Research for a Cure

2022 Research for a Cure

Scientific Review Commitee

WBCS, Inc. is making a significant contribution to advancing breast cancer and prostate cancer research at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center (MCWCC). The cumulative research investment by WBCS since the 501(c)(3) charitable organization’s founding in 1998 is $7.09 million. By 2022, WBCS research awardees had secured an additional $90.6 million in external funding based on WBCS support, bringing the all-volunteer charity’s measurable research impact to $97.69 million.

Like so many worthy philanthropic initiatives that depend on events for fundraising, WBCS was faced with a two-year hiatus forced by the global pandemic of Covid-19 and its variants. Despite the challenges, WBCS leaders took the opportunity to rebrand the organization’s logo to better reflect who we are: an organization focused on advancing research, treatments and, ultimately, cures for two very common and still deadly diseases. Statistics tell the story: one in nine men will face a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime. One in eight people will face a diagnosis of breast cancer during their lifetime. Men get breast cancer, too.

To close the inevitable revenue gap of having to cancel in-person events due to the pandemic, we reached out on social media to keep in touch with our WBCS friends, held virtual fundraisers and created a new event that could be safely held, a traveling holiday wine pull, to be offered for a third year in 2022. We anticipate a successful year as we kickstart 2022 with healthy measures in place. Traditional in-person events begin again with our beautiful 2022 Showhouse for a Cure and surrounding events.

WBCS, INC. Endowed Chair Updates

Significantly, in 2020 WBCS met its goal to fulfill a $1 million commitment to MCW to endow a Prostate Cancer Research Professorship made to the College in 2017. We were motivated to accept the opportunity and challenge of this initiative because of the success and impact of endowing the WBCS Breast Cancer Research Professorship. In 2015, Hallgeir Rui, MD, PhD, was successfully recruited as the Founding WBCS Breast Cancer Research Professor. His leadership influence and mentorship are key to fostering basic breast cancer research that can help lead to better treatments and outcomes at MCWCC.

Scientific Review Commitee

The WBCS Scientific Review Committee (SRC) is charged with stewardship of the funds entrusted to WBCS by donors. The SRC is composed of knowledgeable survivors, WBCS representatives, community oncology specialists and MCW scientists and MCWCC leadership. The SRC meets at least annually to review funding opportunities that fall within our mission. Research we support goes through a rigorous peer-review process before being presented to the SRC for consideration and recommendation for final approval for funding by the WBCS board of directors. Peer-reviewed progress reports are assessed before second year funding is approved. To avoid conflicts of interest, any MCW representative on the committee who is in consideration for a WBCS grant or has a potential conflict is recused from meetings where discussions and decisions associated with them take place.

The past two SRC meetings occurred virtually, with significant work being done. In 2020, WBCS $100,000 Independent Seed Grants were approved for funding over two years for Carol Williams, PhD, and Yunguang Sun, MD, PhD. A No Cost Extension (NCE) was approved for awardee Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD, based on recommendation of MCWCC Director Gustavo Leone, PhD. In 2021, the SRC approved release of second year funding for Drs. Williams and Sun, based on significant research progress.

Partnerships Make The Difference

Importantly, partnerships are critical to the success of WBCS. Our partnership with MCWCC enables us to fund significant research opportunities. Scientists we support locally are collaborative in ways that give WBCS-supported research the potential for a global impact. Our army of volunteers makes it possible to host inspirational events that generate investment dollars, while offering guests cancer prevention education and awareness. Donors range from foundations, businesses, philanthropists, community partners, the media, to generous individuals who simply open their hearts to support our mission. Collectively, our partnerships make possible investing the innovative capital critical to unlocking science mysteries leading to better treatments and survival. Together, we foster hope by investing in options for those patients now and in the future who are challenged by breast cancer and prostate cancer. ~

Mark Blake, MD

Illume Medical Director

Gustavo Leone, PhD Mark Bosbous, MD, FACS

Ravi Misra, PhD Hanadi Buali, MD, FACS

Hallegir Rui, MD, PhD Ellen Irion

Chair, WBCS Board

Carol Williams, PhD Jan Lennon

Chair, Scientific Review Committee