BREAK THROUGH BREAST CANCER

BREAKING NEWS! See a patient testimonial that recently aired on TV highlighting the importance of this research: http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/health-and-medicine/2017/01/4/copper-toned-research-trial-offers-new-hope-in-finding-a-cure-for-cancer.html

Together, we will revolutionize the way cancer is treated.

Thinking differently is a proven strategy for changing the world. And that’s exactly how one doctor and her team of experts have revolutionized the approach to treating breast cancer. Now they need your help to fund the next crucial phase of their research so they can continue giving hope to women who desperately need it.

Dr. Linda Vahdat, the director of the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Cancer Research Program, and her team have developed a successful method of targeting the biological environment tumors need to grow and spread as opposed to the tumors themselves—rendering those tumors virtually dormant. An approach that has never been tried before and one that has created exciting potential in the fight against breast cancer.

“The effect is similar to having a car just run out of gas.”                                                                                           —Dr. Linda Vahdat

Over the last 15 years, Dr. Vahdat and her team of researchers, both in the laboratory and in the clinic have been working specifically with women diagnosed with high risk for recurrence breast cancer including triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is a very hard to treat disease. They have discovered that by depleting excess copper from the body, they are removing necessary elements tumors need to create an environment that promotes their spread to other sites in the body. They believe this renders tumors dormant and makes it possible for patients to live a normal life after standard treatment without fear of their tumors returning.

The initial results from their research and clinical trials have been more than promising. They have shown how this approach could potentially revolutionize the way numerous cancers are treated.

“Waiting for funding to come from big pharma or grants isn’t an option when women who would potentially benefit from our work are dying while we wait.”                                                                                  —Dr. Linda Vahdat

This represents a true potential breakthrough in the fight against this deadly disease and it has been made possible by the generosity of people like you, not from big pharma, which is why we need your help now, more than ever. Your donation will go directly to fund this study and make a real difference in the lives of women battling to continue being wives, mothers, sisters, friends and daughters.

“Our focus is on saving lives and making cancer a manageable, chronic disease—not a fatal one.”                                                                                            —Dr. Linda Vahdat

More and more people are living with disease like HIV and diabetes. With your help, Dr. Vahdat and her team can continue to do the same for breast cancer patients. Breaking Through Breast Cancer needs immediate funding to support a clinical phase II trial for women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This next trial will build on the success of their previous study by directly comparing patients treated with a copper depletion compound (tetrahiomolybdate—TM) to those being treated with traditional approaches.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and I can’t wait to get started.”                                                                                           —Dr. Linda Vahdat

FAQs:

Is this donation tax-deductible?

Your gift to this project can be reported as a tax deduction. Cornell University is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to which contributions may be made within the contemplation of Section 170 of the Code. The university’s Tax ID (EIN) is 15-0532082.

How will my donation(s) be specifically used?

A clinical trial is expensive to conduct. All funds donated will go directly to saving lives of breast cancer patients by covering the costs of: lab supplies, shipping an processing costs for tumor samples, monthly blood tests for patents to access proper treatment dosage, storage supplies to conduct research on samples, patient medication supplies, biological tumor analysis in our lab, data warehousing and IT infrastructure costs, travel expenses for trial participants, as well as periodic presentation of trial results.

How do I take advantage of my employer's matching gifts program?

If your employer has a matching gift program, ask for an application at work, and return the completed form to us at:

Weill Cornell Medicine

Office of External Affairs

1300 York Avenue, Box 314

New York, NY  10065

Can I make a gift by check?

Yes! While donation amounts are limited on this website, you can donate any amount you choose with a personal check. Simply make the check payable to: “Weill Cornell Medical College” and indicate “Vahdat Breast Cancer Research” on the memo line.

Your gift will be added to the project total once the check has been received and processed.

Mail the check to:  

Dr. Linda Vahdat

Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Cancer Research Program

425 East 61st Street, 8th floor New York, NY  10065  

Are there other ways to donate?

You can call us to make a credit card gift over the phone or if you need instructions regarding making a stock gift: 646-962-9476

You can also go directly to the Weill Cornell Medicine website to make donations in any amount:  http://give.weill.cornell.edu/  

Who is Dr. Linda Vahdat?

Dr. Linda Vahdat is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, leading research teams within the Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology and the Meyer Cancer Center. She is a breast cancer expert with a focused clinical and research interest in high-risk adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer. She has strong expertise in drug development, having had a crucial role in the last two chemotherapy drugs approved for metastatic breast cancer (ixabepilone, FDA-approved in 2007 and eribulin, FDA-approved in 2010) and with leadership roles in many other recently-approved drugs and ones that are poised to be approved. She is involved in the initiation, conceptual design and conduct of pre-clinical and Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials. Dr. Vahdat has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and several textbook chapters including one on targeted therapy for breast cancer. Her research interests include breast cancer, metastasis biology, new drugs, and new technology.

How much would it take to cover the entire phase II trial?

The estimated cost to cover all costs for our phase II trial that includes up to 350 participants is ten million dollars.

Disclaimer:  This crowdfunding campaign offers no special awards, prizes or perks for contributing to this project, including, but not limited to, preferential treatment for contributors (or their family members, friends or associates) to be selected as a patient/participant for any research or clinical trial. Weill Cornell Medicine and the project owners for this campaign fully disclaim any indication or representation of such benefits, and shall not be responsible for any expectations thereof by contributors.