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Tony Martell, the founder of the T.J. Martell Foundation, likes to quote Bertha Von Suttner, who said “After the verb To Love…To Help is the most beautiful verb in the world.” I don’t think there is a finer sentiment than that to describe the work to which the T.J Martell Foundation is dedicated.
I’d like to highlight the unique role of the T.J. Martell Foundation’s purpose and function among the area of cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. Not only do 90% of our funds go directly to our research facilities, but they are also matched or leveraged with government funding and private sources. This is a novel and remarkable role that we fulfill which has earned us the reputation of being a “venture capitalist” in the field of cancer and AIDS research. We are proud to report that this unique system has resulted in over half a billion dollars of funds going to our leading researchers and their invaluable work.
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After 32 years of working tirelessly to fund vital cancer research, it is appropriate for us, at this time, to reflect upon the great progress which has been made through research in pushing back the ravages of cancer, leukemia, and AIDS. The T.J. Martell Foundation has funded research on neuroblastoma, a disease which 15 years ago took the life of 85% of its young victims, and today, because of the research, most children will survive. We have played a key funding role in the development of drugs that put two different kinds of adult leukemia into remission. Martell has funded the improvement of treatments against breast cancer and supported the development of the “gold standard” of treatment for prostate cancer worldwide. Dr. Mitchell Benson and his associate researcher Dr. Ralph Buttyan at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, relying on Martell funds exclusively, discovered the “killer” prostate cancer gene which provides the opportunity to rapidly develop targeted drug therapy to stop the prostate cancer gene’s effect. This record of accomplishments is something we can all be proud of and thankful for.
We have truly entered a new era in medicine and Martell is right at the center of this very promising research. Never before in our history have we accumulated so much knowledge about the genetic mechanism of cancer. It is extremely exciting and rewarding to know that all of our combined efforts are bringing us ever closer to the near term future of new treatments and at long last, true cures for these dreaded diseases. Our researchers stand on the leading-edge of this new era and we must now, more than ever, maintain and increase where possible our support to them.
Thank you for coming to our website and please consider supporting the innovative, cutting-edge research we fund.
Peter C. Quinn |
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