Gift is matched by Cleveland Clinic to establish new chair in Center for Genitourinary Malignancies Research
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The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation has donated $1 million to establish the Morton L. Mandel Chair for Urologic Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic.
The gift was matched directly by Cleveland Clinic to endow a chair that will support innovative work in the newly formed Cleveland Clinic Center for Genitourinary (GU) Malignancies Research, a collaboration between Lerner Research Institute, Taussig Cancer Institute and Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. The center focuses on advancing discoveries to better understand, diagnose and treat cancers of the prostate, bladder and kidney.
“The Center for Genitourinary Malignancies Research is helping to streamline and focus our clinical and research efforts in urologic cancers,” said Eric Klein, M.D., chair of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute and co-director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center of Excellence in Prostate Cancer. “We are grateful to Mort Mandel for his support of this important initiative. By bolstering our research in this area, we hope to also shine a light on the need to better understand these diseases.”
GU cancers are prevalent around the world, and prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in American men. A search is underway to attract a leading urology and cancer researcher to hold the Mandel Chair. In addition, the newly established chair will serve as a challenge to other funders to continue supporting strategic areas in research that will make the most impact.
“Our overarching goal is to make practice-changing discoveries in GU cancer,” said Dr. Klein. “This gift will accelerate the important work that Cleveland Clinic researchers are doing on behalf of patients. It will help us think and act more strategically. By prioritizing where and how we invest in research, we are more likely to make the most impact.”
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute is home to nearly 1,500 researchers and support personnel in 175 laboratories. Lerner Research Institute had a $296 million research budget in 2018 and approximately 4,000 ongoing, IRB-approved protocols for clinical studies.
Cleveland Clinic’s urology program is ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and the cancer program is ranked No. 7. Both programs are top-ranked in Ohio. The Center for GU Malignancies Research is led by Nima Sharifi, M.D., who holds the Kendrick Family Endowed Chair for Prostate Cancer Research.
“Our aim at the GU Malignancies Research Center is to make high-impact scientific discoveries and to bring these findings to the bedside to transform the care of patients with prostate, kidney and bladder cancers,” said Dr. Sharifi. “I am truly delighted that the Mandel Foundation is providing generous support for us to accomplish these goals.”
About the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel founded the Mandel Foundation in 1953 in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. The work of the Foundation is grounded in the belief that exceptional leaders, inspired by powerful ideas, are key to improving society and the lives of people around the world. The Mandel Foundation has identified five areas of engagement that influence its decisions for giving, which include 1. leadership development, 2. management of nonprofits, 3. humanities, 4. Jewish life and 5. urban engagement. For more information, please visit www.mandelfoundation.org.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 66,000 employees are more than 4,200 salaried physicians and researchers and 16,600 nurses, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic’s health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 11 regional hospitals in northeast Ohio, more than 180 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2018, there were 7.9 million total outpatient visits, 238,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 220,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CCforMedia and twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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