As one of the largest cancer centers in the country, Siteman cannot rely solely on government funding for its critical work. Philanthropic support is equally important, allowing researchers to gather crucial data that can be used to secure larger grants from organizations like the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health. The Cancer Frontier Fund was established to power the wheel of innovative research at Siteman. “The fund makes our investigators much stronger competitors for grants because they can provide primary data and proof of principle when applying,” director Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein notes. “It’s a little like venture capital. You invest in a really good idea, and for every $1 dollar donated, you see an additional $7 raised through grants.”
One of the major fundraising events that benefits Siteman Cancer Center is the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Illumination Gala. Since 2007, the event has raised more than $42 million to support research funds, with proceeds going to the Cancer Frontier Fund. This year, the gala will be June 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. The evening’s celebrity guest host is comedian Colin Jost, and Edward Jones managing partner Penny Pennington is serving as lead ambassador. “It’s a big impact evening—both in terms of emotion and the money raised,” Pennington says. “Illumination raises the temperature of hope for cancer patients and their families in tangible ways.”
Pennington’s involvement in this year’s gala highlights the importance of cancer research in the community. As a breast cancer survivor, she has a personal understanding of how crucial the work being done at Siteman is. “When I was treated twenty years ago, my care was very similar to what every other woman with the disease received,” she notes. “I’m grateful that my treatment was successful, but the protocols are now much more advanced. I have a good friend who is currently being treated at Siteman, and her care is targeted to her and her particular cancer. It has resulted in less impact on the rest of her life with as much success or more.”
One area of study Siteman is currently investigating is triple negative breast cancer, a form of the disease that has a frequent rate of recurrence. Eberlein notes that it has been difficult for doctors and researchers to determine why treatments are less effective than they are in other forms of breast cancer. “Through the Cancer Frontier Fund, we were able to invest in a study that determined the pathway of triple negative breast cancer,” he says. “Now, we’re working on using that discovery to arrest the growth of the disease in clinical trials. It’s just one example of how working out a basic scientific problem can accelerate and improve patient care.”
Siteman is the only comprehensive cancer center in the region, serving Missouri, most of Illinois and beyond. As such, the center is dedicated to promoting the health of the community, especially for populations that are at greater risk for cancer mortality. “Our investigators have sought to address the mechanisms of public health to reduce disparities in care and survival rates,” Eberlein says. In the past, Black women in North County faced a risk for stage IV breast cancer that was two and a half times the national average. Thanks to Siteman’s outreach efforts with community partners, however, that rate has been reduced by 43% due to increased access to screening.
Pennington is honored to be able to support an institution that makes such an impact on St. Louis. “Siteman is a driver of wellbeing in our community—one of the crown jewels of the local health care ecosystem,” she notes. “They are leading the way to an evermore inclusive system. I’m so proud to be a part of Siteman and the work being done. From cutting-edge research and care to addressing the social determinants of health, it all moves to make St. Louis a better place.”
The Illumination Gala benefits cancer research at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The event will be June 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Pictured on the cover, Edward Jones Managing Partner and Illumination lead ambassador Penny Pennington; Siteman director and Illumination Ambassador Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein, FACS. For more information, call 314.286.0602 or visit illuminationgala.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler | Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at top: Penny Pennington and Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein
Photos provided by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital