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Fifth Thompson conference on cancer research

Date: Sunday, September 25, 2016

The Weizmann Institute hosted the fifth annual Thompson Family Foundation Conference on campus on Aug. 15 and 16 as part of the foundation’s efforts to advance collaborative research between the Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York.

 

“Every single scientific group that we support is defined by excellence… and excellence is our guide for giving,” said Amanda Reigel (pictured above), who serves as President of the foundation. Speaking to the scientists and physicians in the room, she said, “Continue to pursue excellence and a cure for cancer,” said Ms. Reigel. Ms. Reigel is the daughter of the late Wade Thompson, who established the foundation before his death from cancer in 2009.

 

The event was led by Prof. Avigdor Scherz of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Dr. Jonathan Coleman, a urologic surgeon at MSKCC. Dr. Coleman led U.S. efforts in multi-center clinical trials for early-stage prostate cancer based on drug therapy developed by Prof. Scherz and Prof. Yoram Salomon of the Department of Biological Regulation with STEBA Biotech, a collaboration funded by the foundation. Dr. Coleman is currently leading clinical trials of the therapy for advanced prostate cancer, bladder cancer, gastroesophageal cancer, and breast cancer.