Purdue University’s Center for Cancer Research has received a $10 million matching-funds gift from the Indianapolis-based Walther Cancer Foundation to advance its research in drug discovery, treatments and potential cures. The gift announced is designed to inspire endowed gifts to Purdue’s center to sustain it throughout its existence. It is the latest gift from the Walther Cancer Foundation, which has given more than $16 million in grants to Purdue over the years, including $4.2 million in the last three years before its latest gift.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels said, “We couldn’t be more grateful to the Walther Foundation. Nor could we be more proud of the work being done at our cancer center, which has generated 10 potential drugs in clinical trials, with 31 in the pipeline, and technology that has created 15 startup companies over the last seven years.
The Walther Cancer Foundation’s CEO and president Thomas W. Grein said, “The collaboration between Purdue University Center for Cancer Research and the Walther Cancer Foundation is longstanding. The foundation, through this matching grant, is seeking to leverage our contributions with the support of others to continue to build the capabilities of the center. The earnings from the combined endowment of $20 million will be under the direction of the center director. This allows flexibility in achieving center goals in a more meaningful way than through a Walther Cancer Foundation directed grant alone. We are excited about this new opportunity to work with the Purdue Center for Cancer Research.”
Purdue’s Center for Cancer Research has more than 100 faculty scientists from a range of academic disciplines who are working on advancements of new and better cancer treatments.
The Indianapolis-based Walther Cancer Foundation is a private grant-making foundation that supports and promotes interdisciplinary and inter-institutional cancer research, both bench and clinical. The clinical research it supports encompasses clinical trials as well as behavioral studies, the latter as part of the foundation’s commitment to Supportive Oncology. The Walther Foundation has two primary goals: to support cancer research with the aim of discovering better treatments, if not cures, and to develop a comprehensive approach for supporting patients with cancer and their families. Since its founding, almost $140 million has been invested in cancer-focused research.