Since 2007, the Heroes Foundation has funded the Susan J. Patrick Clinical Fellowship to endow a Clinical Fellowship at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. The fund was later modified and re-named the SJP Heroes Cancer Research Fund to better represent the Heroes Foundation’s interest in providing support to a clinical or research fellow or research project. Income from this endowment supports research in the Division of Hematology/Oncology within the Department of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM).
The SJP Heroes Cancer Research Fund is an endowed fund created in honor of Susan J. Patrick (pictured in yellow shirt), Heroes Foundation co-founder Cindy Todd’s mother. She was instrumental in supporting organization co-founder Vince Todd, Jr. during his battle with cancer. A two-time cancer survivor, Susan succumbed to this deadly disease after bravely battling her third diagnosis. This funding opportunity allows Indiana University School of Medicine faculty to recruit promising physician researchers from around the world to train in an environment that fosters the merging of research and treatment. These researchers not only focus their training on the treatment of specific groups of diseases but also learn to translate laboratory research so that patients benefit from innovative approaches to care. IUSM Fellows participate in collaborative research efforts as well as conduct independent investigations.
The Heroes Foundation has named Dr. Nawal Kassem, MD, its latest SJP Heroes Cancer Research Fund Fellow. The Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine will receive $14,000 annually from 2023 to 2025 to study hereditary cancer through cascade testing.
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