Largest gift in UofL history to benefit James Graham Brown Cancer Center
November 18th, 2008
The James Graham Brown Foundation has committed $20 million over the next five years to the University of Louisville to benefit the cancer center that bears its name.
“This gift is momentous not only because of its magnitude, but also because of the history of the James Graham Brown Foundation’s commitment to the vision for a world-class cancer center at the University of Louisville — one that we are achieving with the tremendous support of our community. But perhaps more importantly, it is significant because of the hope it provides to the people of our state and region who are fighting this terrible disease,” said UofL President James Ramsey.
UofL will receive $4 million each year over the next five years. The money will help recruit researchers — especially those who also are experts in clinical care — and their teams, said Donald Miller, director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at UofL.
It also will provide the support, infrastructure and equipment for their research.
While it is not unusual for gifts of this size to come from a namesake benefactor, “it is unusual for this kind of relationship to exist at a cancer center of this size,” Miller said. “The common thread is the donors who believe in the mission and the ability to make a difference in the field of cancer research and treatment. These donors see their ongoing philanthropy as part of a long-term strategic partnership benefitting their communities.
“Thanks to this partnership, we are putting Louisville, Ky., on the map through groundbreaking discoveries and cancer treatment that is as good as any available in any city in the United States,” he added.
Research funding at the Brown Cancer Center has increased from less than $1 million in 1999 to more than $51 million in 2007. The cancer center has recruited more than 90 new doctors and researchers to Louisville. Recent research breakthroughs include advances in adult stem cell biology; anti-cancer vaccines; nontoxic, targeted cancer therapies; and studies of cancer cell metabolism that provide a road map for future drug development.
The Brown Cancer Center is part of the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, the region’s leading academic, research and teaching medical center. Part of the center’s growth has been funded by a cancer center planning grant from the National Cancer Institute and the center is affiliated with the Kentucky Cancer Program. It is the only center in the region using a patient-centered model of cancer care, with multidisciplinary teams of physicians working together to guide patients through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
