ACGT_2023_Impact_Report

ONE VISION –A CANCER-FREE FUTURE.

Our mission. Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) funds innovative scientists working to harness the power of cell and gene therapy to transform how cancer is treated and to drive momentum toward a cure. 100% of all public donations directly support research and programs.

Our commitment. ACGT supports high-risk, highreward scientific research to develop cancer therapeutics that use the body’s own cells and genes as medicine. By accelerating this research, ACGT is advancing therapies that are significantly more effective and less toxic than current cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Bringing the world closer to a cure for all cancers.

• 34.2 million dollars awarded to groundbreaking research.

• 63 research fellows and collaborations supported.

• 38 of the top medical institutions funded.

ACGT’s full-court press against brain cancer

Barbara Lavery Chief Program Officer

For the last several decades, doctors have treated brain cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, all often leading to disappointing results. Doctors, clinicians and patients are desperate for better treatments to replace these “blunt instruments” that cut, poison and burn healthy cells as well as the cancer.

To effectively treat brain cancers, doctors must be able to apply therapies and medicines that can reach every part of the brain, treat every part of the tumor, and diminish every cancer cell while protecting the most precious organ we have – our brain.

In short, the brain is everything

Many patients diagnosed with brain tumors experience a loss of self as tumors impact thought, speech, motor skills, vision, muscle control and more, severely limiting a patient’s ability to be themselves in the most fundamental ways.

These challenges have driven the research, medical and philanthropic communities to come together and to integrate new therapeutic approaches, technologies and ways of combining treatments and collaborating as teams to help brain cancer patients.

These efforts are beginning to gain serious traction, particularly in ACGT’s area of impact – cancer immunotherapy, specifically cell and gene therapies.

ACGT has led these efforts by consistently funding the most innovative research and supporting scientists and clinicians as they work to advance new therapies from the lab to the patients.

This year, much of our focus has been on brain cancer, an area of great need and great promise.

In 2022-2023, ACGT awarded four grants, three of which are to researchers leading cell and gene therapy projects deliberately focused on brain tumors. Advancements in developing cell and gene therapies for brain cancer are expected to impact research in other solid tumors as well – helping to advance new therapies for roughly 2.0 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with cancer every year.

Thanks to the support of our donors, ACGT Research Fellows past and present are advancing research into the complex biology of brain tumors and, compared to even five years ago, have built a deep and rapidly expanding understanding of the genetic drivers of brain tumors, in adults and children, and how the immune system can be leveraged to limit and, ultimately, defeat the disease.

With the advent of a new era of medicine using cell and gene therapies, we have the tools to meet the complexity of brain cancer and replace “blunt instruments” with finely tuned “living medicines” that are showing true promise for patients.

Barbara Lavery ACGT Chief Program Officer blavery@acgtfoundation.org

#FightForTheBrain

THE BRUTAL LANDSCAPE OF BRAIN CANCER

On any given day, an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. are living with a primary brain tumor. 19,000 of them die each year, making brain cancer the tenth leading cause of cancer death in the country. Glioblastoma is the most common brain cancer, accounting for half of all cases. It’s also the most deadly. The five-year survival rate for people with malignant brain tumors is 35%, but the five-year survival rate for those with glioblastoma is less than 7%. In fact, the median survival for patients with glioblastoma is just eight months after diagnosis.

Brain cancer also viciously impacts children and adolescents. Twenty-six percent (or about 5,200) of all pediatric cancers diagnosed annually in the U.S. are brain cancers, making it the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death for patients ages 0-19.

Brain tumors are different.

Aside from being an aggressive disease, brain cancer also presents distinct challenges to treatment that are not present in other cancers.

The brain is protected not just by the skull but also by the blood-brain barrier, which is a special immune-restricted cellular environment designed to limit inflammation and keep out the unknown. It’s very difficult for therapies –such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy – to cross this blood-brain barrier.

The number of immune cells present in the brain is also limited by natural design to protect the brain from inflammation. This means, for example, that any cell and gene therapy designed to activate T cells may not work effectively because there are relatively few T cells present.

These inherent physical challenges often obstruct the success of novel therapies in pre-clinical testing and clinical trials. A lack of success eliminates the opportunity for a return on financial investment, which is why many biotech companies, other industry partners and even government funding sources shy away from supporting innovative cell and gene therapy research for brain cancer.

IT’S TIME FOR A BREAKTHROUGH

Because ACGT believes people diagnosed with brain tumors deserve new treatment options, ACGT is filling the void by prioritizing high-risk, high-reward research projects that can unlock groundbreaking approaches using cell and gene therapies.

Since its founding in 2001, ACGT has awarded 15 grants to 14 scientists focused on brain cancer, totaling $7.25 million. ACGT has invested an additional $2.25 million in a progressive collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Cancer Research Institute.

“It is tremendous that ACGT understands the importance of, and the void in, brain cancer research and provides scientists with generous and strong support,” says ACGT Research Fellow Hideho Okada, MD, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco.

Translational strategies for broadband success.

An integral part of the ACGT mission is funding cell and gene therapy research projects that will enable or directly support clinical trials, including translational pre-clinical research and early phase clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of novel cell and gene therapies.

“Unfortunately, a lot of funding organizations don’t consider (translational research) innovative enough,” says ACGT Research Fellow Stephen Gottschalk, MD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “On the contrary, without translational research, you’d never get these new therapies to the clinic. ACGT has done an outstanding job of funding this research phase between the basic discoveries and clinical trials. It’s this in-between phase where we roll up our sleeves and figure out whether the therapy can actually work.”

Translational research isn’t limited to advancing strategies for just one type of cancer. Although a particular cancer, such as brain cancer, may be initially targeted, successful results create new pathways for fighting breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and more.

“Cell and gene therapy research can have applications across multiple types of cancers and multiple types of patients,” says ACGT Research Fellow Robert Vonderheide, MD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania. “That‘s why it‘s so powerful.”

• An ACGT-funded grant awarded to Crystal Mackall, MD, of Stanford University, that focused on developing a CAR T-cell therapy for children with osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) and neuroblastoma (a nerve cell cancer) led to the development of a CAR T-cell therapy for children with rare and aggressive diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) or spinal diffuse midline gliomas (DMG). A clinical trial testing the GD2-CAR T cells has shown very promising results, including a patient whose tumor volume decreased by nearly 70%, and is currently recruiting new patients.

• ACGT grant support of E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, fostered the development of an oncolytic virus therapy and a 51-patient clinical trial for glioblastoma. Thanks to additional grant support awarded in 2023, Dr. Chiocca is leveraging the experience and knowledge gained from this trial to evolve a next-generation oncolytic virus designed to increase the ability of the virus to destroy glioblastoma cells while remaining safe for normal tissues. These viruses are expected to offer potential solutions for approximately 20,000 glioblastoma patients as well as an estimated 40,000 pancreatic cancer patients.

“Someone once asked me why I focus my research on brain cancer, which is the most difficult cancer to treat and the toughest to get tissue samples for research,” says Dr. Chiocca. “I answered in the manner of President John F. Kennedy when he announced the goals of the space program in 1961: ‘We choose to go the moon, not because it is easy but because it is hard.’ I believe ACGT has the same mindset and will help us do for brain cancer what the space program did for the lunar landings.”

HOW “LIVING MEDICINE” FIGHTS CANCER

ACGT was the catalyst in funding the first cell and gene therapies to achieve remarkable success in overcoming blood cancers. Today seven such therapies are improving thousands of lives each year and ACGT is committed to advancing and evolving the science behind them to fight the challenges of solid tumors.

Traditional standards of care – surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy – struggle to control and eliminate tumors, often cannot prevent recurrence, and can lead to quality of life-limiting side effects. They also have a finite shelf-life in their cancerfighting abilities and are usually one-size-fits-all options, not versatile enough to solve each patient’s unique disease.

Surgery is usually a one-time event, if it’s even possible. Chemotherapy ends when the drugs from the last treatment session leave the body. And there is a limit to the amount of radiation an area of your body can safely receive over the course of your life.

Cell and gene therapies are different.

“They’re completely different from what the pharmaceutical industry does where they make one drug that tries to treat everyone the same way,” says ACGT Research Fellow and Scientific Advisory Council Member Carl June, MD, whose ACGT-funded research led to FDA approvals of cell and gene therapies for blood cancers.

Cell and gene therapies are “living medicines” that harness the power of each patient’s unique immune system – the complex network of organs, cells and proteins that defend the body against infections and diseases. Cell and gene therapies reprogram and activate the immune system to more effectively recognize and destroy cancer cells.

“This is not using a poison like chemotherapy or other sort of toxic substances,” says ACGT Research Fellow Robert Vonderheide, MD, PhD, director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

“This is educating your immune system to attack the cancer in a way it already wants to, but just needs a little gene therapy help to do so.”

Once the tumors are destroyed and the cancer is controlled, the modified immune system remains on guard thanks to the memory of its engineered cells. These cells replicate into more cells with the same cancer-killing enhancements and this growing population of modified cells continues to search for any sign of the disease, which can protect against recurrences.

“These therapies can stay in our patients’ bodies for weeks, months or even years,“ says ACGT Research Fellow and Scientific Advisory Council Member Crystal Mackall, MD, of Stanford University.

“ACGT is showing a commitment to out-of-the-box cancer therapies, and we celebrate this focus,” says Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, MD, who is research partners with Juan Fueyo, MD, at MD Anderson and co-Principal Investigator on an ACGT-funded project. “For instance, current therapies and conventional approaches are failing to improve survival of most patients with brain tumors. Therefore, support for innovative treatments may provide the required and urgent progress.”

THREE EXAMPLES OF HOW CELL AND GENE THERAPIES REPROGRAM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

CAR T-cell therapy:

T cells are a natural and essential part of a person’s immune system. CAR T-cell therapy involves engineering a patient’s T cells to find and destroy cancer cells that express a specific protein (whole protein) on their surface. Scientists engineer patient’s T cells by giving them a new gene that encodes a new set of instructions for how to find and destroy those target cancer cells.

Engineered T-cell receptor therapy: Another way to help a patient’s own immune cells find and destroy cancer cells is by engineering the receptors of T cells to look for fragments of a particular protein expressed by cancer cells rather than whole proteins. These fragments come from proteins inside of the cancer cells that rise to the cells’ surface where the engineered T cell receptors can identify them.

Oncolytic virus therapy:

Viruses can be modified to infect only cancer cells. Once infected by a modified (oncolytic) virus, cancer cells break apart and die, releasing proteins that were previously hidden to a patient’s immune system. When these proteins become discoverable by the immune system, it sends cells to attack the area where the rest of the disease exists.

MEET THE NEWEST ACGT Research Fellows

Hideo Okada, MD, PhD University of California, San Francisco

Closing the gap between research and the clinic. Dr. Okada received a grant to support a clinical trial at the University of California, San Francisco for children diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG). This rare brain tumor is diagnosed in only 200-300 children in the U.S. each year, and its aggressive nature leads to low survival outcomes for most patients.

Dr. Okada’s phase 1 clinical trial is testing an engineered T-cell receptor therapy to treat children with DMG. This type of cell and gene therapy involves engineering the patient’s own T cells to search for a protein specifically expressed by cancer cells. Dr. Okada’s TCR therapy targets a mutated protein within DMG cells (H3.3K27M).

“If you want to target cancer-specific proteins, then you have to target cancer-specific mutations or alterations to proteins that uniquely happen in cancer cells,” Dr. Okada says. “If you look at cancer-specific mutations, more than 90% happen in intracellular proteins.”

Two new ACGT Research Fellows were welcomed to the alliance in 2023 to research, develop and test cutting-edge cell and gene therapies to kill brain tumors.

Juan Fueyo, MD

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Harnessing the immune response to oncolytic viruses for glioblastoma.

Dr. Fueyo received a grant to help him further develop an oncolytic virus therapy to fight glioblastoma. This brain cancer is diagnosed in approximately 12,000 people in the U.S. each year and the average survival is just 15-18 months.

“When you use an oncolytic virus to treat a cancer patient, the patient’s immune system is alerted to the presence of the virus,” says Dr. Fueyo. “The immune system usually eliminates the virus, but now immune system cells (T cells) are in the area of the cancer. The immune system then begins attacking the tumor.”

Dr. Fueyo and his co-principal investigator, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, MD, have developed an oncolytic virus therapy to kill glioblastoma. In a clinical trial, a single dose of the therapy helped 20% of patients live for at least three years.

However, Dr. Fueyo and Dr. Gomez-Manzano identified an issue. The therapy could not help the other 80% of patients because their immune systems wiped out the oncolytic virus before it could kill enough glioblastoma cells to control the tumor’s growth.

Therefore, the grant from ACGT will help the scientists control the immune system’s response to the virus. Funding will help them test two strategies.

“One approach is swapping one of the proteins in the virus with a protein that the immune system won’t respond to right away,” Dr. Fueyo says. “The other approach is making the immune system get used to the presence of the virus, which allows it to focus on the tumor.”

If this highly innovative project is successful, Drs. Fueyo and Gomez-Manzano have the resources and infrastructure already in place to further translate these two strategies to treat malignant brain tumors in the clinic.

This grant is supported in part by Swim Across AmericaFairfield County.

Photo: Wyatt McSpadden.

ACGT-FUNDED RESEARCH UNDERWAY IN 2022-2023

GLIOBLASTOMA

“Redirecting the Immune Response to Make Oncolytic Viruses Effective Against Brain Tumors” by Juan Fueyo, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.

PANCREATIC CANCER

“Tumor-Infiltrating Gamma Delta T cells for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment” by Amer Zureikat, MD, FACS, of the University of Pittsburgh.

“Initial Development of a Novel CRISPRa-Based Immune Gene Therapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma” by Sidi Chen, PhD, of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

LUNG CANCER

“Targeting Macrophages to Turn Tumors Hot and Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy” by Brian Brown, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY.

PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER

“Pediatric Brain Cancer Phase 1 Clinical Trial Using TCR Therapy” by Hideho Okada, MD, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco.

GLIOBLASTOMA DATABASE

“Building a groundbreaking database centralizing newly diagnosed and recurrent brain tumor tissue samples for MIBI analysis to interpret cellular interactions for researchers globally.”A 3-year ACGT collaboration with Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Cancer Research Institute

PROSTATE CANCER

“Metabolic Reprogramming of the CAR T-cell Epigenome” by Joseph Fraietta, PhD, of the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.

ACGT RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED IN

2022-2023

Hideho Okada, MD, PhD

Institution: University of California, San Francisco

Focus: Diffuse midline glioma (brain cancer)

Type of cell and gene therapy: Engineered T-cell receptors

Type of project: Phase 1 clinical trial

SARCOMAS

“ECM-targeted T-cell Therapy” by Stephen Gottschalk, MD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.

SOLID TUMORS

“Preventing Cancer Vaccine Failure Via NanoparticleMediated TCR Programming” by Matthias Stephan, MD, PhD, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA.

Juan Fueyo, MD

Institution: The University of Texas MD

Anderson Cancer Center

Focus: Glioblastoma (brain cancer)

Type of cell and gene therapy: Oncolytic virus

Type of project: Pre-clinical research

E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD

Institution: Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Focus: Glioblastoma (brain cancer)

Type of cell and gene therapy: Oncolytic virus

Type of project: Pre-clinical research

Crystal Mackall, MD

Institution: Stanford University

Focus: Solid tumors

Type of cell and gene therapy: CAR T-cell therapy

Type of project: Pre-clinical research

TRACKING THE PROGRESS of four ACGT Research

Four innovative ACGT Research Fellows reached the conclusion of their multi-year ACGT grants in 2022. With ACGT funding – built on the power of scientific rigor and supported by donor contributions – these exceptional scientists helped gain deeper understandings of how cell and gene therapy can transform the immune system into a cancer-fighting force.

Matthias Stephan, MD, PhD Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Dr. Stephan completed his ACGT Research Grant in 2022. His project – “Preventing Cancer Vaccine Failure via NanoparticleMediated TCR Programming” – focused on solid tumors

Dr. Stephan used ACGT grant funding to develop injectable nanoparticles that can genetically program T-cell receptors (TCRs) to target cancer proteins. This technology could allow scientists to enhance a patient’s T cells without having to remove them from their body, which would expedite the manufacturing process for cell and gene therapies. In a publication highlighting Dr. Stephan’s ACGT-funded research, he states that this “in-vivo,” or inside the body, approach would also bring much needed new cancer therapies to patients in rural settings, where access to these novel therapies is often limited.

In preclinical tests on mice, a single injection of Dr. Stephan’s in-vivo TCR therapy nearly doubled the mice’s median survival compared to mice that did not receive any treatment. Multiple injections further improved the mice’s survival.

“Our results are a pioneering effort to treat cancer by programming tumor-recognizing capabilities into circulating T cells and expanding them into therapeutic numbers,” says Dr. Stephan. “We believe that establishing the potential that synthetic particulates have in carrying disease-specific TCR transgenes could open a new venue for therapeutic nanotechnology, extending its potential beyond drug and vaccine delivery.”

Dr. Stephan says he and his colleagues are now preparing to translate these advances into a clinical trial for women with ovarian cancer.

Stephen Gottschalk, MD

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Dr. Gottschalk completed his ACGT Research Grant in 2022. His project – titled “ECM-targeted T-cell therapy” – focused on pediatric sarcoma cases. There are 13,000-16,000 new cases of sarcoma in the U.S. each year and approximately 900 cases involving children and adolescents.

Dr. Gottschalk used ACGT grant funding to develop a CAR T-cell therapy that targets two proteins present on sarcoma cells. By targeting multiple cancer proteins, the engineered T cells could be more effective at finding and destroying the disease.

Dr. Gottschalk is encouraged by the data from the preclinical study. The next step is to bring this CAR T-cell therapy with two protein targets to a clinical trial.

“The good thing about the target is that it is expressed in multiple types of sarcoma,” he says. “This will make it much easier to run a clinical trial because we’re not going to be restricted to recruiting patients from just one type.”

Dr. Gottschalk’s grant was funded in part by Wendy Walk and by Swim Across America Fairfield County.

Fellows

Joseph Fraietta, PhD University

of Pennsylvania

Dr. Fraietta completed his ACGT Research Grant in 2022. His project was titled “Metabolic Reprogramming of the CAR T-cell Epigenome.”

Dr. Fraietta used ACGT grant funding to research ways to help CAR T cells resist and overcome some of the characteristics of the toxic tumor microenvironment, namely for prostate cancer. With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the United States. There will be an estimated 288,000 new cases in 2023.

In his final report, Dr. Fraietta describes a “metabolic tug of war” between T cells and the tumor microenvironment. After conducting studies using ACGT funding, he now has more information on how to win this tug of war, such as knocking out the gene TET2 to reprogram T-cell metabolism.

Dr. Fraietta and his team also conducted the first human clinical trial using TGFß-insensitive armored CAR T-cells in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, which is a type of prostate cancer that continues growing despite very low testosterone levels.

“Our ACGT-funded research project has successfully met and surpassed the aims originally proposed, providing significant advancements in the field of CAR T-cell immunotherapy,” says Dr. Fraietta.

Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Kasahara completed his ACGT Research Grant, titled “RRV for immunogenic suicide gene therapy and checkpoint inhibition in glioma.” The project focused on glioblastoma, which is the most common and most deadly brain tumor diagnosed in adults.

Dr. Kasahara and his team developed a tumor-selective virus vector that delivered a “suicide gene” into glioblastoma cancer cells. Virus vectors are harmless versions of viruses used to transport a gene therapy to cancer cells or immune cells. The virus vectors in this study were also capable of replicating, meaning they could deliver the gene therapy to more glioblastoma cells, and the gene therapy could block specific immunosuppressive characteristics within tumors, leading to an increased anti-tumor response from the patient’s immune system.

ACGT grant funding helped Dr. Kasahara conduct important preclinical tests of this new virus vector, laying the groundwork for a future clinical trial.

“To date, we have completed preclinical studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy and safety of improved forms of this new RRV-NTR vector, providing the foundation for further clinical translation through a new biotech venture,” says Dr. Kasahara.

Dr. Kasahara’s grant was funded in part by Swim Across America Fairfield County.

ACGT unites leading cell and gene therapy scientists at Summit 2023

ACGT hosted its first in-person, day-long scientific gathering in March 2023 to bring together top scientists in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy. ACGT Summit 2023 was an invitation-only event featuring ACGT Research Fellows, ACGT Scientific Advisory Council members, biotech leaders and other thought leaders.

A curated agenda of speakers allowed the scientists to share ideas to help advance cell and gene therapy research and development – ultimately, to benefit patients diagnosed with difficult-to-treat cancers, especially those with solid tumors.

“The talent that was here was amazing,” says ACGT Research Fellow Brian Brown, PhD, of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “There were people who I looked up to my entire career. It was an intimate environment. The way they structured the event where it was light on presenting the science and heavy on conversation and interaction, it’s a great forum. ACGT is great.”

Keynote speakers and leading participants included ACGT Research Fellow and Scientific Advisory Council Member Carl June, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, whose ACGTfunded research led to the first FDA approval of a cell and gene therapy for blood cancers; ACGT Research Fellow and Scientific Advisory Council Member Crystal Mackall, MD, of Stanford University, who with the financial support of ACGT has helped pioneer the development of CAR T-cell therapies for pediatric brain tumors and sarcomas; ACGT Scientific Advisory Council member George Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, co-founder, president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Ira Mellman, PhD, VP Cancer Immunology, Genentech; Mike Lotze, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, who serves

as the ACGT Scientific Advisory Council Chair and is a leader in tumor immunology, particularly the role of cellular therapy using dendritic cells and NK cells; and Gregory C. Simon, the former President of the Biden Cancer Initiative.

“I thought it was fabulous,” says ACGT Research Fellow Stephen Gottschalk, MD. “There were investigators who work on gene editing, scientists who work on oncolytic viruses, and scientists who work on vaccine approaches. Within the group, it was quite diverse and very stimulating. I thought it was a great event, and I really enjoyed it.”

The ACGT Summit 2023 attendees are committed to uncovering cures for cancer through the development of new cell and gene therapies. It is thanks to ACGT that many of these scientists have funding to conduct crucial research.

ACGT celebrates remarkable achievements in cell and gene therapy

ALLIANCE for CANCER GENE THERAPY AWARDS LUNCHEON

The 2023 ACGT Awards Luncheon was held in conjunction with ACGT Summit 2023 and offered ACGT donors and scientists an opportunity to celebrate ACGT’s 20th anniversary, honor Crystal Mackall, MD, with the 2023 Edward Netter Leadership Award, and gain insight from Pulitzer Prize-winning author and keynote speaker Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD.

Dr. Mackall was honored for her achievements in advancing cell and gene therapy, which include leading groundbreaking clinical trials to treat children with sarcomas and brain cancers. Named for ACGT Co-Founder Edward Netter, the award recognizes a researcher who has made unparalleled and groundbreaking contributions to the field of cell and gene therapy for cancer.

During her acceptance speech, Dr. Mackall credited ACGT as the first and only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to funding cancer cell and gene therapy research. ACGT was founded in 2001 by Edward and Barbara Netter, who were committed to developing better and more permanent therapies to treat and cure cancer.

“You get the type of impact ACGT has made by having a leadership with great instincts, leadership that is passionate and leadership that has grit,” Dr. Mackall says.

Dr. Mukherjee, the pioneering physician, oncologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who redefined public discourse on human health, medicine and science, explained to the audience how cell and gene therapy is crossing borders and reaching cancer patients internationally. He told the story of a young boy in India who became the country’s first CAR T-cell therapy patient.

Dr. Mukherjee traced the impact back to ACGT and its donors. “This is India’s Emily Whitehead,” Dr. Mukherjee said, referencing the first child ever to receive CAR T-cell therapy and an 11-year survivor of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia thanks to CAR T-cell treatment.

“I’m very proud of everyone who enabled this, because it didn’t exist not long ago,” says Dr. Mukherjee.

Pictured: Crystal Mackall, MD, recipient of The Edward Netter Leadership Award; ACGT Co-Founder and Honorary Chair Barbara Netter; and, Keynote Speaker Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD.

STORIES OF GIVING: TWO DONOR JOURNEYS

ACGT donors share a vision for shaping entirely new cancer treatment models, but their individual journeys are often very different. How they discovered ACGT and the reasons why they’re motivated to provide support are often very personal and very moving.

The transformational power of education and experience.

Leigh Haskell Perkins III was not your typical 13-year-old girl. While most kids her age were busy with school, friends and hobbies, Leigh had a burning desire to make a difference in the world. Growing up in a family that believed in the power of giving back, she knew from an early age that she wanted to be a difference-maker.

Her journey into the world of charitable giving started 10 years ago when she stumbled upon ACGT. Intrigued by the foundation’s mission to help advance cancer cell and gene therapy research and driven by her passion for science, Leigh decided to donate to the organization.

As the years passed, Leigh‘s contributions to ACGT grew, reflecting her unwavering commitment to its work. She devoted time to research and educate herself on different charities, but ACGT always stood out for Leigh. Her decision was backed by meticulous research and ratings from the Better Business Bureau, which confirmed the organization‘s credibility.

Her faith in ACGT was rewarded with the knowledge that her donations were being utilized in the most impactful way. The organization‘s dedication to vetting grant applications and supporting the best and brightest ideas in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy fill Leigh with a sense of pride.

“It‘s not just about donating money,” says Leigh, now 23 years old and a 10-year donor to ACGT. “It‘s about knowing that your contribution is making a real impact, and ACGT ensures that by involving renowned experts on the ACGT Scientific Advisory Council.”

Leigh‘s donations to ACGT have now reached a 10-year milestone of continuous support, a testament to her commitment and compassion. Her journey from a young girl with a desire to help to becoming a savvy donor exemplifies the transformational power of education and experience – proving how a small act of generosity can lead to a world of change

Leigh Haskell Perkins III at her May 2023 college graduation.

Lori Lowe met the love of her life nearly 30 years ago while attending Purdue University. Her college sweetheart, Ming, believed in finding joy and beauty in everyday life. Rooted in his faith, he lived purposefully, following his passions with vigor and openness rather than filling bucket lists.

It has been two years since her husband Ming, a vibrant adventurer with a heart of gold, succumbed to glioblastoma multiforme, the relentless and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Ming was a professional pilot with boundless enthusiasm for life. He had a passion for travel and helping others, and his warm smile and compassionate nature touched the lives of countless people. He took his role as a husband and father even more seriously and loved time with family. After his diagnosis, he demonstrated unwavering courage, faith and positivity, determined to make the most of every moment.

“Ming was a fitness enthusiast who led a very healthy lifestyle prior to his sudden illness. He was in the prime of his career and family life. He was charismatic and loved to make others laugh,” says Lori. “He underwent three years of aggressive treatments, including three brain surgeries, with the cancer returning each time more aggressively.”

After Ming’s passing, Lori wanted to ensure that her late husband‘s legacy lived on. She knew that glioblastoma is a formidable disease, and she wanted to contribute to finding a cure. To honor Ming’s spirit and his love for helping others, Lori decided she would donate to a non-profit organization that aligned with her beliefs.

After thorough research, her family chose to support ACGT. She firmly believes that research is the key to providing cancer patients with more treatment options and, ultimately, hope for a better future.

“Unlike many other forms of cancer, glioblastoma patients have not had a significant advancement in many decades. Greater innovation is desperately needed to make medical advancements that give patients more time with loved ones,” says Lori. “We have met many other families affected by glioblastoma. It is not as rare as people think, killing more than 10,000 Americans a year. We are funding hope for the brain tumor community.”

By donating to ACGT, Lori and her family aimed to contribute to the legacy Ming had left behind – a legacy of love, adventure and a desire to make the world a better place. The research and advancements made possible by her donation may pave the way for a brighter future for cancer patients and their families.

For more information on donating to ACGT, please contact Keri Eisenberg at (203) 358-5055 or email keisenberg@acgtfoundation.org.

Honoring a legacy of love, adventure and a desire to make the world a better place.

The Lowe Family — Blake, Lori, Ming and Claudia

INCREASE YOUR IMPACT TODAY AND TOMORROW

ACGT offers a variety of flexible giving options, allowing you to make an impact at your own pace and in your own way.

Write a check or give online.

Simple and straightforward. Make a gift of your choice by mailing a check to ACGT at the address on the back cover of this Impact Report, visiting acgtfoundation.org/donate or calling (203) 358-5055.

Make monthly recurring gifts.

Automate your philanthropy through a recurring monthly gift payable through your bank account or credit card. A recurring donation to ACGT ensures that the financial impact of your giving will continue across the entire year. For many donors, a recurring monthly or quarterly donation is a great way to account for gift-giving to ACGT in their budget. ACGT has recurring donors who give anywhere from $10 per month to $1,000 per month. Set up your recurring gift through our automated and secure donation page found at acgtfoundation.org/donate.

Donate in honor or memory of someone you love.

Donate to ACGT in someone’s honor or memory to recognize them and support our efforts to advance cancer cell and gene therapy research. You can make your tribute as a one-time gift or call (203) 358-5055 to explore ways you can create a fundraiser of your own.

Establish donor-advised funds.

Simple. Convenient. Flexible. Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a great way to maximize your charitable tax benefits today while supporting the causes you care about over time.

Think of DAFs as your charitable savings account. Contribute to a sponsoring organization (such as your local community foundation, Fidelity charitable fund or the National Philanthropic Trust). You’ll receive tax benefits in the years when you contribute to your DAF, then you’ll direct distributions from your account to the charities of your choice each year.

If you already have a DAF, support ACGT and become a champion in our vision for a cancer-free future. Contact your fund administrator to designate ACGT (tax ID # 06-1619523) as one of your ongoing beneficiaries.

Consider gifts of stock and securities.

Make a bigger impact by donating long-term appreciated securities – including stock, bonds and mutual funds – directly to ACGT. Before-tax gifts are typically tax deductible for the full market value. By donating stock and securities that have appreciated for more than a year, you maximize your tax deduction and may give more than if you sold them and made a cash donation.

IRA charitable rollover.

Those age 70-1/2 or older can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from an IRA directly to a qualified charity such as ACGT without paying income tax on the money. This popular gift option is commonly called an IRA charitable rollover or a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).

The benefits of an IRA charitable rollover include:

• Your gift will be put to use today, allowing you to see the impact of your legacy.

• Beginning in the year you turn 73, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).

• You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.

• Because the gift doesn’t count as income, it can reduce your annual income. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security subject to tax.

Plan bequests.

Join the ACGT Edward Netter Legacy Society by naming ACGT in your estate plan. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your gifts are guarded and guided by scientific rigor and sound organizational stewardship.

Double your impact through workplace giving and matching gifts.

Many employers offer workplace giving and matching programs typically providing 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 matching of charitable gifts made by employees. Be sure to check with your employer’s Human Resources Department to determine if you are eligible for a workplace match and to complete the necessary paperwork. This is a great way to increase the size of your gift while sharing your passion for our mission to cure cancer.

Donate cryptocurrency.

Donate cryptocurrency to ACGT and help advance our vision for a cancer-free future. The IRS classifies cryptocurrencies as property for tax purposes, so a donation to a 501(c)3 charity like ACGT can typically be the most tax-efficient way to provide support. Donating cryptocurrency is a non-taxable event –you should not owe capital gains tax on the appreciated amount and you can deduct it from your taxes. To learn more, visit www.thegivingblock.com/faq or talk to a crypto-savvy tax professional.

Create Your Own Fundraiser.

Support ACGT in your own community or virtually by creating your own fundraiser. Gathering a group of friends for a walk, golf tournament or other activity, or rallying friends across the globe is a great way to support the cause you care about and raise awareness for the important work of ACGT. If you are interested in directing proceeds from a fundraiser to ACGT, please contact Keri Eisenberg today.

Keri Eisenberg, CFRE Chief Philanthropy Officer

To discuss the ways that you can grow your impact and help champion the fight to end cancer, email ACGT’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, Keri Eisenberg, CFRE, at keisenberg@acgtfoundation.org or call (475) 400-4373.

ACGT is the first and only funding agency dedicated exclusively to advancing cancer cell and gene therapy research.

Since the day it was founded in 2001, 100% of all public donations directly support innovative frontline scientists working on thoroughly vetted and responsibly monitored strategies for cancer cell and gene therapies. A separate fund covers administrative and fundraising costs – so your investment goes further.

Always consult your qualified professional advisors on how a gift to ACGT might fit into your overall plans and your eligibility for tax benefits.

Peer-to-peer events support ACGT research

ACGT’s growing sphere of influence is demonstrated by the continued expansion of affiliated fundraising organizations. These allies create important opportunities for selfless individuals across the U.S. to rally in service of the ACGT mission. 100% of contributions from these organizations to ACGT goes directly to research that advances cancer cell and gene therapies.

Swim Across America Fairfield County

Established in 2007, the annual Swim Across America Fairfield County (SAA-FC) has empowered hundreds of swimmers and volunteers to raise more than $5 million for ACGT. The event takes place each year on the Long Island Sound. The 17th Annual Open Water Swim was held June 24, 2023, and raised more than $360,000.

Current ACGT Research Fellows funded in part by SAA-FC include Sidi Chen, PhD (Yale University); Brian Brown, PhD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai); and Juan Fueyo, MD (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center).

“Thank you to Swim Across America Fairfield County for everything you do to help advance cancer research,” says Dr. Brown, who attended this year’s event. “The Open Water Swim is an amazing event, and your support of ACGT is really helping to transform cancer treatment.”

Additional ACGT Research Fellows who have been supported by SAA-FC include: Arnob Banerjee, MD, PhD (University of Maryland School); John Bell, PhD (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute); Greg Delgoffe, PhD (University of Pittsburgh); Stephen Gottschalk, MD (St. Jude Children’s Hospital); Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD (University of California, San Francisco); Samuel Katz, MD, PhD (Yale University School of Medicine); Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD (University of California, San Diego); Crystal Mackall, MD (Stanford University); Khalid Shah, PhD, MSc (Harvard Medical School); and Fan Yang, PhD (Stanford University).

Visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc

Wendy Walk

Inspired by their mother’s courageous battle with liposarcoma cancer, Ali, Matt and Jackie Landes organized the first annual Wendy Walk in 2010. Since then, their energy has galvanized hundreds of individuals in New York, Florida and California to walk for sarcoma research.

Wendy Walk is one of the few annual events dedicated to raising money for sarcoma research. There have been more than 40 walks with more than 10,000 walkers since the inaugural event in 2010. Wendy Walk has raised more than $610,000 to benefit ACGT.

ACGT Research Fellows funded in part by Wendy Walk include Stephen Gottschalk, MD (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital); Crystal Mackall, MD (Stanford University); and Seth Pollack, MD (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, now at Northwestern University).

Visit wendywalk.org

INDUSTRY GIFTS

info@acgtfoundation.org.

Play for P.I.N.K. Twilight

The 5th Innis Arden Play for P.I.N.K. Twilight golf and tennis tournament was held Aug. 12, 2023, to raise money for breast and pancreatic cancer research. The event honors beloved committee member Bonnie Bancroft who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2020. Through 2022, Play for P.I.N.K. donated more than $51,000 to ACGT to help fund Dr. Sidi Chen’s pancreatic cancer research at Yale University School of Medicine.

Visit acgtfoundation.org/InnisArden

Leave it On the Road

With a mission to “Ride Bikes. End Cancer,” Leave it On The Road (LIOTR) is an elite long-distance cycling event founded in 2013 by Michael Tabtabai, of Portland, Ore.; Andrew Hudon, of Boulder, Colo.; and a cohort of other cycling enthusiasts to raise money for cancer research.

Since 2018, the non-profit group’s fundraising rides have generated $139,000 to help ACGT fund today‘s most innovative researchers in advancing transformative approaches to curing cancer.

Visit leaveitontheroad.org

OUR ALLIANCE PARTNERS PROGRAM

ACGT programs are supported in part by Alliance Partners, industry donors to ACGT representing fields related to cell and gene therapies, such as pharma and biotech companies, service providers and manufacturers, investors and collaborative non-profits. Thanks to their partnership and the generosity of other ACGT stakeholders, including committed individual donors, patients, researchers and clinicians, ACGT is advancing muchneeded lifesaving cancer cell and gene therapies.

Partner with us!

Find out how your company or organization can support ACGT and receive collaborative benefits. Reach out today to Chief Program Officer Barbara Lavery at blavery@acgtfoundation.org.

For more information on how you can form your own fundraiser to benefit ACGT, please contact us at (203) 358-5055 or

invitation-only ACGT Summit

2023 held on March 30, 2023

Akeso Therapeutics

Alvarez & Marsal Holdings

Biden Cancer Initiative

Blue Lake Biotechnology Inc.

Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Inc.

BrightEdge, American Cancer Society

Bristol Myers Squibb

Century Therapeutics, LLC

Chardan

CJNV Bioventures, Inc.

Cytonus

Duke Cancer Institute

Genentech

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Immuno-Oncology 360º

McMaster University’s Cancer Research Centre

MiNK Therapeutics

Nurix Therapeutics

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Paradigm Shift Therapeutics

Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Stanford University

Turnstone Biologics

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Francisco

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Vyriad, Inc.

Yale University

Thank you to our 2023 Annual Awards Luncheon Sponsors

Alvarez & Marsal and Martin Winter

DAVIES

Deloitte Tax, LLP

Donald Drelich

EisnerAmper

Jeb Embree

Geneve Corp

John and Kelly Hartman Foundation

Terry Herbert

Chau and Anne Khuong

The Lapin Foundation

John Miller

Barbara Netter

Paul, Weiss

Robinson & Cole LLP

RSM US LLP

Cindy Sites and John C. Sites, Jr.

Mr. Roy Thung and Dr. Swan Thung

University of Pennsylvania

Klaus R. Veitinger, MD, PhD

Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

Wrightson Ramsing Foundation

ACGT appoints

Maria Fardis, PhD, to Board of Directors

Maria Fardis, PhD, is CEO at Lassen Therapeutics and a Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences and is the Chair of Board of Directors at Obsidian Therapeutics. She is a member of the Board of Directors at CRISPR Therapeutics as well as Quanta Therapeutics. She has over 20 years of scientific and management experience in public and private companies. Dr. Fardis previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Iovance Biotherapeutics, a publicly traded Biotechnology company. As CEO at Iovance, she led the transformation from an early-stage development company to a company with late-stage cell therapy programs for the treatment of solid tumors. Prior to Iovance, Dr. Fardis served as the Chief Operating Officer of Acerta Pharma B.V., where she worked on the development of Calquence® until the company’s acquisition by AstraZeneca. Prior to that, she worked at Pharmacyclics, Inc. She was a key contributor in the creation of a broad clinical program leading to global approvals for Imbruvica® in multiple hematologic malignancies. She served as Chief of Oncology Operations and Alliances at Pharmacyclics. Before Pharmacyclics, Dr. Fardis held increasing senior positions in medicinal chemistry and the project and portfolio management at Gilead Sciences, Inc., during which time she was involved with different therapeutic areas including antivirals, oncology, and cardiovascular therapeutics and worked on the development and life cycle management of Letairis.®

Maria received her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and her BS summa cum laude in chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She also holds an MBA, received with the highest honors, from Golden Gate University.

The following companies and institutions were represented at the

EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

For 2023 ACGT Fiscal Year (May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023)

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc.’s complete financial statements are available upon request. Management, general and fundraising expenses are underwritten by a separate fund so that 100% of all public donations go directly to research and programs.

As a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, public interest corporation, ACGT carefully manages its resources to ensure organizational stability, operational excellence and sound investments.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR ALLIANCE

Generous support from Individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors makes possible our work to advance cancer cell and gene therapy research toward a cancer-free future.

Acknowledgments listed here reflect contributions made to ACGT between May 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023.

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE ($500,000+)

Barbara Netter *

Geneve Corporation *

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE ($100,000-$499,999)

Swim Across America * University of Pennsylvania *

PATHFINDERS ($50,000-$99,999)

The Wasily Family Foundation

Wendy Walk

BENEFACTORS ($25,000-$49,999)

The Lapin Foundation *

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Sites, Jr. *

GOLD ($10,000-$24,999)

Adicet Therapeutics, Inc.

Gbola Amusa, MD, MBA, CFA

Teresa Burgess, PhD *

Chardan

Cogan Family Foundation *

Community Health CHC *

DAVIES

Mr. Daniel Englander *

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Englander *

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fitzgerald *

In memory of Edward Netter

Peter A. Glicklich *

Mr. Michael Gregory *

Mr. Kevin S. Honeycutt *

Chau and Anne Khuong *

Dr. and Mrs. John Lahey *

Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Mark *

Mr. John Miller *

Zachary and Alissa Miller

Paul, Weiss

Play for P.I.N.K.

In memory of Bonnie Bancroft

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Chen Schor, MBA, CPA

Mr. Roy Thung and Dr. Swan Thung

Klaus R. Veitinger, MD, PhD

Mr. and Mrs. Martin E. Winter *

SILVER ($5,000-$9,999)

Keri Cameron

Deloitte Tax, LLP

Mr. Donald Drelich

Mr. and Mrs. Jeb Embree *

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Goldberg

Ms. Joanna Karatzas and Mr. Philip Enquist *

The Kaufmann Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Levis

S & L Marx Foundation *

In honor of Barbara Netter

Charles S. Raizen Foundation Inc. *

Mr. James A. Read

Robinson & Cole LLP

Scrivan Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Tooter

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Weisman *

In honor of Barbara Netter

BRONZE ($1,000-$4,999)

Mr. and Mrs. Andy Alisberg *

America‘s Charities *

Anonymous *

In memory of Diane Darst

Ms. Deanna Congileo

Mr. Martin Dickman *

Ms. Pamela Anne Duke *

EisnerAmper

Maria Fardis, PhD

Mitchell H. Finer, PhD

Drs. Sandra and Ira Harkavy

In memory of Edward Netter

John and Kelly Hartman Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hearn

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herbert

Mr. and Mrs. James D. Hoffman *

In honor of Barbara Netter

Mrs. Alice Kaplan *

Jeffrey Keil and Danielle Pinet

Mrs. Mary C. Kirk *

Ms. Carol A. Klimek

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kramer *

In memory of Carole Arch Kramer

Ms. Barbara Lavery

Leif Luglan and Dorothy Walton-Luglan

In memory of Marcia Collins

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Malnight *

Doug Olson

Mr. and Mrs. Barnet Phillips

Mr. Michael E. Reeves *

Francine and Ralph Roberson

Mrs. Sandra Rogol

In memory of Joan Miller

Mr. and Mrs. John Rosenberg *

Mildred Rosenberg

RSM US LLP

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Senatore *

Mr. and Mrs. Bobeck Shayegani *

Mr. and Mrs. David Sherman *

Mr. LeRoy Sluder, III

Mr. and Mrs. H. William Smith *

Mrs. Judy Soley

Mr. and Mrs. Markley Suthers *

Khalil Tawil

Mr. William Toman

Margot and Charles Tusa *

Wrightson Ramsing Foundation *

PATRONS ($500-$999)

Mr. Steven C. Annus *

In memory of Inge L. Annus

Benevity

Phillip Boiselle, MD

Mrs. Wendy DiChristina

Judith Duran

Mr. and Mrs. James Ferreira

Mrs. Arline Gardner

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Goldman

In honor of Barbara Netter

Julie Thiele and Paul Kempner

Ms. Barbara Jo Kirshbaum *

Ms. Rachel Lipari

Mrs. Janet Lobsenz

Michael Lotze, MD and Joan Harvey, MD

In memory of Michael E. Koyack

Mr. and Mrs. James Mendler *

Mr. Abe Paul

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

Renaissance Charitable Fund

Ms. Valerie Saiz

Mr. Peruvemba Satish

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Schlier

Todd Sloan

Dr. and Mrs. Melish Thompson

In memory of Dr. and Mrs. Hin K. Thung

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Welsh *

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Young *

Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

ADVOCATES (UP TO $499)

Stacy Adam, PhD

Amazon Smile

American Century Investments Foundation

Renee R. Anderko, PhD

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Andersen

Robert Michael Angelo, MD, PhD

Anonymous

Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong

In memory of Mickey Olson

Mr. Michael D. Banach

In memory of Evelyn Kurziak

Mr. Thomas Bancroft

Mrs. Lucy Banker

Mr. Steven Baral

Elizabeth Barth

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Berenblum

Mr. Scott A Berry

In honor of Brenda & Greg Prym

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bower *

In memory of Linda Stoner

Mr. Robert Brady

Melverna Brewer

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

Stan Brosowsky

Brian Brown, PhD

Ms. Connie Burnett *

Mr. and Mrs. James Calabrese

Ms. Tina Carpenteri

Christine J Chao

Sidi and Lisa Chen

John Connolly, PhD

Ms. Julie Coppock

Peter Crawford

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Crumbine

Sasha Cupic

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

CyberGrants, LLC

Cytonus Therapeutics, Inc.

Cytovia Therapeutics

Mr. Leonard D‘Andrea

Mr. and Mrs. David M. Darst, Jr. *

Mr. David Darst

Andrew M Davidoff, MD

Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Dawson

Lucas De Breed, PhD

Ms. Marla DiResta

Christina Downey

Mr. Eugene Eanes

In memory of Joyce Grant

Ms. Keri Eisenberg

Mr. Thomas Ellison

Sharon Ellison

Michael Englander, PhD *

Mr. and Mrs. James Fogarty

Joseph A. Fraietta, PhD

Kelley Frey

Juan Fueyo, MD

Tim Gehman

In memory of Angie Herman

Mr. Devin R. Golden

Richard Golden

Mr. Todd Goldenhersh

Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, MD

Stephen Gottschalk, MD

Nan Hallock

In memory of Susan Sacks

Brent Hanks, MD, PhD

Michelle Harvey

Biao He, PhD

Mr. Andreas and Dr. Angelika Henke

In memory of Bob Lepeska

Carla Hernandez

Ms. Tina Holden

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hughes *

Instil Bio

Mrs. Kareen Jacobs *

In honor of Barbara Netter

Mr. Jim Jasper

Savo Jovanovic

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

Carl H. June, MD

Mr. H. Steven Kanofsky *

Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD

Michael Klichinsky, PhD

Bruce L Levine, PhD

Hy Levitsky, MD

Mr. Howard Levy

Michael Z Lin, MD, PhD

Ms. Wendy Lindquist

Mr. and Mrs. James Lockhart III

Robin Lowe

Ms. Julie Lowe

Antonio Marin

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Marschall

Mr. John Martello

Mr. Michael Martin *

Ms. Susan Massey

Mr. Allen McCoy *

Ms. Leslie McDonald

In memory of Doris Eichwald

Rob McGray, PhD

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McLaughlin

Ira Mellman, PhD FAACS

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Millian

MiNK Therapeutics, Inc.

Mr. Scott Mt. Joy

Pranav Murthy MS

Myeloid Therapeutics

Nicholas Navarro

Melissa and Dwight Norrgard

Maja Obradovic

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

Hideho Okada, MD, PhD

Mr. and Mrs. David Parisier

PayPal Giving Fund

Ms. Janine Pixley

Susanna Witt and Paul Pospisil

Denise and Thomas Pote *

Daniel J Powell, PhD

Robert M. Prins, PhD

Dr. Debra Pruzan-Clain

Mr. Greg Prym

In memory of Grant Clarke

Ms. Barbara L Puszert *

Mr. Brett Raphael

Mr. and Mrs. William Reid

Rosanna Ricafort, MD

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rich

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Rippon *

Ms. Deborah A. Rivers *

In memory of Joan Rivers

Mr. and Mrs. Victor H. Romley *

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Rosenzweig *

In memory of Jodi Granek Reale

David Rukshin

In memory of Valentina Todorovic

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rupp *

Ms. Jane M. Shea

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tusa

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Simkowitz *

In memory of Joan Miller

Greg Simon

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Simon

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Simon

Sheila K. Singh, MD, PhD

Debi Southworth

Kay Story

Leonard Swanson

Mr. Daniel Scott Taylor

Mrs. Virginia D. Thomas

Stephen Thorne, PhD

Dr. Deborah and The Honorable Richard Tolchin

Jacqueline Tooter

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Toretta *

Ms. Yvonne Tropp *

Mr. Robert Tucker, Esq

In honor of Peter Glicklich

Mr. and Mrs. Cris Tuft

Turnstone Biologics

United Way of the National Capital Area

Mr. Robert A. Van Cleef

Ms. Pam Van Hoven Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Von Batsch

Robert Vonderheide, MD, PhD

The Vos Family

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Williams *

Yiping Yang, MD, PhD

Mr. Jackie Yates

Xianzheng Jerry Zhou, MD, PhD

Emese Zsiros, MD, PhD

* Denotes Hall of Fame members who have donated for five consecutive years or longer.

CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF ACGT RESEARCH FELLOWS

In its 22 years of cancer cell and gene therapy research leadership, ACGT has awarded 67 grants totaling $34.2 million to 63 innovative researchers and collaborations at 38 of North America’s top cancer research institutions.

Institutions listed reflect the researcher’s affiliation at the time of the grant award.

Nabil Ahmed, MD, MPH (2011) Baylor College of Medicine, Brain Cancer

Arnob Banerjee, MD, PhD (2014) University of Maryland School of Medicine, Blood Cancer

Jeffrey S. Bartlett, PhD (2003) The Research Institute at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ovarian Cancer

John Bell, PhD (2014) Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Brain Cancer

Brian Brown, PhD (2020)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Solid Tumors

Roberto Cattaneo, PhD (2007) Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Sidi Chen, PhD (2020) Yale University School of Medicine, Pancreatic Cancer

Yvonne Chen, MS, PhD (2016) University of California, Los Angeles, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Antonio E. Chiocca, MD, PhD (2008, 2023)

Ohio State University Research Foundation and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brain Cancer

Laurence Cooper, MD, PhD (2004) University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Lymphoma/Leukemia

George Coukos, MD, PhD (2006) University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Ovarian/Peritoneal Cancer

Andrew M. Davidoff, MD (2003) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Neuroblastoma

Greg Delgoffe, PhD (2017) University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Melanoma

Glenn Dranoff, MD (2011) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Leukemia

Joseph A. Fraietta, PhD (2019) University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Prostate Cancer

Juan Fueyo, MD (2023)

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Glioblastoma

Marco Gallo, PhD (2017) University of Calgary, Brain Cancer

Joseph C. Glorioso, PhD (2018)

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Melanoma

Stephen Gottschalk, MD (2019) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Sarcoma

Thomas S. Griffith, PhD (2003)

University of Minnesota, Prostate Cancer

Brent Hanks, MD, PhD (2016) Duke University Medical Center, Melanoma

Biao He, PhD (2006)

University of Georgia, Breast Cancer

Meenakshi Hegde, MD (2015) Baylor College of Medicine, Melanoma

Hui Hu, PhD (2012)

University of Alabama, Ovarian Cancer

Chien-Fu Hung, PhD (2005)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ovarian Cancer

Mukesh Jain, MD, FAHA (2005) Case Western Reserve University, Metastatic Cancer

Christopher Jewell, PhD (2015)

University of Maryland, College Park, Lymphatic Systems

Carl H. June, MD (2004, 2008)

University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Lymphoma/Leukemia, Ovarian Cancer

Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD (2017)

University of Miami and University of California, San Francisco, Glioblastoma

Samuel G. Katz, MD, PhD (2016)

Yale University School of Medicine, Solid Tumors

Thomas J. Kipps, MD, PhD (2005, 2010)

University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Lymphoma/Leukemia

ACGT funds research aimed at furthering the development of cell and gene therapy approaches to the treatment of cancer. Grants are competitively awarded to innovative researchers and collaborative institutions in the United States and Canada upon rigorous peer review and recommendations made by the ACGT Scientific Advisory Council.

If you would like to be notified about ACGT Requests for Application (RFA), please email your contact information to info@acgtfoundation.org.

Timothy Lane, PhD (2004) University of California, Los Angeles, Breast Cancer

Maciej S. Lesniak, MD (2007) University of Chicago, Brain Cancer

Hyam I. Levitsky, MD (2005) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Ronald Levy, MD (2008) Stanford University, Lymphoma

Michael Z. Lin, MD, PhD (2011) Stanford University, Brain/Breast Cancer

Crystal Mackall, MD (2016, 2023) Stanford University School of Medicine, Osteosarcoma, Solid Tumors

Douglas Mahoney, PhD (2013) University of Calgary, Breast Cancer

Hideho Okada, MD, PhD (2022) University of California, San Francisco, Pediatric Brain Cancer

Clodagh O’Shea, PhD (2008) Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Breast Cancer

Kah-Whye Peng, PhD (2007) Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Multiple Myeloma

Eckhard Podack, MD, PhD (2006) University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Lung Cancer

Seth Pollack, MD (2018) Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Sarcoma

Daniel Powell, PhD (2018) University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Ovarian Cancer

Suzie Pun, PhD (2005) University of Washington, Metastatic Cancer

Todd R. Reilly, PhD (2003) Johns Hopkins University, Breast Cancer

Katherine Ryman, PhD (2004) University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research, Prostate Cancer

Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD (2004) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Harald Sauthoff, MD (2007) New York University, Breast/Lung Cancer

Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD (2006) University of Massachusetts Medical School, Brain Cancer

Khalid Shah, PhD, MSc (2008) Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brain Cancer

Alexander Stegh, PhD (2013) Northwestern University, Brain Cancer

Matthias Stephan, MD (2018)

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Ovarian Cancer

Koji Tamada, MD, PhD (2006) University of Maryland, Lymphatic Systems

Steve Thorne, PhD (2009) University of Pittsburgh, Breast/Ovarian Cancer

Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil (2004) University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Neuroblastoma

Fan Yang, PhD (2014) Stanford University School of Medicine, Brain Cancer

Yiping Yang, MD, PhD (2005) Duke University Medical Center, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Jian Yu, PhD (2005)

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Lung Cancer

Herbert J. Zeh, III, MD, FACS (2012) University of Pittsburgh, Pancreatic Cancer

Xianzheng Zhou, MD, PhD (2006) New York Medical College, Lymphoma/Leukemia

Amer H. Zureikat, MD, FACS (2022)

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pancreatic Cancer

ACGT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The ACGT Board of Directors is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission and ensuring its sustainability through sound governance, advocacy and stewardship. These influential leaders reflect the scope and diversity of the ACGT community – from world class scientists, biotech and pharma leaders to venture capitalists, philanthropists and patient advocates.

Barbara Netter, MS Co-Founder and Honorary Chair Psychotherapist

Peter A. Glicklich Chairman of the Executive Committee Managing Partner DAVIES

Gbola Amusa, MD, MBA, CFA Partner and Chief Scientific Officer Chardan

Terri Burgess, PhD Co-Founder Paradigm Shift Therapeutics

Daniel Englander Managing Partner Ursula Capital Partners

Maria Fardis, PhD Venture Partner Frazier Life Sciences

Michael Gregory Co-Managing Partner Avidity Partners

Kevin Honeycutt CEO and President Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy

Chau Khuong Biotech Entrepreneur and Investor

John L. Lahey, PhD President Emeritus Quinnipiac University

Alexandra Landes Co-Founder and Executive Director Wendy Walk

Chen Schor, MBA, CPA President and Chief Executive Officer Adicet Bio

John C. Sites, Jr. Partner Wexford Capital, LLC

Klaus Veitinger, MD, PhD, MBA Venture Partner OrbiMed Advisors

Martin Winter Managing Director Alvarez & Marsal

In Memoriam

Edward Netter Co-Founder and Founding President (2001-2011)

ACGT SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

The ACGT Scientific Advisory Council comprises the most accomplished thought leaders in the field of cancer cell and gene therapy. Their expert guidance distinguishes ACGT from other funding agencies.

Michael T. Lotze, MD Council Chair University of Pittsburgh

Stuart A. Aaronson, MD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Nduka Amankulor, MD University of Pennsylvania

John Bell, PhD Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Christine Brown, PhD City of Hope

E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, FAANS Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Mitchell H. Finer, PhD MPM Capital

Joseph C. Glorioso, III, PhD Past Council Chair University of Pittsburgh

Carl H. June, MD University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center

Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD University of California, San Francisco

ACGT PROFESSIONAL TEAM

The ACGT Board of Directors and ACGT Scientific Advisory Council rely on the focused ACGT Professional Team to help advance the ACGT mission by responsibly managing the business of the organization.

Kevin Honeycutt CEO and President khoneycutt@acgtfoundation.org

(917) 520-2475

Barbara Lavery Chief Program Officer blavery@acgtfoundation.org

(415) 867-1624

Keri Eisenberg, CFRE Chief Philanthropy Officer keisenberg@acgtfoundation.org

(475) 400-4373

H. William Smith Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel wsmith@ihc-geneve.com

(203) 358-8000

Christine Herman Treasurer cherman@ihc-geneve.com

(203) 358-8000

Crystal L. Mackall, MD Stanford University

Stephen J. Russell, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Michel Sadelain, PhD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Savio L.C. Woo, PhD Council Chair Emeritus

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, retired

Devin Golden Content Manager dgolden@acgtfoundation.org

(203) 358-5055

Sharon DaCosta Foundation Administrator sdacosta@acgtfoundation.org

(203) 358-5055

One vision a cancer-free future.

96 Cummings Point Road Stamford, CT06902

(203) 358-5055

acgtfoundation.org

EIN: 06-1619523

ACGT is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, public interest corporation. Established in 2001 by Edward and Barbara Netter to fill an important niche in the cancer research community, ACGT is the first and only funding agency to exclusively embrace a progressive vision for the notoriously underfunded discipline of cancer cell and gene therapy research.

100% of all public donations directly support frontline scientists working on thoroughly vetted and responsibly monitored cancer cell and gene therapy research.

ACGT is a Gold Seal accredited non-profit as confirmed by GuideStar and is recognized by the Better Business Bureau as a trustworthy organization.