Perlmutter Cancer Center Receives Anonymous $75 Million Gift To Establish New Center for Blood Cancers

Gift Supports Dedicated Center for Blood Cancers to Advance Research and Expand Clinical Offerings

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Jan 29, 2019, 11:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NYU Langone Health and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center announced a transformational philanthropic gift to establish a Center for Blood Cancers that will house a new, world-class program for multiple myeloma care and research, along with its other blood cancer programs. The new center will significantly expand Perlmutter Cancer Center's capacity to study and treat blood cancers.

The $75 million gift was donated anonymously in support of Perlmutter Cancer Center's campaign to enhance its state-of-the art research and clinical space. The new center will expand services for patients, bolster new and ongoing research efforts, and provide expanded educational resources for students and faculty at NYU School of Medicine. Lab space and cell processing within the Center for Blood Cancers will be increased considerably, and infusion and exam rooms will be added to ensure efficient patient flow.

"We are honored to receive such a generous gift that will support our world-renowned Perlmutter Cancer Center and launch significant new centers focused on blood cancers to help patients achieve better outcomes and to advance important new research," says Robert I. Grossman, MD, the Saul J. Farber Dean of NYU School of Medicine and CEO of NYU Langone Health.

In addition to bolstering multiple myeloma research and care, the new center will expand research capabilities focusing on clinical trial recruitment and efforts to identify markers for different cancer types to recognize blood cancers at its earliest stages. Enhanced educational opportunities in this area will now be available as well for fellows at NYU School of Medicine.

According to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, blood cancers account for almost 10% of all new cancer cases in the United States each year. The most common of these (including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) prevent the blood from performing normal functions, such as fighting off infection or preventing serious bleeding. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects antibody-producing plasma cells and ultimately prevents the normal production of cells in the bone marrow. This abnormal plasma cell expansion can cause lead to a compromised immune response, bone destruction, bone marrow failure and other complications.

"There is a pressing need for more research in the areas of early diagnosis and prevention of blood cancers," says Benjamin Neel, MD, PhD, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center. "As a nationally recognized cancer center, we are proud to continue to be on the leading edge of research and clinical care in this area. This gift will help us as attract new talent, leaders and added expertise to further our mission to prevent and treat these deadly diseases."

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SOURCE NYU Langone Health