“They look for dedicated, driven, innovative scientists, give them the means to pursue their research, then get out of the way. That was the guiding philosophy of Maurice Goldblatt in founding the CRF and it’s the philosophy that Stan, Merle, Zanna and other members of the Goldblatt family have perpetuated over many years.”
Richard L. Schilsky, MD’75 Former chief of hematology/oncology, University of Chicago Medicine; chief medical officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology; recipient of CRF Young Investigator Award (1986) and Fletcher Scholars Award (1989)
Young investigator
Jane Churpek, MD A 2012 Young Investigator Award enabled Jane Churpek, MD, assistant professor of medicine, to mount the largest investigation conducted to date into genetic mutations behind therapy-related leukemias after breast cancer. Churpek’s Young Investigator Awardfunded study, on which a paper is pending, added to growing evidence that certain inherited mutations denote susceptibility to these “second” cancers. Her findings support the importance of genetic counseling and increased surveillance for these patients.
PHOTO BY ROBERT KOZLOFF
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was another unproven, undercapitalized researcher. “She needed equipment and my father gave her a couple thousand dollars — her first outside research support,” Goldblatt recalled. Over the years, the CRF offered “seed capital” to myriad young researchers facing the same predicament as Rowley — long on ideas, energy and promise, but short on resources and the track record of results traditional funding agencies look for. In 1986, the foundation institutionalized this focus, inaugurating the Young Investigator Award (YIA). “They launched the careers of dozens of UChicago researchers,” said Michelle M.
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“Funding is tight for all scientists and especially young investigators. This award has given me the data I need to apply for National Institutes of Health grants.”
Le Beau, PhD, director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. Goldblatt compares CRF awards to the angel investments venture capitalists make in promising start-ups. “It’s pump-priming for smart scientists with good ideas.” This takes its cue from his father’s retail mindset, he said. Before cancer research became the family business, it was dry goods. Maurice and brother Nathan (aided by siblings Joel and Louis) built a retail empire. Together, they bootstrapped Goldblatt Brothers from a single store opened in 1913 on Chicago’s North Side to a large regional chain. They were a team: Nathan, the savvy merchan-
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DIVISION
diser; Maurice, the financial brains. Also together, they navigated challenges. When national behemoth Woolworth’s moved in on their turf, the brothers mounted a sale that undercut and stole their out-of-town rival’s thunder. But there was one challenge they couldn’t surmount. In April 1944, Nathan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “This was my first experience . . . dealing with a situation where the top authorities . . . reported ‘no hope,’ ” a devastated Maurice wrote. That November, Nathan died at 49. With his passing, Maurice “lost heart for the business,” recounted Goldblatt. “He knew he had to step away from Continued on page 26