The Lynn Sage Foundation Expands Research Funding To Include Rush University Medical Center

The Lynn Sage Foundation recently announced that they will expand their breast cancer research funding through the Lynn Sage Scholars Program to Rush University Medical Center, while continuing their current philanthropic partnership with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The Lynn Sage Scholars Program funds a $100,000 annual scholarship to a chosen candidate(s) in the field of breast cancer for a maximum of two years. The recipient proposes how they will best utilize funding dollars and submits to a comprehensive review at the end of the first year.

"We are thrilled to be funding (at least) two Lynn Sage Scholars for the first time in 2017,” explains Halee Sage, co-founder of The Lynn Sage Foundation. “The more minds we have conducting ground breaking breast cancer research, the closer we are to finding a cure for this horrible disease that affects 1 in 8 women."

The 2017 Lynn Sage Scholars are Marc L Mendillo, PhD at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Abde Abukhdeir PhD, of Rush University Medical Center.

Dr. Mendillo is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and is driven to study and define the operating principles of the cellular stress response network that promotes tumor progression, metastasis and drug resistance in breast cancer. He is committed to ultimately bring forth breakthroughs that will propel the next generation of treatments and approaches against cancer.

Dr. Mendillo joined Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2015. He received his PhD from the University of California, San Diego and subsequently completed fellowships at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Whitehead Institute at MIT prior to arriving at the Lurie Cancer Center.

Dr. Abukhdeir is an Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and his research investigates molecular variants that lead to or contribute to drug resistance in breast cancer. These molecular variants have the potential to serve as predictive biomarkers or novel targets for therapies.

Dr. Abukhdeir completed his Ph.D. at Loyola University. He then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University. Later, he transitioned into a junior faculty member, where Dr. Abukhdeir collaborated with the Stand Up to Cancer Epigenetic Dream Team to identify molecular predictors of response to epigenetic therapies. In 2012, Dr. Abukhdeir moved to Rush University to begin an independent faculty appointment

Since it’s augural year in 2007, the Lynn Sage Scholars Program has supported five scholars: Jacqueline Jeruss (2007—2008), Dr. Virginia Kaklamini (2009-2010), Dr. Dr. Chonghui Cheng (2011-2012), Dr. Sarika Jain (2013-2014), and Dr. Athanassios Vassilopoulos (2015-2016).

The Lynn Sage Foundation was founded in honor and memory of Lynn Sage by her family in 2003. Lynn Sage was a beloved mother, daughter and wife who tragically died at the age of 39 as a result of her battle with breast cancer. Dedicated to finding a cure for this disease, The Foundation raises over $350,000 annually to support The Lynn Sage Scholars program, funding some of our country’s most promising researchers in the field of breast cancer. The Lynn Sage Foundation is committed to supporting local, emerging breast cancer researchers through its philanthropic partnerships with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Rush University Medical Center. www.lynnsagefoundation.org