HEADstrong Foundation has been committed to supporting research since its inception in 2006. For the first 4 years the foundation made consistent contributions to The Frances Maguire Lymphoma Research Fund at The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Research Portfolio. In 2011, HEADstrong Foundation introduced the Nicholas E. Colleluori Endowment Fund in memory of its founder, to support innovative treatments for a cure. Additionally, HEADstrong Foundation recently awarded research grant monies to fund a City of Hope research project focusing on blood cancer immunotherapeutics and tumor immunology. Our dedication to blood cancer research has allowed medical professionals at premier institutions to develop innovative approaches discovering better diagnoses and treatments with one goal, to eradicate the disease.
Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma Research Fund
The HEADstrong Foundation and the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma Research Fund. The Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma Research Fund will provide financial support to lymphoma research at the Abramson Cancer Center performed by the Director of the Lymphoma Program, Stephen J. Schuster, M.D.. The Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma Research Fund will play an integral role in helping Dr. Schuster and his team continue their search for a cure for lymphoma by providing funding necessary to investigate new avenues of treatment for lymphoma patients, including immunotherapy, the cutting-edge avenue to cancer care. Dr. Schuster’s research includes harnessing a patient’s own immune system to fight their disease, which will lead to more effective treatment while being less toxic for the patient.
Stephen J. Schuster, MD — Medical Oncologist at Penn Medicine
Pat Colleluori Sr., Cheryl Colleluori, Dr. Stephen Schuster, Pat Colleluori Jr., Michael Colleluori, (Photo provided by: Griffin Photography)
City of Hope
The HEADstrong Foundation is pleased to announce it has entered into a five year agreement with City of Hope located in Duarte, California awarding research grant monies to fund the research project of Hua Yu, Ph.D., Professor of Cancer Immunotherapeutics & Tumor Immunology. The funded study involves Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) which is the most common subtype of the non-Hodgkins’s Lymphoma and accounts for approximately 40% of all cases. Dr. Yu is developing a novel approach to treat Activated B-cell DLBCL, the most difficult to treat type of DLBCL. This treatment involves using the body’s immune system to attack malignant cells, and simultaneously suppressing STAT3, a gene that promotes tumor growth. This method of introducing this therapy is being studied currently, and will be followed by the first in-human trials for the treatment of Activated B-Cell DLBCL.
Hua Yu, Ph.D. at City of Hope
