Rory David Deutsch Foundation Commits $2 Million for Research in Pediatric Brain Tumors and Childhood Diseases at Duke

For Immediate Release
February 16, 2001
Contact: Marty Fisher (919) 667-2524
fishe015@mc.duke.edu

DURHAM, N.C. – The Rory David Deutsch Foundation of Highland Park, Ill., has made a commitment of $2 million to the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. The gift will be used to establish the Rory David Deutsch Memorial Endowment for Pediatric Glioma Research, Duke University President Nannerl O. Keohane announced.

The foundation was established by family members and friends of seven-year old Rory David Deutsch, who died of a brain stem glioma in 1998. His courage and optimism in the face of inevitable death was an inspiration to all who knew him, according to family members. The foundation is dedicated to supporting advances in pediatric brain tumor research to benefit children afflicted with this deadly disease.

"Early detection of pediatric brain cancer is difficult, since symptoms are similar to those of common childhood illnesses," Keohane said. "The Rory David Deutsch Brain Tumor Research Program will support both laboratory and clinical investigations into causes and cures for pediatric brain tumors."

Dr. Ralph Snyderman, chancellor for health affairs at the medical center and president and CEO of Duke University Health System, said the gift will fulfill a critical need to research the cause and new treatments for brain tumors, which have the highest death rate of all childhood cancers.

"The Rory David Deutsch Foundation will have a major impact in helping advance our understanding the biological causes of malignant brain tumors, the most common form of pediatric cancer," Snyderman said. "We must be able to take advantage of fighting tumors with new therapies and treatment strategies that will leave the delicate brain tissue unimpaired."

The Brain Tumor Center at Duke is internationally recognized as a leader in the research and treatment of brain tumors. It is one of three brain tumor research programs recognized by national Institutes of Health, and offers more active clinical trials than any other treatment center. Duke University Medical Center is one of ten leading medical centers involved with The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium. The network of medical centers evaluates promising treatments for children with brain malignancies. The consortium is intended to speed the development of innovative, technically challenging therapies.

While approximately 60 percent of children with brain tumors survive at least five years from the time of diagnosis, this figure has improved only slightly in the past 25 years. However, new treatment possibilities are emerging as research uncovers new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.