I Propose Rush develop Chicago's First Melanoma Research Center

A Melanoma Research Center for Rush

"get the latest advances coming out of research institutions into the patient with cancer."

-- Goal of Dr. Howard Kaufman, New Director of Rush Cancer Programs

Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. and Worldwide

•  American Cancer Society estimates risk of developing invasive melanoma is 1 in 41 men and 1 in 61 women.
•  Incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma increasing faster than any other demographic group, soaring by 50% in young women since 1980. 
•   Melanoma is most common cancer for young adults 25 to 29 years old and second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15 to 29 years old.
•   Midwest Melanoma patients often must seek treatment in Bethesda, Houston, New York, and Boston.
•   Melanoma’s death rate is directly proportionate to the patient’s proximity to quality care
  
  
  
  Rush is a global medical hub capable of building a Melanoma Research Center in Chicago, which expedites advanced patient treatment like no other

  
  
  • Rush is committed to becoming Chicago’s premier Cancer Center with a full range of critical research and treatments that could approach melanoma in a new manner.

  • National Cancer Institute has overseen the bulk of melanoma research dollars, trial approvals, and actual trials but effective treatment remains beyond reach.
  •   Time for bolder paradigms that involve multiple medical disciplines, while combining and sequencing existing and new treatments.
  •  Dr. Kaufman exemplifies this approach, leading research in new classes of biologics, building expertise in sequencing treatment combinations, and fostering relationships with different research lines, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutes, insurance forums, and governmental entities including the National Institutes of Health and NCI.
  •  New resources could align to help make Rush’s Melanoma Research Center a reality, due in part to a tenacious Chicago recipient of 3 NCI Clinical Trials who has come to Rush because of Dr. Kaufman.
  • This patient’s shared vision of finding a cure has a team of advocates and business professionals anxious to collaborate on developing this Center via an abundance of new resources, talent, and determination.
  • Over a decade since the last melanoma drug was approved.  Today top researchers assert that within five years, more than half of all melanomas will be curable.  
    
    
    These cures should happen at Rush.