Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, with a $2 million gift from The 11 Day Power Play organization, awarded the inaugural The 11 Day Power Play Team Science Award.
In November 2024, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, with a $2 million gift from The 11 Day Power Play organization, awarded the inaugural The 11 Day Power Play Team Science Award. A $1 million award went to Brian Betts, MD, Hematologic Oncology, and his team to fund promising research on leukemia. The team approach to scientific research will bring together experts from different specialties to investigate a new treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia that would selectively kill leukemia while sparing healthy stem cells.
Five worthy applicants underwent review by the Roswell Park External Advisory Board (comprised of leaders at other cancer centers) and were evaluated for significance, need, feasibility and the expertise and collaboration of the projects’ investigators. The 11 Day Power Play gifted the initial $1 million award to focus on team science at Roswell Park and awarded another $1 million as a result of the promising studies proposed by the runners-up. The four runners-up each received $250,000 to fund their research.
Investigating Less Toxic Treatments for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Engineered white blood cells, like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, have revolutionized how we treat blood cancers. Thanks to the 11 Day Power Play Team Science Award, Dr. Betts’ team will test the safety and clinical activity of a newly designed CD83 CAR T-cell while studying ways to maximize its performance. CD83 promises to recognize and preserve healthy stem cells, ultimately decreasing the risk for life-threatening infections and paving the way for curative stem cell transplantation.
“We are grateful to The 11 Day Power Play community for investing in team science because without their commitment, we wouldn’t be able to investigate this meaningful hypothesis,” explained Dr. Betts. “The ultimate goal of our research is to find a better treatment option for patients facing an AML diagnosis.”
The Runners-Up
Four other promising research studies can now move ahead thanks to The 11 Day Power Play organization, bringing hope for better tomorrow.
- “Harnessing Energy from Stress for Cancer Treatment,” led by Andrei Gudkov, PhD, DSci, Senior Vice President, Research Technology and Innovation, Chair of the Department of Cell Stress Biology
- “Therapeutic Targeting of Pancreatic Cancer,” led by Erik Knudsen, PhD, Senior Vice President and Associate Director of Basic Science Research and Chair of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- “CAR T-cell Therapy for Solid Tumors,” led by Scott Olejniczak, PhD, Graduate Studies Director, Department of Immunology
- “Evaluating T-cells for Ovarian Cancer,” led by Emese Zsiros, MD, PhD, FACOG, Assistant Professor of Oncology in Roswell Park’s Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Center for Immunotherapy
Of her project, Dr. Zsiros said, “Our project brings hope and innovation. With your support and collaboration, we can turn this promising research into reality, providing renewed strength and possibilities to those who need it most.”
The 11 Day Power Play: A True Team Player
A proud supporter of Roswell Park for more than eight years, The 11 Day Power Play has contributed more than $6 million to support cancer research and wellness programs at Roswell Park. That support has provided compassionate quality-of-life care for patients and caregivers through The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center, named The 11 Day Power Play Immunotherapy Labs (led by Deputy Director Dr. Renier Brentjens) and, most recently, created The 11 Day Power Play Team Science Award to kickstart promising research that could save lives.
“It’s a natural fit for our organization, with an event rooted in teams, to support this unique opportunity to fuel team science at Roswell Park,” says Amy Lesakowski, cancer survivor and co-founder of The 11 Day Power Play, Inc. “As a cancer survivor myself, I have first-hand experience in how innovative cancer treatment and clinical trials save lives. I truly believe that I would not be here today if it weren’t for Roswell Park, and I hope that the Team Science Award fuels the next cancer breakthrough to save more lives like mine.”
“Team science brings together investigators who are advancing scientific research that has the potential to save lives and change the way cancer is treated. The funding would not be possible without the dedicated support of The 11 Day Power Play organization,” says Dr. Candace Johnson, President and CEO of Roswell Park. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with The 11 Day Power Play and are grateful for their commitment to finding a cure for cancer.”
To learn more about The 11 Day Power Play, visit www.11daypowerplay.org or read more about The 11 Day Power Play Team Science Award, visit URL TO COME.