A Tipping Point in Cancer Research Annual Report 2011 IN THIS NEW ERA OF ACCELERATED PROGRESS, THEIR INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE it is more important than ever that we support BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED: creative young scientists who can harness the • 2 Damon Runyon scientists were included in A Tipping Point in Cancer Research momentum of the past decade to transform the Science magazine’s Insights of the Decade, way we prevent, detect, and treat cancer. The Celebrating Extraordinary Progress which listed “10 insights that have changed science Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation is since the dawn of the new millennium.” SCIENTISTS, RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE ALL AGREE: playing a central role by funding groundbreaking we are at a tipping point in cancer research. The convergence of knowledge from across the spectrum basic and clinical cancer research. In the past year, • 2 Damon Runyon alumni were elected to the of cutting-edge science combined with powerful new technologies has created a deeper understanding our brilliant young scientists: National Academy of Sciences (the science “Hall of Fame”), bringing Damon Runyon’s total to 61. of cancers and advanced our ability to detect and treat these diseases earlier and more effectively. • led studies resulting in FDA approval of two new drugs for advanced melanoma: Yervoy, an immu- • William R. Sellers, MD, Board Member and notherapy, and Zelboraf, a targeted therapy former Clinical Investigator, was appointed by President Obama to the National Cancer • reported the success of a novel immunotherapy Advisory Board. for pancreatic cancer • Elaine V. Fuchs, PhD, Board Member and • completed the first genome sequencing of former Fellow, received the prestigious Albany multiple myeloma and medulloblastoma Medical Center Prize. • established the link between changes in cell • Current Innovator Muneesh Tewari, MD, PhD, metabolism and brain tumor development was awarded a Presidential Early Career Award • developed a new understanding of how inflam- for Scientists and Engineers. mation leads to drug resistance in cancer cells 1 The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation 2011 Annual Report 2 WE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE, Damon Runyon formed to address the critical THE CANCER BREAKTHROUGH FUND, shortage of high-quality clinical investigators. A Tipping Point in Cancer Research to invest in 100 of the most brilliant young cancer This new model for collaboration will increase researchers. We believe that these innovative minds, resources to support young clinical researchers, A Time to Act with their audacity and unfettered creativity, are rebuilding the ranks of those who have the the key to building on recent gains and translating potential to make cutting-edge breakthroughs in IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE SEIZE THIS MOMENT AND ACT ON THE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS discoveries into solutions. cancer treatments, translating science into cures. OF THE PAST YEAR AND THE PAST DECADE. That is why the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Our goal is to raise a fund of $50 million over the Its charter members have already pledged $5.1 Foundation is increasing its investment. In the past year, we awarded $10.2 million in new scientific next five years that we will put to work as rapidly million and include: grants and funded 122 scientists at 41 institutions in 17 states. as possible to support 50 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovators focused on high-risk, high-reward discovery and 50 Damon Runyon Clinical Inves- tigators committed to bringing new therapies to cancer patients. The inaugural event in January in Menlo Park, California, raised $1.6M in new commitments for this bold new effort. Accelerating Cancer Cures, a part of the Cancer Breakthrough Fund, is an historic collaboration www.damonrunyon.org/accelerate of the biopharmaceutical industry, academia and OF ALL DONATIONS 100% FUND CANCER RESEARCH All administrative and fundraising expenses are paid through Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets and our endowment. 3 The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation 2011 Annual Report 4 Thank You To Our Donors Damon Runyon Board of Directors Every new discovery that our young scientists make is directly linked to your support, and we are immensely Steven J. Burakoff, MD Mr. Jay W. Ireland grateful for the generosity of all of our donors. Thanks to you, Damon Runyon raised nearly $10 million and Director President and Chief Executive Officer The Tisch Cancer Institute GE Africa received more than $1.6 million in bequests in Fiscal Year 2011. Mount Sinai School of Medicine Nairobi, Kenya New York, New York Mr. Steven A. Kandarian Our Annual Breakfast, honoring William L. Carroll, MD President and Chief Executive Officer Boston business and philanthropic Director MetLife, Inc. leader Norman B. Leventhal, NYU Cancer Institute New York, New York New York, New York raised $1.16 million. Mr. Noah Knauf The Damon Runyon 5K at Mr. Gary E. Erlbaum Principal President Warburg Pincus Yankee Stadium raised $400,000 Alan M. Leventhal, Greentree Properties San Francisco, California in August 2010, drawing a capacity Chair Ardmore, Pennsylvania crowd of 4,000 participants. A Ronald Levy, MD Thomas J. Fahey Jr., MD Chief, Division of Oncology special thanks to Walgreens, CHAIR Senior Vice President Professor of Medicine Unilever/White Rose, 24 Hour Mr. Alan M. Leventhal Clinical Program Development Stanford University School of Medicine Fitness, New York Daily News, Chair and Chief Executive Officer Director, International Center Stanford, California Beacon Capital Partners, LLC Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center NBC4, SiriusXM, Poland Spring Boston, Massachusetts New York, New York Mr. David G. Marshall and Utz for their sponsorship. Chair and Chief Executive Officer ViCE CHAIR Mr. Buck French Amerimar Realty Company Development and Marketing Darien, Connecticut Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mr. David M. Beirne Aspen, Colorado Mr. Dale F. Frey Mr. John H. Myers Retired Chair of the Board Senior Advisor VICE CHAIR and President Angelo, Gordon & Co. Finance and Treasurer General Electric Investment Corporation New York, New York Mr. Leon G. Cooperman Weston, Connecticut Chair and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. O’Reilly, MD Omega Advisors, Inc. Mr. John A. Fry Chair, Department of Pediatrics New donors, including the Jake New York, New York President Chief, Bone Marrow Transplantation Wetchler Foundation for Innova- Drexel University Service tive Pediatric Cancer Research VICE CHAIR Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Board Development New York, New York and the Richard A. Lumsden Mr. Michael L. Gordon Elaine V. Fuchs, PhD Foundation, committed to Chief Operating Officer Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor Mrs. Katharine F. Plum sponsoring individual Damon Angelo, Gordon & Co. Laboratory Head, Mammalian Cell Hobe Sound, Florida New York, New York Biology and Development Runyon scientists. The Rockefeller University Mr. Andrew S. Rachleff VICE CHAIR New York, New York President and Chief Executive Officer Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets Scientific Programs Wealthfront continues to offer premium seats David M. Livingston, MD Richard B. Gaynor, MD Faculty, Stanford Graduate to the best shows in town like The Deputy Director Vice President School of Business Cancer Research and Clinical Investigation Palo Alto, California Book of Mormon. Thanks once Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Emil Frei III Professor of Eli Lilly and Company again to the Shubert Organization, Genetics and Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana Mr. Scott Ryles Harvard Medical School Chair and Chief Executive Officer Nederlander Productions, Ms. Margaret A. Gilliam Boston, Massachusetts Home Value Protection, Inc. Jujamcyn Theaters and Disney President San Francisco, California Theatrical Productions for making VICE CHAIR Gilliam & Company this program possible. Audit & Corporate Governance New York, New York Ms. Karen D. Seitz Managing Director and Secretary Todd R. Golub, MD Fusion Partners Sanford W. Morhouse, Esq. Director, Cancer Program Learn more at New York, New York www.damonrunyon.org/broadway Of Counsel Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP Cambridge, Massachusetts New York, New York William R. Sellers, MD Mr. Scott Greenstein Vice President and Global Head, Oncology President, Entertainment & Sports Novartis Institutes for Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Inc. BioMedical Research New York, New York Cambridge, Massachussets Mr. Steve Hayden Samuel C. Silverstein, MD Vice Chair John C. Dalton Professor Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Department of Physiology and New York, New York Cellular Biophysics Columbia University Mr. Bill Helman New York, New York Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner Greylock Partners Cambridge, Massachusetts 5 The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation 2011 Annual Report 6 Damon Runyon Award Programs Damon Runyon Fellowship Award Committee DAMON RUNYON DAMON RUNYON CLINICAL CHAIR Tyler Jacks, PhD Norbert Perrimon, PhD Daniel E. Gottschling, PhD Investigator, Howard Hughes Investigator, Howard Hughes FELLOWSHIP AWARD INVESTIGATOR AWARD Member, Basic Sciences Division Medical Institute Medical Institute Supports the training of the brightest postdoctoral Supports early career physician-scientists conduct- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Director, David H. Koch Institute for Professor of Genetics Seattle, Washington Integrative Cancer Research Harvard Medical School scientists as they embark upon their research ing patient-oriented research. The goal of this