When a generous family created an endowed fellowship nearly 20 years ago to support targeted research on brain cancer and pain, they wanted to help ensure that in the future others would not have to suffer in the way that their son and brother did.
Over the years, this endowment has supported game-changing research at IMB, including the work of Dr Hana Starobova whose work seeks to prevent cancer therapy-induced side effects.
Cancer therapy can cause many side effects, including neuropathic pain, which is characterised by pain, tingling, numbness or weakness throughout the body and can impact anyone. However, children are amongst the hardest-hit. As brain tumours are among the most commonly-occurring childhood cancers, treatment can impact rapidly developing brains and nerves leading to lifelong pain but also other effects including cognitive impairment, and impaired motor function.
For Dr Starobova, philanthropic support has enabled her to advance her research in a number of ways, including salary support over several years and funds for the purchase of laboratory equipment.
Donor Pauline North, who has also supported Dr Starobova’s research, was also motivated by family experiences with cancer treatment. Over several years, Pauline and her husband Bill have supported a number of researchers at IMB and have seen the impact of their gifts in very tangible ways.
We understand that research can take many years, and that funding can be precarious. One of the surprises has been how a little bit of support at the right time can act as a catalyst for scientists by enabling them to reach the next milestone. – Pauline North
Most recently, Pauline and Bill have supported Dr Jennifer Deuis, who is developing a venom-derived alternative to opioid painkillers. They met at last year’s Inflazome Awards where Dr Deuis was a finalist for a major translation prize. While she missed out on the Inflazome Award, meeting the Norths led to a donation that will help with the final sprint of benchmarking her discovery against international competitors, a critical step toward clinical trials.
We are very grateful for the community of generous donors who support IMB researchers. These relationships are about more than financial support. For scientists, having people around you who are interested in your work and believe in you is so important. When someone believes in you enough to give philanthropic support, it is incredibly powerful.
