How Your Support Advances Cancer Immunology
Support the Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology's Mission
Bench to Bedside
At the heart of groundbreaking cancer treatments is the continuous and essential journey from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. This “bench-to-bedside” model transforms innovative ideas and discoveries in basic science research into real-world therapies that save lives.
Among the most promising areas of cancer treatment today is cancer immunology, which harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The importance of supporting this research cannot be overstated, as it holds the potential to revolutionize the way we treat — and ultimately cure — cancer.
Unlike traditional cancer treatments that directly target cancer cells, cancer immunotherapy seeks to empower the body’s natural defenses to recognize and attack cancer. The Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology (CIV) is actively uncovering new ways to boost or modify the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
Your Support Matters
Philanthropy plays a crucial role in driving immunology research forward. Donations provide vital resources for our researchers to explore bold new ideas, conduct early-stage studies, and support clinical trials that might otherwise struggle to get off the ground.
While philanthropic contributions often focus on clinical care, it’s important to recognize that groundbreaking discoveries in the lab are the foundation of advancements in the clinic. The innovative research happening here fuels the development of life-saving treatments and therapies that directly impact patients. By supporting our research, you are investing in the breakthroughs that make clinical successes possible.
Together, we can ensure that the promise of cancer immunology research becomes a reality, offering a brighter future for those affected by cancer.
To learn more about the many ways you can support Dana-Farber's research initiatives with a philanthropic gift, please contact Rebecca Shortle at 617-632-4215 or rebecca_shortle@dfci.harvard.edu.
More Ways to Support Our Mission
Jimmy Fund Walk
Every day, our work in the lab brings us closer to understanding cancer on the cellular and molecular level — how it evades the immune system, how it spreads, and most importantly, how we can stop it.
Our Jimmy Fund Walk team — the "CIV Tumornators" — includes staff members from the Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, as well as relatives, friends, and other Dana-Farber colleagues.
To learn more, visit the CIV Tumornators' Fundraising Page or email Department Director, Melissa Foley, at melissa_foley@dfci.harvard.edu.
The Pan-Mass Challenge
Started in 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is a two-day bike-a-thon spanning 187 miles from Sturbridge, Mass. to Cape Cod’s Provincetown Monument. This annual event raises funds for cancer research and treatment. One hundred percent of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to the Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund, which is directed towards research, treatment, cures, and cancer education.
CIV’s Department Chair, Kai Wucherpfennig, participates in the ride each year.
Contact the Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology
Mailing address: 450 Brookline Avenue, SM-0570E, Boston, MA 02215
For general questions, call Melissa Foley at 617-582-8020 or email melissa_foley@dfci.harvard.edu.
