Summer 2026
By Stevie Snow
Photography Courtesy of the Cinelli Family Foundation
Chances of survival increase when cancer is detected early––yet most cancers don’t have screening tests. Elizabeth O’Donnell, MD, and her team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Centers for Early Detection and Interception are taking steps to fill these critical gaps through clinical trials that evaluate newly developed multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests.
These simple blood tests can screen for up to 50 different cancer types, making them a convenient and minimally invasive screening method. With the potential to reveal signs of cancer before any symptoms develop, the tests could be especially promising for people with an increased risk of cancer. Early detection can also make treatment more affordable for patients and their families, reducing cost barriers to lifesaving care.
“MCED tests have the potential to find cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages,” said O’Donnell. “Since these technologies are so new, we still have more to learn about who can benefit from them, how often people should be tested, and what type of follow-up is best.”
With a dual focus on fighting cancer and expanding minds, the Cinelli Family Foundation invested $1.5 million in the early cancer detection studies at Dana-Farber. The vital funding will specifically support the Sentinel study, the first scientific investigation of MCED tests for U.S. military veterans.
“The Cinelli Family Foundation’s generous contribution is helping us solidify our understanding of this promising screening tool for veterans and other high-risk patient groups,” said O’Donnell.
While there’s mounting evidence that active military members are exposed to carcinogens and high levels of stress that can increase their risk of cancer, many are diagnosed when it’s too late for successful treatments. The Sentinel study will provide MCED tests to 1,500 veterans over the age of 45 who were in active duty for four or more years and received care at a Veterans Administration facility in the past five years.
We’re proud to be part of the incredible progress to transform cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment for patients at Dana-Farber and beyond.
Eric Ryan, Cinelli Family Foundation
“The work at the Centers for Early Detection is deeply connected to our hope of giving future generations a world where leukemia, pancreatic, and breast cancer are curable,” said Eric Ryan, co-executive director at the Cinelli Family Foundation. “We’re proud to be part of their incredible progress to transform cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment for patients at Dana-Farber and beyond.”
Through research like the Sentinel study, the Centers for Early Detection is pioneering a field of research that hopes to turn even the most aggressive cancers into preventable and treatable conditions. This undertaking starts with early detection––to stop cancer before it starts.