Dana-Farber,” said Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, newly appointed President and CEO of Dana-Farber. “The vast community of support during this campaign helped exceed our lofty goals, enabling breakthroughs in the laboratory and the development of life-saving therapies for cancer patients. While the incidence of cancer is rising in the U.S., I am hopeful for the future and inspired by the new treatments that are transforming cancer care.”
The Dana-Farber Campaign started in October 2017 and was announced to the public in May 2021. Throughout The Dana-Farber Campaign, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund community has expanded throughout the country and around the world.
“It has been an incredible honor to work alongside Dr. Glimcher and Dana-Farber innovators, leaders, and supporters,” said Michael Eisenson, chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Institute trustee, and Founding Partner of Charlesbank Capital Partners. “Funds raised during the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress for our patients and families.”
Eisenson worked closely with Vice Chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Monica Chandra, an Institute trustee and President of 3EDGE Asset Management. Their incredible stewardship of the campaign is featured in the current issue of Dana-Farber's IMPACT Magazine.
Their visionary leadership together with that of The Dana-Farber Campaign Cabinet inspired philanthropic support for priorities critical to all types of cancer. A celebration of the campaign’s donor community and collective impact on the future of cancer care will take place next spring.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. We provide the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care. As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.
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Founded in Boston in 1947, Dana-Farber is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that develops and disseminates innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. About Our Patient Stories: Dana-Farber shares patient stories which may include descriptions of actual medical results. Dana-Farber provides personalized care for each patient based on their unique needs; their experiences and results will vary.
At Dana-Farber we are committed to an inclusive community where human differences are valued and celebrated, and where all are welcome. We work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where each patient, family, and staff member feels valued and respected.
