Smilow, Yale Cancer Center receive grant for Hematology Research Center

Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center (YCC) have received a five-year grant from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation to establish The DeLuca Center for Innovation in Hematology Research.

The gift will help translate groundbreaking research discoveries into practice-changing improvements in clinical care for blood-cancer patients at Smilow and YCC. It will also ensure detailed genetic characterization of each patient’s cancer and advance the next generation of treatments for hematologic malignancies.

“We are so appreciative of this extremely generous and transformative gift from the DeLuca Foundation to help our team drive innovative research in blood cancers,” said Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, Smilow physician-in-chief and director of YCC. “The DeLuca Center marks a bold, new initiative at Smilow and YCC that will accelerate cancer research and strengthen our battle against hematologic malignancies.”

Hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and related cancers) represent a major contributor to the burden of cancer in the U.S. and across the world.

“My husband, Fred, battled leukemia, so I experienced firsthand the devastating impact blood cancers can have on individuals and families,” said Elisabeth DeLuca, president of The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation. “While there has been progress in the development of new treatments for these cancers, there remains a critical need for new, more effective therapies that can meaningfully improve the outcome for patients. It is my wish that The DeLuca Center for Innovation in Hematology Research will develop cutting-edge therapies to enhance the lives of blood cancer patients.”

The funding for the new center will also help establish a biobank and foster the development of investigators who will advance the next generation of treatments for leukemia and other hematologic malignancies.

The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation was created in 1998 by the late Fred DeLuca, cofounder of the global SUBWAY restaurant chain, to provide youth and adults the tools to achieve self-sufficiency through high-quality educational opportunities and scholarships. The Foundation also funds cutting-edge cancer research and professional development opportunities for nurses to provide the best standard of care for their patients.