Summer 2026
By Lisa Gregory
Eric Kaplan recently joined his second Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) clinical trial at the Bing Center for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He was diagnosed with WM in 2019 by his then local oncologist in Virgina. Eric sought a second opinion at Dana-Farber with Jorge Castillo, MD, who also became his doctor, joining his first Dana-Farber clinical trial in 2020. He credits his participation in Dana-Farber’s clinical trials in helping him to stay hopeful and in front of the disease.
Eric says he is lucky to be part of Dana-Farber’s clinical trials at the Bing Center as it is the largest center in the world dedicated to the study and development of new, targeted WM treatments. Both Eric and his wife Harriet feel that an important reason to participate in clinical trials is to help advance new WM treatments and help others.
WM is a rare, slow-growing blood cancer that patients can often live with for decades. But WM can require lifelong treatment because it produces excess amounts of a monoclonal IgM antibody that can lead to thickened blood, which can reduce circulation, damage the organs, and cause other health issues.
Eric and Harriet Kaplan renewed their commitment to support WM research at Dana-Farber with a $500,000 gift to the Kaplan Family Fund for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia. The Kaplans’ previous gift to Dana-Farber provided the seed money for the national WM Clinical Trials Network, known today as WM-NET. It was the brainchild of Steven Treon, MD, PhD, the Robert F. Tannenhauser Chair for Waldenström’s Research at Dana-Farber, and Jorge Castillo, MD, its founding clinical director. The Kaplans are also Dana-Farber Society members as they have included Dana-Farber in their estate plans, which sustains support through their family fund.
When Eric was diagnosed with WM in 2019, the Kaplans found that the experience shaped their priorities. It meant they would value life more and focus on family and philanthropy. Harriet shared that she wanted grandchildren even before she had children, as she was an only child. She said the photo with this story reflects that the whole family supports their gifts to Dana-Farber. The Kaplans have always demonstrated to their children the importance of philanthropy.
It’s the care you receive at Dana-Farber that makes it so special, and the people are wonderful.
Harriet and Eric Kaplan
The Kaplans are excited to support the ongoing, pioneering WM clinical research at the Bing Center. Most recently, Castillo and other Dana-Farber investigators reported strong responses from two clinical trials, including deep remissions, and the possibility of chemo-free, time-limited therapies. They presented their early-phase results at the 2025 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition.
Eric and Harriet spoke with warmth and appreciation about the care that Eric has received at Dana-Farber. Harriet remembered how Castillo even called once on a Sunday to discuss Eric’s first clinical trial. The Kaplans hope that their gift will inspire others. They said, “It’s the care you receive at Dana-Farber that makes it so special, and the people are wonderful.”