ASH News Daily 2012 - Saturday, December 8, 2012 - (Page B-8)

Page B–8 ® ASH NewS DAily challenges that threaten to restrain innovation and growth in the field. Q: Why can’t this effort simply be a part of what ASH already does? Dr. Bradner: Due to diligent management of the Society by ASH leadership and ASH staff, a number of non-revenue-generating programs and awards are funded each year in the ASH operating budget. But the creation of a foundation offers the chance to grow these philanthropic efforts through contributions from ASH members and supporters. I think the timing for this is perfect, as we hope to support additional ASH Bridge Grant Awards with donations to the ASH Foundation. Dr. George: Of course the ASH Foundation is a part of ASH, but creating the ASH Foundation provides a new focus on the responsibility of individual members for sustaining our key programs and creating the opportunity for new initiatives. Many of the programs that ASH has developed generate revenue and can be self-sustained, but there are also programs, such as the new ASH Bridge Grant Awards, the ASH Scholar Awards program, the Clinical Research Training Institute, and ASH’s partnership with the Amos Minority Faculty Development Program (the ASH-AMFDP), that generate no revenue. These programs Image: Colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a lung cancer cell. Saturday, December 8, 2012 tain programs for training its junior members and for supporting them as they begin their careers. Training and early-career support are at the heart of the matter for me, because we are a community in crisis, at risk of losing many talented investigators and clinicians who make our field so dynamic. Dr. Bradner: “Community” is exactly the right word. This isn’t about just one aspect of hematology; this is about the current and future state of research, practice, and the next generation of students, trainees, and junior members. Dr. George: The following three areas will be the focus of funding: basic and clinical research, quality care and education, and career development. The ASH Foundation website (www.hematology.org/foundation)lists the programs within these categories that are supported by donations. Some are new programs; others are existing programs that need new sources of support to continue, and others would benefit from an infusion of funds that would allow them to expand. A key priority, referred to as “Where Our Need is Greatest,” will focus on supporting the ASH Bridge Grants Program. In a President’s Column in a past issue of The Hematologist, Dr. Keating emphasized that there is a grave concern about the threat to research funds. We are on the cusp of translating significant breakthroughs into meaningful changes in care; we cannot afford to lose momentum now. Dr. Bradner: This overview of the ASH Foundation simply marks the start; we will continue to identify innovative ideas to address current and future concerns of the hematology community. As the challenges and opportunities in science and medicine are changing so rapidly, we must adapt as we address these issues and identify new needs. Q: What would you say to your fellow members? Dr. Bradner: Please consider the ASH Foundation as a major step forward for the Society. We welcome any contribution of resources and ideas. The opportunity to shape the Foundation and the field of hematology is now. Dr. George: Supporting the ASH Foundation with your donations is supporting the next generation of hematologists who have the potential to find new treatments or even cures for some of the most common and deadliest blood diseases. Foundation «« From Page B-1 opportunities for long and successful academic careers in hematology, as I have enjoyed, may diminish or disappear. The ASH Foundation is dedicated to addressing this challenging issue of declining support for hematology research head-on. Dr. Bradner: The progressive decline in research funding arrives at the most inopportune moment in modern biomedicine — a time when, ironically, the etiology of blood diseases has never been better understood. We need to build on the existing momentum through both dedicated and focused attention on the funding shortfall that will become even more alarming if the government implements the sequestration process. In that case, funding could be further reduced by as much as 9 percent. Support for research and for research trainees will be a focal point of the Foundation. We must protect one of our most valuable resources, our dedicated physician/scientists, especially those who are in training or who are early-career investigators. Dr. George: The Foundation will be a home for those who care passionately about hematology and who are committed to supporting programs designed to address the One visiOn: we aspire tO cure cancer. Our People Change Lives Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company is proud to have been recognized as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2011 and 2012. • Focused on Oncology Drug Development • Entrepreneurial Culture • Outstanding Benefits • Flexible Work Environment To learn more and apply, visit: joinmillennium.com/108 Follow us on LinkedIn ©2012 Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All rights reserved. “From FORTUNE Magazine, February 6, 2012 © 2012 Time Inc. FORTUNE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Licensee.” target trainees and junior faculty investigators. The importance of providing support and encouragement to the next generation of hematologists cannot be overstated. The ability to sustain these programs in a time of uncertain future revenue requires new ideas and approaches to secure financial stability. We need the support of ASH membership to develop a new culture of giving. We need to recognize that we, as individual members, must feel responsible for supporting these programs, which are critical to the future of hematology. This is the Foundation’s mandate. Q: How is ASH supporting the Foundation? Dr. George: From its revenue, ASH will provide 100 percent of the indirect costs including administrative and management expenses. ASH will put to work savings that it has accumulated over the years to develop, through the Foundation, a sustainable base of support for our research and training programs. It is important for members to know that 100 percent of donations to the Foundation will be used for direct program costs. This means that all of what you donate goes directly to the programs you want to support. Dr. Bradner: The ASH Foundation is a timely innovation of the Society. Formation of the Foundation represents a direct call to the membership to become an integral part of the support system to sustain vitality of the field that has rewarded each of us immeasurably and that identifies us in our professional lives. Together, we can move hematology forward. Q: Why is it important for members to donate to the Foundation? Dr. George: If we are serious about curing blood diseases, we must ensure that there is a pipeline of new, talented hematology researchers and clinicians available to build on the remarkable advances that have already been made. While the Society has been able to provide seed money for programs that support the next generation of physician scientists and basic researchers, more needs to be done. That means that the hematology community must unite in support of these essential programs. Q: What are the programs that the Foundation will fund? Dr. George: The programs that the Foundation will focus on are those that are essential but do not generate self-supporting revenue. ASH needs a funding source to sus- How to Donate It’s that time of year when you need to decide where you will be making your donations for 2012. Consider making a donation today by going to www.hematology.org/foundation, and simply click on the button from the home page.  http://www.hematology.org/foundation http://www.hematology.org/foundation

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ASH News Daily 2012 - Saturday, December 8, 2012

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