Asking—and answering—big questions

Fox Chase is about finding answers to the toughest cancer questions: pinpointing how the disease unfolds from our genes and our cells. Identifying treatments that knock down tumors—for good—without making patients sick. But finding the right answers starts with asking the right questions.

The bright, determined minds working at Fox Chase—some of whom you’ll meet in this annual report—aren’t afraid to tackle tough questions. Take Bea Mintz. I’ve often heard the sharp-witted geneticist describe her five-decade career at Fox Chase as “asking big questions”—an approach that led her to experiments that transformed the way cancer is studied and, last year, earned her a prestigious national award. (See News.)  

In 2011, Fox Chase scientists and clinicians answered many questions that advanced our ability to prevent, detect, and treat various cancers. We gained insight into the triggers of the aggressive and deadly mesothelioma; identified a new treatment for patients facing advanced ovarian cancer; and discovered how meditation can affect response to disease.

As an institution, Fox Chase also answered a question vital to the future of the Center, and of cancer care: How to create a Fox Chase that will continue to thrive in the next 25 years. We answered that question with the historic signing of an affiliation agreement with Temple University Health System, forming a relationship that will help to ensure a dynamic future for both organizations.

I believe that 2011 will be viewed as a transformational year in the Center’s storied history. Like all transitions, it brings its share of challenges. But more than that, it brings excitement and possibility. Fox Chase evolved from its humble beginnings more than a century ago to the internationally esteemed institution it is today, and it continues to evolve. What will not change is our focus on the most important unanswered question, the greatest challenge, before us: to prevail over cancer.

Sincerely,

Michael V. Seiden