Belfer Family Injects $10 Million Into Immuno-Oncology Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Robert and Renée Belfer and family have committed $10 million to advance immuno-oncology research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts. This latest contribution brings the Belfer family's total support to over $35 million.

The funds will specifically bolster research involving patient-derived organotypic spheroids, or "tumor-on-a-chip," developed at the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science. These will be combined with Dana-Farber's mass spectrometry technology, a powerful tool for discovering new cancer biomarkers, to enhance predictions of patient responses to existing immunotherapy treatments.

Belfer Family's Unwavering Commitment to Cancer Research

The Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, is a comprehensive cancer research center. It focuses on translating cutting-edge oncology research into promising cancer treatments. The center actively collaborates with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies aiming to bring scientific breakthroughs to market, as well as academic physicians and scientists involved in basic and translational oncology research and clinical studies, caring for cancer patients regularly.

Laurence Belfer, Robert and Renée's son, is the steward of the family's philanthropic endeavors. He stated, "It is our hope that this gift will result in more research breakthroughs, a larger number of clinical trials, and improved patient care for the benefit of people here and around the world so they can live longer, healthier lives."

People are the most vital asset of the Belfer Center. Under the leadership of Pasi Jänne, M.D., Ph.D., scientific co-director; Dr. David Barbie; and Head of Research Cloud Paweletz, Ph.D., the Belfer Center team will initiate an immuno-oncology project using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. This technology, pioneered by Dana-Farber's Dr. Ellis Reinherz, extracts neoantigen peptides directly from tumors, providing insights for personalized T-cells or vaccines to target and eliminate cancer cells.

The objective is to expedite the detection of robust neoantigens for immune cell targeting, ultimately impacting patients positively. Neoantigen peptides form within tumors and act as signals on the surface of tumor cells, guiding T-cells to eliminate them. The Belfer Center team aims to explore cancer cell destruction using the patient-derived organotypic spheroids platform, analyzing underlying biology and validating findings in research models.

Immunotherapy Holds the Promise of Longer, Healthier Lives

Barbie, scientific co-director of the center, highlighted the breakthrough of this method, stating, "Our approach will have an immediate impact on patients by rapidly accelerating the detection of robust neoantigens for immune cell targeting."

Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, Dana-Farber's president and CEO, emphasized the significance of the Belfer family's commitment, stating, "The resulting data from this research will lead to more clinical trials to treat more patients, expanding the breakthrough of immunotherapy to cancer patients everywhere."

The Belfer family has a long-standing association with Dana-Farber. In 2015, the generous group donated $10 million to the institute's Capital Projects Campaign, supporting essential campus expansion and revitalization projects. "I hope that our commitment will ultimately help Dana-Farber achieve its mission of curing cancer," said Robert Belfer.

The center has played a crucial role in translating oncology research into tangible treatments through collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The substantial contribution is a pivotal step toward advancing immunotherapy research and improving patient outcomes on a broader scale.