Peer Review | The Division of Biological Sciences, University of Chicago

WINTER 2007 | VOLUME 5 | No. 1
DEVELOPMENT

Halfway through the fiscal year, fundraising is running ahead of expectations. The University of Chicago Medical Center campaign, Spark Discovery, Illuminate Life, already has attained 90 percent of this fiscal year’s goal of $65 million. In total, the campaign has raised $658 million since its beginning in 1999, and will likely finish well in excess of the $700 million goal by June 2008.

The Forefront Fund, an annual giving program that supports the endeavors of the Medical Center with unrestricted gifts, has had great success this fiscal year. Contributions total more than $552,000 to date, putting the Forefront Fund at 79 percent of this year’s goal of $700,000. Nearly 70 new donors have contributed to the Forefront Fund, and 70 percent of existing Forefront Fund members are renewing their memberships.

A number of significant gifts were received during the past few months. The Francis L. Lederer Foundation has contributed $1 million to the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center to establish the High-Risk Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies Clinic led by Kyle Hogarth, MD, and Ravi Salgia, MD. Earl Meltzer has committed $1 million to support pediatric cancer research. The Gruss-Lipper Family Foundation has donated $450,000 to support an international fellowship exchange in pediatrics between the Institute for Molecular Pediatric Sciences and Israel institutions.

In the coming months, trustees, visiting committee members and friends will host several dinners highlighting our faculty. Craig Duchossois and his wife Janet will host a dinner in February. In March, Cheryl Mayberry McKissack will host a dinner and discussion on women’s health issues with Tochi Margaret Okwuosa, MD, and Funmi Olopade, MD. Later that month, Elaine Frank will host a dinner at her home in Palm Springs featuring Neil Shubin, PhD, James Madara, MD, and Robert Zimmer, PhD.

This spring, the Discovery & Impact series will offer two programs. For more information about the series and the programs listed below, contact Scott Ummel at ext.2-2747.

Clinical Trials & Targeted Therapies: Advancing Cancer Care
Hosted by Margot and Tom Pritzker
April 10, 2007
Faculty speaking are Mark J. Ratain, MD, Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD, and
Richard L. Schilsky, MD

Innovative Research & Individualized Treatment: Offering New Hope For
Those With Diabetes
Hosted by Mary Jo and Doug Basler, and Eve and Jim Tyree
May 10, 2007
Faculty speaking are Nancy Cox, PhD, Louis Philipson MD, PhD, and
Christopher Rhodes, PhD

For more information about the Spark Discovery, Illuminate Life campaign or other Medical Center development news, visit http://sparkdiscovery.uchicago.edu or contact Michele Schiele, vice president and associate dean for development at ext. 2-4767 or mschiele@mcdmail.uchicago.edu.