A $1.5 million pledge from The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation has established the Norman & Sadie Lee Professorship in Pediatrics at City of Hope. The endowment will support childhood cancer research at City of Hope.
“This generous gift from The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation exemplifies their commitment in the fight against pediatric cancers,” said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., chief executive officer and Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director’s Distinguished Chair at City of Hope. “This endowment will fuel innovative research to develop better treatments and models of care so that our youngest cancer patients will lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 12,000 children will be diagnosed with a cancer in 2012. While survival rates have improved significantly over the recent decades, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among children under 15.
“Although great advances have been made, and most children diagnosed with cancer today will be cured, the need for further research to achieve cure in all children with cancer is urgent,” said Joseph Rosenthal, M.D., Barron Hilton Chair in Pediatrics. “Additionally, there is a need to study childhood cancer survivors over the long term so that chronic side effects and survivorship issues can be mitigated and prevented.”
This latest gift from The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation continues upon their decades-long tradition of supporting City of Hope’s pediatric programs, including the Sadie & Norman Lee British Biomedical Research Center, which was dedicated in 1983 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Established in 1978, the Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation supports organizations focused on medical research and services, culture and the arts, and education. The foundation is named in honor of the late Norman and Sadie Lee, Los Angeles philanthropists. Norman Lee was a member of the City of Hope board of directors and board of trustees.
“City of Hope is a leader in developing new treatments for children with cancer,” said Paul A. James, president of The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation. “We are honored to carry on the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Lee in supporting pediatric research at this nationally renowned cancer center.”
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