Fall 2024
By Nichole Bernier
When Institute Trustee Alison Poorvu Jaffe learned she had colorectal cancer, the diagnosis was even more of a shock because of her age—she was only 48 years old. Now, many years later, she is equally shocked to learn of the disease’s dramatic rise among people in their 20s and 30s—and is committed to support whatever it takes to curb its trajectory.
Colorectal cancer among young people is expected to increase by 90% by 2030, according to Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber. Alison Poorvu Jaffe and her husband, Dan Jaffe, recently renewed their support for the center, one of the first in the country dedicated to younger patients with colorectal cancer, with a $100,000 gift to fund the efforts for prevention, detection, and treatment. Ng’s innovative work examines every angle of the disease—from molecular biochemistry, mutations, and gene expression patterns to diet, lifestyle, and the immune system—to uncover what’s driving the disease and develop novel ways to intercept it sooner.
“Given the number of components that the center addresses, we felt a gift of discretionary funds would allow Dr. Ng to balance and fund the areas that she feels need it most,” said Poorvu Jaffe.