Two familiar names are cementing the Kimmel Cancer Center’s ability to continue its groundbreaking laboratory and clinical advances in cancer immunology. Sidney Kimmel, for whom the Kimmel Cancer Center is named, and three-term New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg are each contributing $50 million over five years to establish the Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.
“I could not be more honored to partner with Mike Bloomberg and capture the opportunity to advance immunotherapy research at this critical moment,” says Kimmel. “Having been committed to cancer research for more than 20 years, it simply thrills me to know that the scientists at the Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center see a new light at the end of the tunnel. I know I speak for Mike in recognizing Hopkins’ extraordinary capacities. If together we can make a true difference in the well-being of others at the scale possible, it will prove to be one of the most important acts either of us have ever made.”
“Sidney and Mike continue to put extraordinary resources exactly where and when they are needed. We are at a pivotal time to change dramatically the way we treat cancers. With the new institute, we will go farther faster,” says William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., Kimmel Cancer Center director.
As a result of the two lead gifts from Kimmel and Bloomberg, additional money has been raised toward the goal of $125 million for the first five years.
Kimmel and Bloomberg have a long history of support for Johns Hopkins. Since 2001, Kimmel has contributed $157 million, and the Johns Hopkins cancer center is named in his honor. Kimmel has given an additional $2.4 million to support 12 young cancer scientists at Johns Hopkins as part of the national Kimmel Scholars Program. Bloomberg is a 1964 alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University and was chairman of its board of trustees from 1996 to 2002. He has given $1.2 billion to the University and Johns Hopkins Health System since graduating. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s Center are among the facilities named to honor his contributions.
Cancer immune therapy is one of the most promising areas of cancer research. It makes cancer cells visible to immune cells and causes the immune system to take action against cancer. (Read The Final Frontier, page 3 for breakthrough immune therapy discoveries by Kimmel Cancer Center scientists.)
“Sidney Kimmel and Michael Bloomberg are visionaries,” says Ronald J. Daniels, Johns Hopkins University President. “Their combined philanthropy has already fostered remarkable innovation throughout Johns Hopkins. The new Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute will go even further, revolutionizing our approach to cancer.”
Internationally recognized immunology expert Drew Pardoll, M.D., Ph.D., will serve as the Institute’s director. Pardoll is a veteran scientist whose career in immunology and cancer research spans more than 25 years.
The Bloomberg/Kimmel Institute will support cancer immunology research across many cancer types, including melanoma and colon, pancreatic, urologic, lung, breast, and ovarian cancers.