Saturday, May 24, 2014

BIG TIME DONATION FROM KRAVISES WILL MOVE CANCER RESEARCH FORWARD


Through the generosity of the Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Foundation, who are contributing $100MM to Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Center for Molecular Oncology will move forward more quickly on its goal to expand gene coverage above the currently 341 known cancer-causing genes  and monitor therapy at the molecular level.   



They want to discover why tumors spread and if the patients were predisposed to cancer, determine what mutations are driving growth of the tumors.  The gift will create a precision oncology center which will bear the names of Henry and Marie-Josee Kravis.  The center states that cancer is a disease of the genome and they need to integrate vast amounts of molecular discoveries and analyze patients’ DNA and tumors to develop tumor-specific treatments.



Six gene-sequencing machines are being installed to analyze tumors.
Mrs. Kravis is Chairperson of the Sloan Kettering Institute, the research arm, and has been on their Boards of Overseers and Managers since October 2000.  Mr. Kravis is a private-equity investor.  Mr. Kravis told the Wall Street Journal, “I like to do things that are transformative and more importantly make a difference.”  



 Kravis gifted the Columbia Business School with $100MM in 2010 to fund a new building that will be completed this year and will bear his name.