In Brief
Summer 2026
Zlotoff Generations Fund
The Zlotoff Generations Fund gifted $250,000 toward a partnership between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Ichilov, the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel’s leading academic medical center and largest public acute care facility. This generosity will support research in AI and advanced breast cancer, as well as work in early detection and clinical education.
American-Italian Cancer Foundation
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute received generous support from the American-Italian Cancer Foundation that will help fund three important research opportunities. Each researcher received $60,000. The funds will further the work of Francesco Corrado, MD, developing immunotherapies in multiple myeloma; Carmine Valenza, MD, for his research on hormone receptor-positive breast cancer; and Valentina Santo, MD, for her research of non-small cell lung cancer.
Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation
The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation awarded $100,000 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Steven DuBois, MD, MS, and his research evaluating antibody-drug conjugate targets in children with relapsed solid and central nervous system tumors. This critical work could expand treatment options and help personalize care for pediatric patients.
Brian and Elizabeth Rutledge
Brian and Elizabeth Rutledge made a $300,000 gift supporting research focused on Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). Shayna Sarosiek, MD, and her colleagues are committed to improving the quality of life and patient outcomes for those with the disease. This gift will allow the team to expand, adding a dedicated research assistant for the neuropathy project, to track how WM-associated neuropathy changes over time and evaluate treatment options.
Kenneth and Jodi Bring
A heartfelt $100,000 gift made by Kenneth and Jodi Bring will support gastrointestinal cancer research in loving memory of Jodi’s mother, Reesa Cohen. This generous philanthropic gift empowers the efforts of Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, the Robert T. & Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber, to advance studies focused on early detection and developing improved treatments, honoring Cohen’s legacy while transforming care for patients facing these challenging cancers.
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Spring 2026
A Chance for Kids & Families
A Chance for Kids & Families raised $462,102 in 2025 for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Throughout the summer, patrons who donated to the Jimmy Fund at participating Burger King®, The Paper Store®, Uncharted, and Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM locations received a coupon, with all proceeds supporting Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission.
Joel and Mary Abramson
Joel and Mary Abramson pledged $200,000 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Program for Older Adults with Breast Cancer, led by Rachel Freedman, MD, MPH. Their support will expand this unique, individualized care model, which delivers tailored treatments and psychosocial services that elevate care and expand the access for older patients with breast cancer.
Ang’s Warrior Walk
Since 2023, the annual Ang’s Warrior Walk has raised $100,000 for the Angela Marotta Inho Memorial Fund, which supports lung cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Organized by Jennifer and Allison Inho, Founders of the Angela Marotta Inho Foundation, the event honors their mother Angela, who received care at Dana-Farber.
Arbella Insurance Foundation
The Arbella Insurance Foundation continued its steadfast support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Strike Out Cancer Program. At the 2025 WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, the team presented a check for $100,000, part of the more than $1.7 million the Arbella Insurance Foundation has contributed to date.
William and Barbara Connolly
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Sara M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, received a $100,000 gift from the Connolly Family Fund, established by William and Barbara Connolly, to advance innovative breast cancer research. Their support empowers Tolaney’s team to develop novel strategies for early detection, prevention, and personalized treatment, helping to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
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Winter 2025
ALK Positive
ALK Positive has gifted a generous grant to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Alice Shaw, MD, PhD’s, pioneering research on methylthioadenosine phosphorylase loss in ALK-positive lung cancer. This vital funding will drive innovative strategies to improve patient outcomes, empowering breakthroughs that enhance care for individuals affected by ALK-positive lung cancer worldwide.
The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation
The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation awarded $125,000 to Genevra Kuziel, PhD, supporting her research on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the most common breast cancer subtype with a high recurrence rate. Kuziel’s work aims to develop innovative combination therapies, with the goal of transforming treatment options and improving outcomes for patients.
Craig and Bettina Burr
Craig and Bettina Burr gave $100,000 towards the Bettina and Craig Burr Breast Cancer Genetics and Prevention Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This gift will support the research of Judy Garber, MD, MPH, the Susan F. Smith Chair at Dana-Farber, and Myles Brown, MD, the Emil Frei III, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, which focuses on BRCA2-associated cancers to improve prevention and treatment through hormone blockers and tumor type prediction.
Cancer Prevention Initiative
The Cancer Prevention Initiative (CPI) awarded $450,000 to Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, for her breast cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, targeting early tumor progression. This grant highlights CPI’s vital support for and shared mission with Dana-Farber in advancing impactful strategies for early medical interception of inherited cancer to improve patient outcomes.
Children’s Cancer Research Fund
The Children’s Cancer Research Fund made two grants totaling $350,000 to support an early phase trial for relapsed pediatric liver cancer led by Allison O’Neill, MD, and liquid biopsy research in rhabdomyosarcoma led by Brian Crompton, MD. These pivotal resources help to develop more effective precision therapies for children facing aggressive cancers.
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Fall 2025
Bryan and Courtney Acuto
With an investment of $250,000 from Bryan and Courtney Acuto, Melissa Burns, MD, and her team are advancing the clinical trial of a novel combination therapy for pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The trial holds great promise to improve outcomes for young patients while alleviating side effects.
American Gastroenterological Association Research Foundation
The American Gastroenterological Association Research Foundation’s generous grant of $100,000 supports the research of Dana-Farber’s Harshabad (Harsh) Singh, MBBS. This funding empowers him to further explore the biological foundations of HER2-driven gastric tumors and test innovative therapies. This can potentially transform treatment approaches for this challenging disease.
Arbella Insurance Foundation
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Arbella Insurance Foundation continued its Strike Out Cancer program, where $50 per Red Sox strikeout, up to $100,000, is donated each season. With their $100,000 contribution in 2024, the foundation surpassed $1.2 million raised to date, underscoring Arbella Insurance’s vital partnership in defying cancer.
John Cassidy
John Cassidy’s generous $300,000 gift establishes the Cassidy Family Melanoma Fellowship, to significantly advance melanoma research. Under the guidance of principal investigator F. Stephen Hodi Jr., MD, the Sharon Crowley Martin Chair in Melanoma at Dana-Farber, this funding will help support the mentorship of an early career investigator, fostering innovation and progress in the fight against melanoma.
CLL Global Research Foundation
The CLL Global Research Foundation awarded generous grants totaling $600,000 to Dana-Farber, supporting the research of Catherine Wu, MD, Lavine Family Chair for Preventative Cancer Therapies, and Erin Parry, MD, PhD. This funding will help advance their studies of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, aiming to uncover new insights and improve treatment for patients worldwide.
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Summer 2025
American Academy of Neurology Institute
The American Academy of Neurology Institute provided $150,000 to support the clinical research of Dana-Farber neurooncologist and palliative care specialist John Rhee, MD, MPH. The funds will help accelerate his work elevating care standards and developing therapeutic strategies that are better-tolerated than current options for glioma patients.
American-Italian Cancer Foundation
The American-Italian Cancer Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit that funds postdoctorate research fellowships for Italian scientists, provided $120,000 in support of Dana-Farber researchers Edoardo Garbo, MD, and Francesco Paoloni, MD. Their lung cancer research aligns with the foundation’s mission to advance treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
2024 BMW Berlin-Marathon team
Eleven dedicated Run for Dana-Farber team members made history at the BMW Berlin-Marathon, becoming the first team to represent Dana-Farber in one of the international Abbott World Marathon Majors. Together, they raised $111,589 to help Dana-Farber continue racing toward a better future for patients everywhere.
Charles A. King Trust
Sara Elizabeth O’Brien Trust, through the Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, is supporting Sander Lambo, PhD, and Zheqi Li, PhD, with grants totaling $412,400. Lambo’s research seeks to learn more about cell growth pathways of aggressive pediatric brain cancer, while Li studies how protein alterations impact the development of triple-negative breast cancer.
David Oifer and Linda Zarchin
A $150,000 gift from David Oifer and Linda Zarchin will expand support for Dana-Farber’s Matilda Rose Danoff Fund for Pediatric Spinal Cord Tumor Research. Led by Aaron Yeo, MD, the fund is advancing the understanding and treatment of pediatric spinal cord tumors. Cumulative support from David Oifer and Linda Zarchin, the Assadour O. Tavitian Trust, and the PMC has raised nearly $1 million for this research.
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Spring 2025
A Chance for Kids & Families
A Chance for Kids & Families raised over $425,000 in 2024 for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber. Patrons who donate to the Jimmy Fund at participating Burger King, The Paper Store, and Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations receive coupons, with all proceeds supporting Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association awarded $147,000 to research fellow Jee Hyung Sohn, PhD, for her work exploring how increasing the ability of mitochondria (which generate most of a cell’s chemical energy) to burn energy in brown and beige fat cells could reduce the incidence of heart and blood vessel disease.
Anna Fuller Fund
The Anna Fuller Fund has made a wonderful impact with a $150,000 gift to support breast cancer research conducted by Evanna Mills, PhD, at Dana-Farber. The investment will fuel investigations to better understand risk factors for triple-negative breast cancer with the potential to inform the development of more effective treatments.
Estate of Carolyn Brophy
The Estate of Carolyn Brophy has generously bequeathed $120,697.36 to support cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Carolyn’s commitment to Dana-Farber’s mission will drive promising research and innovative treatments. Her legacy will inspire breakthroughs and improve patient experiences, helping Dana-Farber continue to defy cancer.
Estate of Ruth F. Byrne
The Estate of Ruth F. Byrne made a generous gift of $442,698 to the Jimmy Fund of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Mrs. Byrne’s gift makes a profound difference and propels our relentless determination to revolutionize cancer science, pioneer world-class cancer care, and increase access to cancer treatments for all.
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Winter 2024
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca awarded over $360,000 to Dana-Farber to appoint a patient navigator to expand equitable access to clinical trials within the Breast Oncology Research Program. This navigator will proactively engage with patients with breast cancer and will focus on outreach and education to patients from historically marginalized communities to help navigate clinical trial complexities, logistics, and resources.
Breast Cancer Alliance
The Breast Cancer Alliance awarded a 2024 Young Investigator Grant of $125,000 to Sarah Naomi Olsen, PhD, accelerating her research on chromatin complexes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. This impactful award will deepen our understanding of these unique complexes, laying the groundwork for new treatments which could significantly improve patient care.
Cancer Nutrition Consortium
The Cancer Nutrition Consortium awarded $110,000 to Dana-Farber to develop and test personalized nutrition plans for patients with cancer, aiming to improve their quality of life. This study will build on the guidelines previously established by the Cancer Nutrition Consortium.
For Kids’ Sake Foundation
The For Kids’ Sake Foundation has generously donated $200,000 to establish the Malia’s Legacy Loves On Fellowship at Dana-Farber, in honor of Malia Jusczyk. This two-year fellowship, managed by Robbie Majzner, MD, will support neuroblastoma research focusing on enhancing GD2-targeted therapies and overcoming treatment resistance.
Harrington Discovery Institute
With a generous $460,000 contribution, the Harrington Discovery Institute is propelling innovative cancer research led by Min-Ru Wu, MD, PhD, and Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, as they work to develop less toxic treatments for melanoma patients and investigate targeted therapies for other drug-resistant cancers, respectively.
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Fall 2024
American Brain Tumor Association
With a grant of $100,000 from the American Brain Tumor Association, Jun Nishida, PhD, is studying the drivers of brain metastases in breast cancer. By researching how varying nutrient levels in different parts of the brain select cancer cells, the team hopes to identify new therapeutic targets in order to improve treatment options for patients.
American-Italian Cancer Foundation
The American-Italian Cancer Foundation, a collaboration between the U.S. and Italy, has awarded $160,000 to support four Dana-Farber researchers working on a range of projects in triple-negative
breast cancer, translocation renal cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma, and melanoma—all of which aim to inform and refine treatment strategies for patients.
Arbella Insurance Foundation
Special thanks to our friends at Arbella Insurance Foundation, which is making a $50 contribution for each strikeout thrown by a Boston Red Sox pitcher up to $100,000 in total. This promotion has raised more than $1.1 million since 2014 while amplifying Arbella Insurance’s impact as a longstanding Dana-Farber supporter and presenting sponsor of the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon.
Sherry and Gerry Cohen
Longtime Dana-Farber donors Sherry and Gerry Cohen made a generous gift of $100,000 to increase community support through our Summer Matching Challenge. Fueled by the Cohens’ philanthropy and the additional contributions inspired by this challenge, the appeal has raised more than $292,000 in vital funds for a multifaceted impact across and beyond the Institute.
Curing Kids Cancer
With a grant of $150,000, Curing Kids Cancer is funding a study into a new combination therapy for treating a form of childhood leukemia caused by a mutation in the KMT2A gene. Previous research at Dana-Farber identified a protein that drives growth of this specific type of leukemia, and researchers are now testing the efficacy of a protein inhibitor in treating it.
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Summer 2024
Leon and Leslie Asadoorian
Leon and Leslie Asadoorian gave $100,000 to advance gastrointestinal cancer research under the direction of Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, the Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber. Their support will help expand Wolpin’s team of clinical trial experts, enabling them to increase patient enrollment and refine and discover new treatment strategies.
Ruth and Shelly Bramson
Ruth (pictured) and Shelly Bramson made a generous gift of more than $100,000 to support the work of Jacob Sands, MD, a physician in Dana-Farber’s Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology. This gift is enabling Sands and his team to continue developing and improving personalized therapeutic approaches for patients with thoracic cancer.
Sergio and Magda Brosio
Sergio and Magda Brosio gave $100,000 to support the Center for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer’s biobank, with the hope that their gift inspires others. Motivated by their gratitude for Sergio’s physicians, Robert J. Mayer, MD, and Scott J. Swanson, MD, their philanthropy will expand tissue sample collection, which fuels clinical trials and other critical research to improve patient care.
Christine Brown
The Christine A. Brown Research Fellowship Fund at Dana-Farber was recently established with a $160,000 gift from Christine Brown. The fund will benefit the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, allowing investigators to conduct studies that seek to improve quality of life at every stage of a patient’s cancer experience.
The Charlie Landers Foundation
The Charlie Landers Foundation awarded more than $130,000 to Dana-Farber to fund research into the development of a liquid biopsy that identifies circulating tumor DNA in patients with Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancer that forms in bone or soft tissue. If successful, this research could enable individualized treatments for patients who currently have limited options.
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Spring 2024
American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological Association awarded $300,000 to support a Dana-Farber study into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an aggressive disease that currently has limited and short-lasting treatment options. This funding will enable Jeffrey Patterson-Fortin, MD, PhD, to gain insights into how PDAC responds to immune-based therapies that could provide longer term benefit for patients.
Julie Wallace Bennett
With a $250,000 gift, Julie Wallace Bennett established the Peter Warren Fund for Pancreatic Research, in honor of her partner, Peter. Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, the Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber will lead this research.
The Cancer Couch Foundation
The Cancer Couch Foundation has granted $225,000 to support the work of Daniel Abravanel, MD, PhD. The funds will drive Abravanel’s research on how drug resistance arises in metastatic breast cancer and foster the development of innovative strategies for improving treatments for patients with this challenging form of the disease.
Charles A. King Trust
The Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, administered by Health Resources in Action, awarded grants totaling $412,400 to support studies into genetic and epigenetic changes that occur in cancer progression, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets.
Carol and Peter Clark
Carol and Peter Clark made a $300,000 estate gift through their donor-advised fund and charitable remainder trust to support the Jimmy Fund. The Clark Family has long supported the Jimmy Fund through the Jimmy Fund WMass Classic golf tournament and other fundraising and volunteer activities.
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Winter 2023
Jonathan and Hope Ashner
A generous $100,000 gift from Jonathan and Hope Ashner was made to support the research of Elizabeth Buchbinder, MD. The gift will help to fuel Buchbinder’s groundbreaking investigations into melanoma and maximize progress against the disease.
Doron Broman
Doron Broman, a Miami-based real estate developer and stage IV pancreatic cancer patient, has given $150,000 to support research in pancreatic cancer under the direction of Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH. Broman came to Dana-Farber in 2015 with only months to live, but under the treatment of Ng, has defied the odds and is celebrating seven years since his diagnosis.
Jeffrey and Jennifer Goldstein
Jeffrey and Jennifer Goldstein made a generous gift in support of Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, director of the Carole M. and Philip L. Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology at Dana-Farber. The gift will support Jänne and his team’s continued research into targeted therapies in lung cancer, novel EGFR inhibitors, and mechanisms of drug resistance, ultimately helping more patients and their families.
Matthew Miller
Matthew Miller gave $100,000 to advance groundbreaking investigations in melanoma led by Rizwan Haq, MD, PhD. Miller’s support will help Haq uncover the genomic intricacies of drug resistance and explore new ways to enhance personalized medicine for patients.
National Foundation for Cancer Research
Dana-Farber recently received a $110,000 grant from the National Foundation for Cancer Research to study new, non-invasive approaches to identify specific subtypes of kidney cancer and particular genetic alterations in prostate cancer, with the aim of creating earlier detection and treatment interventions for patients with these diseases.
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Fall 2023
American Association for Cancer Research
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recently awarded $480,000 to four Dana-Farber physician-scientists who are investigating new methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for various types of cancers. As the first cancer research organization dedicated to preventing and curing cancer, AACR is a long-standing partner in Dana-Farber’s mission to defy cancer.
American Federation for Aging Research
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and the American Federation for Aging Research awarded a $300,000 grant to support basic science research by Dana-Farber’s Edward Chouchani, PhD, as he seeks to systematically define the functional targets of reactive oxygen species that contribute to longevity and age.
B.A.A. 5K®
The B.A.A 5K® took place April 15, welcoming the largest team to date of Dana-Farber runners who collectively raised $184,271. Runners had the option to race in person on the 3.1-mile course that began and ended in the Boston Common, or run in their own neighborhoods as virtual teammates. The top fundraiser honor went to David Mullen.
Richard and Sandra Bornstein
Sandra Bornstein and her late husband, Richard, made a generous commitment of $400,000 to support early career physician-scientists on the leukemia and stem cell transplant teams at Dana-Farber. Faculty excellence is a top priority of The Dana-Farber Campaign, and this funding will help fuel the growth of promising investigators as they work to ensure greater numbers of patients live longer, healthier lives.
Clifford Family
The Clifford Family established the Woolley-Clifford Foundation Fund with a $100,000 gift, supporting the research of David Kozono, MD, PhD, as he works to investigate blood and tissue-based biomarkers in lung cancer patients that can help predict lung inflammation and anti-tumor response following radiation therapy.
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Summer 2023
20 Years of Survivorship
In 2022, Andrea McGrath celebrated 20 years since her successful stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber. She hosted a survivorship event, raising over $16,000 to benefit the work of her doctor and now friend, Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCPC, whose advances in stem cell transplantation are continuing to improve outcomes for blood disorder patients like her.
3000 Miles to a Cure
3000 Miles to a Cure awarded $100,000 to support the ALLELE-GBM research program at Dana-Farber, under the direction of Keith Ligon, MD, PhD. Ligon’s team is working to put genomic data into the hands of patients, providers, and researchers to advance treatments and clinical trials in glioblastoma (GBM).
Barbara and Arnold Barron
Barbara and Arnold Barron gave $100,000 to support lung cancer research under the direction of Michael Rabin, MD. The couple has supported the work of Rabin and Dana-Farber for many years, this gift marking their latest commitment to spur advancements in durable treatments for lung cancer patients at Dana-Farber and around the globe.
Charles A. King Trust
The Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, administered by Health Resources in Action, awarded grants totaling $246,776 to two Dana-Farber fellows working in small cell lung cancer and leukemia, as part of the trust’s mission to promote the investigation of human disease, to alleviate suffering through improved treatment.
Children’s Cancer Research Fund
Children’s Cancer Research Fund awarded their Emerging Scientist Award to Dana-Farber pediatric oncologist Emily Heikamp, MD, PhD, MSc. The grant of $100,000 will support Heikamp’s work in uncovering therapeutic vulnerabilities in the NU98-r gene, which could lead to safer and more effective treatments for children with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.
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Spring 2023
Margaret and Michael Bayer
Margaret and Michael Bayer gave $100,000 to establish The Bayer Family Research Fund. The fund aims to accelerate discoveries into safer, more effective and durable treatments for patients facing Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare form of blood cancer.
Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award
The 2022 Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award—the Jimmy Fund’s highest honor—was presented to John Berardi (second from right), program director of Jimmy Fund Little League presented by Franklin Sports, which rallies thousands of youth baseball and softball players each summer to fundraise for the Jimmy Fund in their communities and has raised over $6 million for Dana-Farber since 1986.
Breast Cancer Alliance
Breast Cancer Alliance awarded $125,000 to Dana-Farber to support research into the features of the tumor microenvironment that result in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This work will improve researchers’ knowledge of the behavior of TNBC and may help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from treatments such as immunotherapy.
Fred and Michele Brettschneider
Fred and Michele Brettschneider made a commitment of $250,000 to support a clinical trial network for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and advance all clinical research for this rare form of blood cancer within the Bing Center for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia.
Burlingame Foundation
The Burlingame Foundation gave $300,000 to provide support for patient navigation through the Cancer Care Equity Program (CCEP). Patient navigation involves supporting and assisting patients through the complexities of treatment—a key component of the CCEP’s effort to address disparities in cancer care.
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