(From left to right, Stuart E. Raider, MJSF president; Jeffrey Zonder, M.D.; and Don Rudick, former MJSF director)
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute holds a special place in the hearts of those who have been touched by its life-saving mission. Thanks to the community's philanthropic support, Karmanos continues to pursue groundbreaking research that fulfills our promise to provide every patient with the best chance.
At this year’s 34th Annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Invitational, hosted by the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation (MJSF), Karmanos was proud to be the beneficiary of the Foundation’s generosity. During the event, Jeffrey Zonder, M.D., hematologist, leader of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), and member of the Hematology Oncology MDT and the Molecular Therapeutics Research Program at Karmanos, was presented with a $25,000 donation to advance his leading-edge myeloma research.
“The Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has been a generous supporter of cancer research at Karmanos for many years, and this donation reaffirms their commitment to finding a cure. This donation supporting multiple myeloma and amyloidosis research at Karmanos comes at a time when we have several promising research projects underway,” Dr. Zonder expressed with gratitude.
Dr. Zonder addressed attendees at the invitational, emphasizing the urgent need for a cure for multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. He noted that while survival has improved, patients still face uncertainty. He underscored that support from organizations like the MJSF is vital to advancing research and bringing hope closer to reality.
During his address, Dr. Zonder shared, “I'm here not only as a cancer researcher but also as a cancer survivor myself. I know firsthand what it meant when my Karmanos oncologist said to me, ‘You've completed your treatment, and your cancer is almost certainly cured.’ Right now, I can't say that to my patients with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis, and it bothers me every day. Our team at Karmanos will not rest until a cure is found.”
This gift will support several important studies led by Dr. Zonder, including the IBEX Trial, a nationwide study testing a new treatment combination to help prevent multiple myeloma from returning after a stem cell transplant. His team is also investigating a promising new drug, AOH1996, which targets a protein found in many types of cancer. Finally, the myeloma program is preparing to launch a large-scale multi-city myeloma screening program, with Detroit as one of the main hubs.
“In today's research funding climate, the generous support to cancer research programs from organizations like the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has never been more important," he said.
Dr. Zonder’s leadership and dedication to advancing cancer research have been widely recognized. Hour Magazine has named him one of Detroit’s Top Doctors multiple times. In 2016, the Karmanos myeloma and amyloidosis team he leads received the prestigious Accelerator Award from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Through partnerships with organizations like MJSF and the generosity of our community, Karmanos continues to push the boundaries of discovery, bringing hope to patients and families across the region and beyond.
MJSF has supported Karmanos for more than 26 years. The Foundation was a key donor in 1999, supporting the construction of Karmanos Cancer Institute – Lawrence and Idell Weisberg Cancer Center in Farmington Hills.
Learn about ways you or your organization can help in the fight against cancer here.