8/3/2019 $5 Million to Seattle Childrens Research Institute Accelerates Local Efforts to Cure Childhood Cancer

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$5 Million to Seattle Childrens Research Institute Accelerates Local Efforts to Cure

Childhood Cancer

Childrens honorsBen Towne Pediatric Cancer Research Foundations gift by renaming cancer

research center: Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research

SEATTLEJan. 23, 2012Seattle Childrens Research Institutetoday announced a $5 million

gift fromBen Towne Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. The funding will be used to

accelerate the work ofMichael Jensen, MD, and his Seattle Childrens Research Institute team

who are creating new cancer treatments that reprogram a childs immune system to attack and

kill cancer cells with the goal of minimizing or even eliminating the need for chemotherapy or

radiation. To honor the Foundation, Seattle Childrens Research Institute will give itsCenter for

Childhood Cancer Research, led by Dr. Jensen, a new name: Ben Towne Center for Childhood

Cancer Research.

Ben Townewas only three years old when he passed away in December 2008 from

neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. His parents, Jeff and Carin, founders ofBen Towne

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, said that in the aftermath of his death, they struggled with

what to do as they moved forward with their lives. We had seen so much suffering, not just in

Bens life but with other children and their families battling cancer, said Carin Towne.

We felt like we were uniquely equipped to do something about it, so we started Ben Towne

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation with a mission to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.

This next step for the Foundation honors Ben and his legacy, cements our partnership with

Seattle Childrens Research Institute and confirms our commitment to the work that will comeout of Seattle on behalf of children everywhere, she said.

Dr. Jensen, director of the newly-named Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research,

shares the Townes vision. Hejoined Seattle Childrens Research Institute in 2010 after spending

13 years atCity of Hope, where he conducted the first FDA-authorized trial of T-cell therapies

for children with recurrent neuroblastoma. Since joining Seattle Childrens Research Institute,

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-staff/Michael-C-V-Jensen/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-staff/Michael-C-V-Jensen/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-staff/Michael-C-V-Jensen/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://bentownefoundation.org/bens-story/http://bentownefoundation.org/bens-story/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspxhttp://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://bentownefoundation.org/bens-story/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-staff/Michael-C-V-Jensen/http://bentownefoundation.org/home/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/

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he has intensified his research efforts, focusing specifically on the most urgent needs of children

battling cancer. He envisions the start of Phase I clinical trials with pediatric cancer patients by

2013.

Ben Towne Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation is a tireless advocate for this work, leading a

movement to change the way pediatric cancers are treated and someday cured, said Dr. Jensen.

Upon meeting Jeff and Carin, we immediately recognized our shared mission to cure pediatric

cancer. Seattle Childrens Research Institute is humbled by this gift, and is incredibly

appreciative of the Foundations support. Parents of children suffering from pediatric cancer ask

the same question: Will that next breakthrough happen in time to save my child? Thanks to

this generous gift, we atSeattle Childrens Research Institutecan accelerate the process of

creating treatments for cancer that are less traumatic for kids and that save lives.

While cancer treatments for adults encompass a multi-billion-dollar market that attracts

investment from big pharmaceutical companies, childhood cancer does not receive this level of

funding, despite the fact that cancer is the leading cause of childhood mortality by disease. We

want to cure children with cancer, said Dr. Jensen. We have the knowledge, technologies and

insights from decades of research. Were ready to make our vision a reality. We just need

funding to complete the task, and the gift from Ben Towne Pediatric Cancer Research

Foundation will be instrumental in helping us reach our goal even faster.

Supporting materials:

High-resolution photos: Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research signage;

Carin and Jeff Towne; Dr. Michael Jensen:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38997016@N03/6727169871/in/set-72157628943532395/

Dr. Michael Jensen: A World Without Childhood Cancer video:

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-

cancer/

About Seattle Childrens Research Institute

At the forefront of pediatric medical research, Seattle Childrens Research Institute is

setting new standards in pediatric care and finding new cures for childhood diseases.

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/http://www.flickr.com/photos/38997016@N03/6727169871/in/set-72157628943532395/http://www.flickr.com/photos/38997016@N03/6727169871/in/set-72157628943532395/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-cancer/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/dr-michael-jensen-world-without-childhood-cancer/http://www.flickr.com/photos/38997016@N03/6727169871/in/set-72157628943532395/http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/

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Internationally recognized scientists and physicians at the Research Institute are advancing

new discoveries in cancer, genetics, immunology, pathology, infectious disease, injury

prevention and bioethics. With Seattle Childrens Hospital and Seattle Childrens Hospital

Foundation, the Research Institute brings together the best minds in pediatric research to

provide patients with the best care possible. Childrens serves as the primary teaching,

clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington

School of Medicine, which consistently ranks as one of the best pediatric departments in

the country. For more information, visithttp://www.seattlechildrens.org/research.

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Media Contact:Kathy PoradaSeattle Childrens Public Relations(206) 987-7856Kathy.porada@Seattlechildrens.org

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/researchhttp://www.seattlechildrens.org/researchhttp://www.seattlechildrens.org/researchmailto:Kathy.porada@Seattlechildrens.orgmailto:Kathy.porada@Seattlechildrens.orgmailto:Kathy.porada@Seattlechildrens.orghttp://www.seattlechildrens.org/research