The Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

MAYO CLINIC PROSTATE CANCER PROGRAM

Donald J. Tindall, Ph.D.
Director of the Prostate Cancer Program
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

On behalf of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center let me express our sincere thanks to the T. J. Martell Foundation for a decade of continuous support. It is an honor to be a recipient. We greatly appreciate your passion and commitment to support innovative research at our Center.

I am pleased to share with you some of the groundbreaking research that is being conducted at Mayo Clinic. The T.J. Martell Foundation’s funding has been used to support several young investigators who are pursing novel treatment approaches in the field of prostate cancer.  Together, we have accomplished the following:

• Designed, implemented and completed several pre-clinical and clinical trials focused on immunotherapy, targeted therapy and gene therapy. The practical and translational nature of this research offers patients state-of-the-art treatment options.
• Researched molecular cellular pathways in prostate cancer cells. By better understanding how prostate cancer cells work at the molecular level, we will be better able to detect, prognose and treat cancer.
• Studied new biomarkers in prostate cancer that provide important clues into the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of cancer. We are hopeful that these studies will facilitate our understanding of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the origin of prostate cancer. Furthermore, biomarker discovery has the potential to provide new targets for therapy, may predict response to existing therapy, and improve treatment.

Although we have made tremendous advances in prostate cancer research, cancer still touches far too many lives, and we are working diligently towards finding cures.

Our researchers relentlessly pursue breakthroughs and discoveries to advance patient care. Our educators train the doctors of tomorrow; doctors who practice throughout the world. The support from the T.J. Martell Foundation is more important than ever in today’s era of reduced governmental funding and raising health care costs. The advancements we can make, together, will help people for generations to come.

Thank you for your confidence in Mayo Clinic.