Our Unwavering Mission

2020 PROGRESS REPORT

Our Vision for the future

SUSAN M. DOMCHEK, MD

Basser Professor in Oncology
Basser Center Executive Director

Amidst all the change and upheaval of the last year, one thing that remained constant is our unwavering commitment to creating a better future for BRCA mutation carriers. I’m proud of all the ways the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center met the challenges of this moment head on. We expanded our use of telemedicine to ensure that the pandemic did not disrupt access to care and connectivity. We continued research and scientific discovery, strengthening the foundation for the breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Our brave patients and families are the heart of all that we do; they inspired us to persevere through one of the most difficult periods in history. It is this dedication, strength, and tireless focus — even under the most trying of circumstances — that is helping Basser to change the treatment, prevention, awareness, and research landscape.

Since our founding, we have raised over $100M for this life-saving work, and built a robust endowment to ensure Basser will be a resource for BRCA-affected families for generations to come. This is only the beginning!

BRCA By The Numbers

75%

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have up to a 75% lifetime risk of breast cancer.

50%

Women with a BRCA1 mutation have up to a 50% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer.

25%

Men with a BRCA2 mutation have up to a 25% lifetime risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Men and women with a BRCA2 mutation have up to a 5% lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer.

New in 2020

The Basser Center was an early proponent and practitioner of telemedicine, but the events of 2020 brought telehealth to the forefront in a way it hadn’t been before. In addition to continuing our research and expanding our outreach, we found ways to enhance our use of this vital, virtual practice.

TREATMENT & COUNSELING

How Our Efforts Thrived in the Face of COVID-19

Basser rose to the challenge of COVID-19 by adjusting treatment delivery to ensure that patients still received the highest quality of care. Research and discovery continued uninterrupted and the shift to telemedicine allowed patients to safely receive virtual guidance and counseling. In fact, these changes helped expand Basser’s reach — to 25% more patients in 2020 than in 2019.

Genetic Counseling Via Telehealth

In March, Basser Center Genetic Counselor Jacquelyn Powers, MS, LCGC, introduced a Basser blog series documenting the genetic counseling program’s transition from in-office to telehealth video chat or phone call appointments. Telehealth genetic counseling is not new, but, in 2020, it became an invaluable service to patients everywhere, to offer a safe and effective counseling experience when COVID-19 restricted in-person care. Throughout the blog series, Powers and others in the field discussed how this adjustment became an invaluable solution to a worldwide problem.

The Use of Telemedicine in Genetic Counseling

In an interview with CancerNetwork®, Angela R. Bradbury, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and a Basser Core Investigator, discussed the use of telemedicine in genetic counseling — before the COVID-19 pandemic — and how it can be utilized in the future. She explained that telehealth enables Basser Center genetic counselors to reach a broader population, including those wary of in-person visits.

OUR CORE
INVESTIGATORS

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Angela R. Bradbury, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

The eREACH study evaluates the effectiveness of an eHealth platform compared to traditional in-person genetic counseling to increase access for patients. Dr. Bradbury was awarded a UO1 grant by the National Cancer Institute to expand this work beyond Penn Medicine, using breastcancer.org to help people nationally get access to testing.

What this means for patients

Dr. Bradbury’s work will help expand access to genetic counseling and testing and remove many of the barriers to this life-saving information. eREACH helps empower patients, and their families, informing them of their BRCA risk and guiding them on how to make knowledge-based choices about their health.

Susan M. Domchek, MD

Basser Professor in Oncology
Executive Director, Basser Center

Dr. Domchek is devoted to studying which populations should be tested for gene mutations, and how this impacts treatment for mutation carriers. In collaboration with Katherine L. Nathanson, MD, Dr. Domchek recently published a paper in The New England Journal of Medicine, analyzing data from the CARRIERS study.

What this means for patients

It was discovered that several genetic mutations previously linked to breast cancer, and included on commercial genetic test panels, did not increase a woman’s risk of disease. This finding sheds new light on breast cancer risk for women in the general population, and provides new insights on who should be recommended for genetic testing.

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD

Franklin Payne Associate Professor of Pathology
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research, Basser Center
Director, Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center

Dr. Drapkin and his team are using ovarian cancer tumor models to study cancer growth, tumor genetics, and its interaction with the immune system. Their work has played a key role in international efforts to define the molecular features of cancer and understand sex differences that may impact cancer development and treatment.

What this means for patients

Emerging research shows that most cancers have 4-5 “driver mutations” that influence cancer growth and that there are different types of driver mutations seen in women vs. men. More research is needed to fully understand these differences and their potential impact on treatment.

Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD

J. Samuel Staub, MD Professor
Director of Basic Science, Basser Center
Director, Penn Center for Genome Integrity

Dr. Greenberg and his team are working to identify and target mechanisms of resistance to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and platinum-based chemotherapies in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutant cancers, focusing on the basic biology of BRCA1/2, including resistance mechanisms for targeted therapies.

What this means for patients

This work is unraveling the mysteries of how DNA damage influences the immune system's response to cancer cells, and how PARP inhibitors themselves create immune responses. This research will lead to more personalized care in the future.

Katherine L. Nathanson, MD

Pearl Basser Professor for BRCA-Related Research
Director of Genetics, Basser Center
Deputy Director, Abramson Cancer Center

Dr. Nathanson and her team are working to evaluate the molecular characteristics of BRCA-related tumors, and investigate immune response in mutation carriers and their tumors to understand the role for immune-based therapies. Additionally, Dr. Nathanson was awarded a UO1 from the National Cancer Institute to expand genetic testing to all young adult cancer patients at Penn Medicine.

What this means for patients

Dr. Nathanson’s efforts will lead to greater effectiveness and efficiency in treating cancer patients as well as providing genetic testing.

Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

John H. Glick, MD Abramson Cancer Center Director’s Professor
Director, Abramson Cancer Center
Vice Dean, Cancer Center Programs, Perelman School of Medicine
Vice President, Cancer Programs, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Dr. Vonderheide and his team are working on a preventative vaccine, and testing was done in 93 patients with cancer who were in remission but had a high risk for recurrence. Now, the FDA has approved the next phase of the trial, allowing for testing in individuals with a BRCA1/2 mutation who have not had cancer.

What this means for patients

If successful, the ramifications are profound: the prevention of BRCA-related cancers in healthy individuals who carry a BRCA1/2 mutation. This trial is open and enrolling patients, starting with those who have previously had cancer.

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is working tirelessly to change cancer’s narrative and the Basser Center is vital to this enterprise. Basser’s focus and unique spirit of collaboration has created a ripple effect around the world, improving the lives of families for generations to come.

Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

Funded Research

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Improving Surgical Prevention Options

Sarah Kim, MD, Ashley Haggerty, MD, MSCE, and Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, are working to give women better surgical-prevention options against ovarian cancer. They have recently closed the WISP trial, which studied the feasibility and safety of removing the fallopian tubes without removing the ovaries. Having found this option to be both possible and safe, they have now launched WISP2, a large, multinational study focused on its risk-reducing potential.

With generous support from Carl H. Goldsmith

Overcoming PARP Resistance

Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD, Junwei Shi, PhD, and Priyanka Verma, PhD, have identified an enzyme called ALC1, which, when removed, made the cancer cells much more sensitive to several clinically approved PARP Inhibitors. This exciting discovery could lead to more effective use of PARP inhibitors in patients, and offers a potential way to overcome PARP resistance. This work was just published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

With generous support from Michele and Kevah Konner

Exploring the Potential of CAR T Cells in Ovarian Cancer

Dan Powell, PhD, and his team continue their clinical trial studying the use of CAR T cell therapy for women with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Early results, while not conclusive, have shown the therapy is safe, and that the addition of preconditioning chemotherapy increases CAR T cell activity in the body. The team is now working to establish a maximum-tolerated dose for this promising therapy.

With generous support from Angela and Joe Campolo

Expanding Genetic Testing within Families

The ECHO study focuses on cascade testing, the process of testing entire families when one member is discovered to have a mutation. Led by Basser genetic counselors, the study aims to assess if use of a “Disclosure Toolkit,” which includes a family letter and an interactive chatbot named “GIA,” contributes to the rate of other relatives pursuing genetic testing.

With generous support from Tamsen and Michael Brown

Using Organoid Models to Study Ovarian Cancer

Using samples from BRCA mutant ovarian cancers, Fiona Simpkins, MD, has developed organic models called patient-derived xenografts that mimic the behavior of a patient’s tumor cells — a tumor avatar. She is using these models to gain a better understanding of BRCA-related ovarian cancer — from natural disease progression to therapeutics — with the long-term goal of discovering ways to overcome drug resistance.

Improving Individual Cancer Risk Assessments

Anne Marie McCarthy, ScM, PhD, and Despina Kontos, PhD, are working to better estimate individualized risk for BRCA-mutant cancers. Their findings could help women make more informed decisions about undergoing prophylactic surgeries and adhering to intensive screening. This study will combine polygenic risk scores and imaging to improve breast cancer risk assessment among BRCA1/2 carriers and help guide precision-based recommendations for risk-reducing interventions.

Research Prizes

Basser Global Prize

Each year, the Basser Center recognizes a leading scientist who has advanced BRCA1/2-related research. In 2020, Bella Kaufman, MD, the Director of the Breast Oncology Institute at Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Israel, became the recipient of the 8th annual Basser Global Prize.

Sadly, Dr. Kaufman passed away on May 12, 2021, from metastatic breast cancer. A brilliant and tireless physician, BRCA-related cancer researcher, and advocate, Dr. Kaufman was a giant in the field whose work transformed the lives of patients. She will be truly missed.

Established and endowed by Shari and Len Potter

I am very excited to receive the 2020 Basser Global Prize. It is indeed a great honor to be amongst the list of extremely talented people who have contributed so much to the advancement of breast cancer research and treatment.

Bella Kaufman, MD

Past Recipients of the Global Prize include:

2019: Douglas Easton, PhD, and Antonis Antoniou, PhD
2018: Maria Jasin, PhD
2017: Ashok Venkitaraman, MBBS, PhD
2016: Steven Narod, MD, FRCPC, PhD (hon), FRSC
2015: David Livingston, MD
2014: Mary-Claire King, PhD
2013: Alan Ashworth, PhD, FRS

Pearl and Philip Basser Innovation Research Award

Kim Reiss Binder, MD

The Pearl and Philip Basser Innovation Research Award seeks to honor an early career investigator conducting innovative BRCA-related research at the Basser Center. Kim Reiss Binder, MD, received the 2020 award to support her work studying the use of PARP inhibitors as a frontline treatment for BRCA-related pancreatic cancer.

Established and endowed by Philip B. Basser and the late Pearl Basser

External Grants

The Basser Center supports the best science at institutions around the world and this collaborative approach is the key to achieving our vision of the future.

Understanding breast cancer driver mechanisms in BRCA2 mutation carriers

Aura Carreira, PhD
Institut Curie Research Center in Paris

Characterizing a new mouse model of Fanconi anemia

Neil Johnson, PhD
Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia

Vaccination as a strategy to prevent or treat drug resistance caused by BRCA reversions

Stephen Pettitt, PhD; Christopher Lord, DPhil; and Andrew Tutt, PhD, FRCR, MRCP, MB, ChB
Institute of Cancer Research in London

In 5 Years

In 2020, the Basser Center made enormous strides in our efforts to ensure patients have easy and equitable access to genetic testing. Our improvements in digital health platforms, electronic medical records, and advocacy will enable us to move closer to realizing this goal by 2025. We also hope to have completed enrollment in key prevention trials, an important step toward preventing BRCA-related cancer altogether.

Support Our Innovations

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Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Study

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, contributed to a study recently published in Nature Communications, which identifies miR-181a as a potential biomarker for early-stage, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, as well as a possible drug target to make immunotherapy more effective.

“This study is the first to show that a microRNA can drive the transformation of a fallopian tube secretory cell toward becoming a cancer cell. Additonal research is needed, with the goal of ultimately identifying drug compounds to advance toward human clinical trials.”

Olaparib and Durvalumab in Patients with Germline BRCA-mutated Metastatic Breast Cancer

The Lancet Oncology published an article on the MEDIOLA trial, a global study led by Susan Domchek, MD, which explores the use of a PARP inhibitor and immunotherapy as treatment options for BRCA-related breast cancer.

“Combination of olaparib and durvalumab showed promising antitumour activity and safety similar to that previously observed in olaparib and durvalumab monotherapy studies.”

Exploring the Mechanisms of PARP Binding

Ben Black, PhD, the Eldridge Reeves Johnson Foundation Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and a Basser-funded scientist, contributed to a paper in Science, “Structural basis for allosteric PARP-1 retention on DNA breaks,” which aims to explain the difference in efficiency of the various PARP inhibitor cancer treatments.

“Our findings establish the impact of clinical PARPi on PARP-1 allostery and demonstrate that allostery plays a critical role in cellular PARP-1 trapping and can increase potency toward cancer cell killing.”

Changes in Classification of BRCA1/2 Mutations are Extremely Rare

Kara Maxwell, MD, PhD, and Susan Domchek, MD, responded to an article in The Wall Street Journal with a letter to the editor about genetic testing, pointing out that reinterpretation of a patient’s genetic testing results is an incredibly rare case.

“Since the cloning of BRCA1 and BRCA2 25 years ago, there have been tremendous advances. Research must continue to advance so we can provide even more precise and lifesaving guidance.”

The TP53 Mutation

Research led by Kara Maxwell, MD, PhD, and Jacquelyn Powers, MS, LCGC, was recently published in Cancer Research, detailing the potential implications of a lower risk TP53 mutation.

“Our data show that TP53 is found predominantly in Ashkenazi Jewish individuals, causes a mild defect in p53 function, and leads to low penetrance Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), an inherited predisposition to a wide range of cancers.”

IN 10 YEARS

By 2030, Basser will continue to improve our understanding of BRCA, allowing us to overcome chemotherapy resistance, develop new targeted therapies for mutation carriers, and have better medications for managing metastatic breast cancer. We also plan to have more data on the effectiveness of removing just the fallopian tubes as a preventative measure for ovarian cancer, offering patients protection without triggering menopause and its myriad side effects.

Advance Our Research

Despite a pandemic that has challenged us all, Basser has remained focused on the fight against BRCA-related cancers and has been ahead of the curve in many ways. From leveraging telehealth infrastructure to reach even more patients while also working to end disparities in health, Basser’s commitment to advancing this crucial work is truly inspiring.

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD

Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System
Dean, Perelman School of Medicine

2020Highlights

Even during this most challenging of years, Basser was able to establish the Alissa Reiner McCreary Endowed Professorship, contribute to addressing racial health disparities in the United States, and pivot online to offer panel conversations, events, and researcher-led discussions.

The Alissa Reiner McCreary Professorship in BRCA Excellence

Alissa Reiner McCreary was an inaugural member of the Basser Center Advisory Board and a passionate volunteer and supporter of Basser’s work. To those who knew and loved her, she was so much more: a loving mother and devoted wife, a beloved daughter who was civic-minded and kind, a voracious reader and a world traveler. In 2016, Alissa passed away at age 49 from BRCA-related pancreatic cancer, but her influence and support of Basser’s mission continues today.

In 2020, Trace McCreary, Alissa’s widower — who has served on our Advisory Board since her death — and Peter and Harlan Stone, her stepbrothers, generously established an endowed professorship to assist in the recruitment and retention of distinguished faculty members at the Basser Center. These funds empower the Basser Center’s physician-scientists to expand knowledge and develop treatments to improve patients’ lives, while paying tribute to Alissa for her incredible advocacy and support.

Donor Recognition

In creating the Alissa Reiner McCreary Professorship in BRCA Excellence, the McCreary and Stone families join a proud legacy of benefactors. Since the first endowed chair at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was established in 1877, far-sighted donors have understood the considerable value they bring to sustaining scholarship, accelerating research, and advancing care.

Our Donors

Trace McCreary

The Stone Family

YLC Young Investigator Award

Kim Reiss Binder, MD

Kim Reiss Binder, MD, was given the 2020 YLC Young Investigator Award for her work studying the development and testing of new treatments for pancreatic cancer and other GI malignancies. “This is a population that doesn’t have many options to treat one of the deadliest forms of cancer,” Dr. Reiss Binder says. “To be able to offer a targeted therapy with much less toxicity, even if only for a subset of our patients, would be a wonderful thing.”

VIEW PRESENTATION

Virtual Events

Young Leadership Council Panel Series

Racial Health Disparities in the United States

The Basser Center for BRCA’s Young Leadership Council hosted a panel on racial health disparities, moderated by women’s health advocate Alejandra Campoverdi and with the participation of Basser oncologist Payal Shah, MD, and YLC members Ashley Dedmon and Nicole Garcia.

Watch Now

Annual Research Webinar with Susan M. Domchek, MD

Young Leadership Council Panel on Sexual Health & Intimacy

Young Leadership Council “Lunch and Learn” with Kim Reiss Binder, MD

Breakthroughs and Discoveries Panel Moderated by Susan M. Domchek, MD

Talking With Your Family About BRCA Mutations – Parents Leadership Community Webinar

Young Leadership Council Panel Series: ACLU, Myriad, and the Supreme Court

Young Leadership Council Panel Series: Navigating the World of Fertility and Family Planning

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We hosted 9 virtual public events with 3,000 attendees across the U.S. and around the world

Outreach & Education

In 2020, the Basser Center never wavered in its mission to expand outreach, offering multifacted education programs to underrepresented communities, and supporting initiatives such as LATINX & BRCA and Black & BRCA. Now, we are adding a summer internship for undergraduate students from minority groups underrepresented in medicine to help inspire future leaders.

LATINX & BRCA

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LATINX & BRCA was founded in 2019 in partnership with women’s health advocate Alejandra Campoverdi to raise awareness, provide education and resources in Spanish, and build a support system for the Latinx community affected by BRCA mutations and related cancers. In 2020, we recorded a video with Alejandra, “Raising Awareness of BRCA and Hereditary Cancer in Latino Communities,” in support of LATINX & BRCA and Hispanic Heritage Month.

WATCH NOW

A BRCA Journey: Eli Lopez shares her story for Hispanic Heritage Months

Read this Q&A with Eli Lopez, an attorney, mother of two small children, and a BRCA1-mutation carrier. In 2019, Eli decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy and, now, she is helping others facing similarly difficult choices, particularly those in the Latinx and Black communities.

READ Q&A

ÁRBOLES Familiaries

The Basser Center started a new collaboration with ÁRBOLES Familiares, a group that works to educate bilingual community health workers and patient navigators working with Latina women around the country.

LEARN MORE

WATCH NOW

A BRCA Journey: Eli Lopez shares her story for Hispanic Heritage Months

Read this Q&A with Eli Lopez, an attorney, mother of two small children, and a BRCA1-mutation carrier. In 2019, Eli decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy and, now, she is helping others facing similarly difficult choices, particularly those in the Latinx and Black communities.

READ Q&A

ÁRBOLES Familiaries

LEARN MORE

Black & BRCA

Black women are substantially less likely to undergo genetic counseling and testing for BRCA mutations compared to white women, even though research suggests that the rate of BRCA mutations may be higher among Black women. In 2020, the Basser Center launched our Black & BRCA initiative. To coincide with the launch, we recorded a conversation between Basser Young Leadership Committee co-chair, Erika Stallings, and Payal Shah, MD, on racial disparities in hereditary cancer.

WATCH NOW

Black Genes Matter

Read “Black Genes Matter: Why I’m Partnering with the Basser Center to Launch Black & BRCA” and learn how Basser YLC Co-Chair Erika Stallings is working, through her writing and her leadership, to educate other Black women about BRCA mutations.

READ STORY

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WATCH NOW

Black Genes Matter

Read Story

A Conversation with Mackenzie Alleman

When she tested positive for a BRCA1 mutation at age 28, Mackenzie Alleman searched the internet for support groups but didn’t find what she was looking for. So, she became a patient advocate and started the Philadelphia chapter of The Breasties. Read how Mackenzie found support and community through Instagram.

READ STORY

New Summer Internship

We are excited to launch a new summer internship program in 2021 for underrepresented minorities pursuing a career in genetic counseling, clinical genetics, and basic science. The goal of the program is to expand the pipeline of underrepresented minority candidates pursuing these careers. The eight-week, rotating internship will provide an experiential learning opportunity for four interns and expose them to several areas related to cancer genetics, including DNA damage repair, basic science research, ovarian cancer research, cancer genetics and genomics research, and clinical experience in genetic counseling and care of high-risk patients.

In 15 Years

By the year 2035, Basser Center hopes to have an FDA-approved medication or vaccine to prevent BRCA1/2-related cancers— not just breast cancer, but ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, too.

Help Us Meet This Goal

OUR LEADERSHIP

The Basser Center is focused on supporting BRCA-affected families, increasing awareness, and accelerating research to one day find a cure. Basser will not stop until there are better outcomes and game-changing preventions. We know if anyone can make this wish come true, it’s the team at Basser.

Mindy and Jon Gray

Leadership Team

Susan M. Domchek, MD
Executive Director

Beth Stearman, MPH
Administrative Director

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research

Katherine Nathanson, MD
Director of Genetics

Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD
Director of Basic Science

Advisory Board

The Basser Center Advisory Board (BCAB) advocates, informs, and engages on behalf of the Basser Center. The board enhances and supports the Center’s mission and provides hope to patients and families by securing the resources needed to accelerate BRCA-related research, care, and education. Learn more about our Board members.

Chair

Mindy Gray

Members

Tamsen Brown
Mara Burros-Sandler
Joe Campolo
Cindy Price Gavin
Susan Getz
Michael J. Haas
Lisa Jacobs
Michele Konner
Paul Lattanzio
Trace McCreary
Shari Potter
Jessica Queller
Heidi Rieger
Stacey Sager
Helene Silverman Sorin
Jill Steinberg
Whitney Wolfe Herd
Dana Zucker
Anonymous members

Parents Leadership Community

The Parents Leadership Community (PLC) is a group of parents supporting their children who are facing BRCA1/2 mutation-related issues. The PLC serves as a supportive forum for parents while also providing a resource to stay informed about the latest advances in BRCA research and care. Learn more at basser.org/PLC.

We are grateful to Susan and David Getz for their support of our outreach and education efforts, specifically supporting the new Parents Leadership Community.

Co-Chairs

Susan Getz
Raquel Haas
Shari Potter
Helene Sorin

Members

Robyn Alexander
Kate Berges
Joanne Brecker
Shari Dinaburg
Ivy Duneier
Donna Friedman Meir
Helaine Gordon
Mindy Gray
Sara Grunwell
Michael Haas
Michele Konner
Eli Lopez
Trace McCreary
Jessica Queller
Heidi Rieger
Jillian Rosen
Stacey Saeger
Sara Simon
Jill Steinberg
Joanne Warden

Young Leadership Council

The Young Leadership Council (YLC) includes more than 125 members from around the world. The YLC disseminates information on research advances and amplifies the voices of its members while also educating them through informative webinars and panel discussions. Learn more at Basser.org/YLC.

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Co-Chairs

Erika Stallings
Suzanne Zuppello

Members

Sarah Abehlson
Louis Abrams
Robyn Alexander
Avi Anantharajah
Kelly Baldwin Heid
Alexandra Bandier
Callum Beale
Jodi Berger
Jonathan Berger
Maureen Boesen
Perri Brendzel
Kathryn Buckley
Jamie Burak
Andrea Calabrese
Mia Campolo
Kristen Carbone
Lindsey Chasteen
Leandra Medine Cohen
Chelsea Cohen
Jourdan Cohen
Sarah Clare Cook
Becca Cossin
Ashley Dedmon
Katherine DiLullo
Lisa Donnelly
Mackenzie Dougherty
Elizabeth Drake
Sara Edelman Lustgarten
Peri Edelstein
Dorie Eisenstein
Samantha Elgort
Taryn Elliot
Galia Farber
Alexandra L. Fleischman
Denise H. Frederickson
Amy Gallagher
Pooja Ganesan
Nicole Garcia
Martae Giometti
Emily Goldberg
Lindsay Goldblatt
Jacki Goodman
Brittany Graunke
Emily Guskin
Cherie Hankin Calingasan
Suri Helwani
Raven Ashley Holzer
Lyndsey Howe
Lindsay Jacobson
Shaina Kalin
Michele Kaplan
Angie Karamchandani
Kelly Kashmer
Ilana Katz Sand
Rachel Kaufman
Ashley King
Stacey Klimchuk
Carlette Knox
Jodi Leigh Kreizer
Sarah Kremer
Alison Kucharski
Kevin Kucharski
Katherine Mara Lattanzio
Eliberty Lopez
Jamie Ludwig
Stephanie Marton
Sonal Mayekar
Carolyn McAnlis
Lauren McCabe
Margaret M. Mcconville
Ashley Meskill
Alona G. Metz
Chelsi Meyerson
Heather Milburn
Darcy Moore
Chloe Morawski
Haley Moss
Jenn Murphy
Frannie Neal
Dani Nodelman
Maura Noone
Kaitlin Nordby
Calle Norman
Marti Norman
Laura Perilstein
Caroline Plank
Lauren Pleener
Rachel L. Presser
Lauren Profis
Shannon Pulaski
Jessica Radetsky
Jennifer Reilly
Laura Jean Reinke
Hillary Rieger
Caroline Rodman
Jennifer Rosenberg
Sarah E. Roth
Ariel Rubin
Paulina Rugart
Chié Dambara Sánchez
Michael E. Sand
Kelly Scheib
Erin Schonbraun
Jacqueline Sehring
Jaye Seidlin
Sarah Selkirk
Jackie Silver
Sage Silverstein
Sara Simon
Natalie Skaf
Jenny Sorin
Bridget Stillwell
Gabby Stoller
Ashley Talamo
Rebecca Uber
Jamie Vento
MerryBeth Vithoulkas
Joanna Warden
Katrina A. Wells
Jenny E. Wikoff
Vanessa Woodman Fuss
Michelle Yanche

Co-Chairs

Erika Stallings
Suzanne Zuppello

Members

Sarah Abehlson
Louis Abrams
Robyn Alexander
Avi Anantharajah
Kelly Baldwin Heid
Alexandra Bandier
Callum Beale
Jodi Berger
Jonathan Berger
Maureen Boesen
Perri Brendzel
Kathryn Buckley
Jamie Burak
Andrea Calabrese
Mia Campolo
Kristen Carbone
Lindsey Chasteen
Leandra Medine Cohen
Chelsea Cohen
Jourdan Cohen
Sarah Clare Cook
Becca Cossin
Ashley Dedmon
Katherine DiLullo
Lisa Donnelly
Mackenzie Dougherty
Elizabeth Drake
Sara Edelman Lustgarten
Peri Edelstein
Dorie Eisenstein
Samantha Elgort
Taryn Elliot
Galia Farber
Alexandra L. Fleischman
Denise H. Frederickson
Amy Gallagher
Pooja Ganesan
Nicole Garcia
Martae Giometti
Emily Goldberg
Lindsay Goldblatt
Jacki Goodman
Brittany Graunke
Emily Guskin
Cherie Hankin Calingasan
Suri Helwani
Raven Ashley Holzer
Lyndsey Howe
Lindsay Jacobson
Shaina Kalin
Michele Kaplan
Angie Karamchandani
Kelly Kashmer
Ilana Katz Sand
Rachel Kaufman
Ashley King
Stacey Klimchuk
Carlette Knox
Jodi Leigh Kreizer
Sarah Kremer
Alison Kucharski
Kevin Kucharski
Katherine Mara Lattanzio
Eliberty Lopez
Jamie Ludwig
Stephanie Marton
Sonal Mayekar
Carolyn McAnlis
Lauren McCabe
Margaret M. Mcconville
Ashley Meskill
Alona G. Metz
Chelsi Meyerson
Heather Milburn
Darcy Moore
Chloe Morawski
Haley Moss
Jenn Murphy
Frannie Neal
Dani Nodelman
Maura Noone
Kaitlin Nordby
Calle Norman
Marti Norman
Laura Perilstein
Caroline Plank
Lauren Pleener
Rachel L. Presser
Lauren Profis
Shannon Pulaski
Jessica Radetsky
Jennifer Reilly
Laura Jean Reinke
Hillary Rieger
Caroline Rodman
Jennifer Rosenberg
Sarah E. Roth
Ariel Rubin
Paulina Rugart
Chié Dambara Sánchez
Michael E. Sand
Kelly Scheib
Erin Schonbraun
Jacqueline Sehring
Jaye Seidlin
Sarah Selkirk
Jackie Silver
Sage Silverstein
Sara Simon
Natalie Skaf
Jenny Sorin
Bridget Stillwell
Gabby Stoller
Ashley Talamo
Rebecca Uber
Jamie Vento
MerryBeth Vithoulkas
Joanna Warden
Katrina A. Wells
Jenny E. Wikoff
Vanessa Woodman Fuss
Michelle Yanche

Donors

Your support at any level benefits individuals and families affected by a BRCA mutation. Our philanthropic community enables pioneering research at Basser and around the globe, and enhances lifesaving outreach and educational programs.

*Gifts listed below are from January 1, 2020, though December 31, 2020, and reflect cumulative giving during that time.

In 2020, we raised $4.2M, bringing our total since the founding of the Center to $100M.

December Matching Gift Campaign

In December 2020, Basser launched a Matching Gift Challenge. The support of our community was overwhelming, raising $553k in vital unrestricted funds for the Center.

$553K

in campaign
contributions

Special thanks to our four generous matching gift donors: Darcy and Andy Nussbaum, Mara Burros-Sandler, Christine and Jordan Kaplan, and Lynn and Paul Lattanzio.

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$250,000 and above

Mindy & Jon Gray
Trace McCreary
Shari & Len Potter
Stone Family

$100,000 – $249,000

Angela & Joe Campolo
Christine & Jordan Kaplan
Jay Lieberman & The Derfner Foundation
Darcy & Andrew Nussbaum

$50,000 – $99,999

Tamsen & Michael Brown
Mara Burros-Sandler
Susan & David Getz
Carl H. Goldsmith
Raquel & Michael Haas
Hope & Eric Haron
The Holewinski Family Foundation
Michele & Kevah Konner
Janice & James Owens
Heidi & Richard Rieger
Helene & Robert Sorin

$25,000 – $49,999

Karin Bain & John Kukral
Cindy & Brian Gavin

$10,000 – $24,999

Accent Charitable Fund
Lee Berg
Shari & Barry Dinaburg
Wendy & Douglas Eisenberg
Andrea Flink & Clayton Rosenberg
Debra & Mark Klein
Lanie & Christopher Marcus
Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation
Regency Center Corporation
Carolyn & Marc Rowan
Jill & Jon Steinberg
Elizabeth & Paul Uhlmann

$5,000 – $9,999

Dr. Ilana Katz Sand & Michael Sand
Dr. Caryn Kraff & Lowell Kraff
Magnolia Tree Foundation
Tricia & Jason Pantzer
Kathy & John Schreiber
Jill & Evan Seigerman
Dana Zucker & Brahm Cramer

$2,500 – $4,999

Saida & Sherwood Baxt
Susan & Jim Florsheim
Caroline & Josh Gray
Jill Werman Harris & Dr. Lloyd Harris
Harvey Heffner
Judith Lenchewski
Sonal Mayekar
Leora Mogilner & Richard Linhart
Lynn & William Murphy
Phyllis & Irving Smith Foundation, Inc.
Wendy & Brett Prager
PREformances with Allison Charney
Stacey Sager & Andrew Platt
Dr. Marjorie Stanek
Cynthia Stevens
David & Peggy Tanner
Dr. Susan Wolk & David Wolk
Patricia & Stephen Zuppello

$1,000 – $2,499

Cristina & Stephen Basser
Stephanie & Josh Bilenker
Mark Bokelman
August Calderone
Diane Carter
Eunu Chun
Virginia Doner
Kate Downey Berges
Diane Edelman
Peri Edelstein & Blake Shapiro
Feibelman Family
Jennifer Feinberg
Deborah & David Gordon
Juliet & Michael Gray
Jean Herz
Lisa & Sam Jacobs
Melissa Kingma
Rodney Kolb
Andrea & Robert Kramer
Susanne & Bruce Landau
Molly Levitt
Ann Little
Sara & Ephram Lustgarten
Joy & Peter Martosella
William McCurry
Jon Mehlman
Brooke Owen-Thomas
Lauren Pleener & Jonathan Berger
Denise Portner
Jessica Queller
Elaine Rose Kennedy
Chuck Rosenzweig
Suzanne & Brian Stadler
Erika Stallings & Jose Olivarez
Surf City Steel Inc.
Rebecca & Aaron Weitman
Jon Whelan

$500 – $999

Robyn Alexander
Sean Alford
Anonymous
Lisa Barnett
Drs. Rebecca Baxt & Jonathan Baruch Shammash
Stephen Bonaccorsi
Christopher Boyatt
Debra Cohen
Laura & Steven Coleman
William Davis
Deutsche Bank
Lara Diamond
Loren Donino
Bonnie Walsh Eisenfeld
Michael Ellis
Florence Finkle
Kristen Forrester
Talya & Samuel Giordano
Deborah Hemel
Lizzie & Jon Hirschtritt
Philip Jia
Stephen Kandel
Amy Davis Larson
Edward Lewis
Andrea London
Robert Mark
Margaret McConville
Natalia Mikhaylova
Francis Scott Nowakowski
Sean O'Connell
Francine Raizes
Margaret Rierson
Adam Rosenbaum
Michael Roth
Beth & David Rothenberg
Abby & David Salzman
Annette Seelig
Ann Seiberlich
Sisters Against Cancer 5K
Stephen Thomas
Heidi Wagman
Dan Waldman
Lindsey Walker & Bill Tebbs
Vanessa Woodman Fuss
Deborah Yashar
Suzanne Zuppello

$499 and below

Gloria Abrams
Louis Abrams
Catherine Acquadro
Davidson Alipio
Mackenzie Alleman
Danielle Altersitz
Wendy Altmire
Dr. Sabiya Amanat
Deborah Armstrong
Susan & Heath Armstrong
Melissa Baitinger
Laurie Barlev
Stephanie Bauer
Wendy Baum
Nancy Beaucaire
Anne Berk
Joni Block
Elise Bloom
Cindy Bloomgarden
Lauren Bogiages
Susie Borovsky
Elizabeth Bradbury
Carolyn Brown
Joyce Brown
Valerie Buterbaugh
Andrea Calabrese
Dorothy Capers
Kristen Carbone
Michelle Carteron-Kelban
Kimberly Chase
Jerry Cohen
Maxine Cohen
Jennifer Cooke
Robin Corrigan
Elise & Alan Cotler
Cheryl Cudmore
Amy D'Annunzio
Abigail Daroff
Audrey & Gregory David
Martha Davis
Wendy & Paul Delaney
Elissa Delman
Julie Deutsch
Arlene & Gary Diamond
Gerie DiPiano
Amy Doman
Susan Haytmanek & Dennis Domchek
Drs. Susan Domchek & Robert Vonderheide
Megan Do Nascimento
Mackenzie Dougherty
Julie Doupe
Rosanne Driscoll
Andrea Dubner
Jeri Durham
Audrey Edwards
Robin & Jonathan Eiseman
Tracey Lewis Elligan
Stephanie Engelman
Gwen Farley
Jason Fenech
Charissa Fernandez
Annette Ferstenberg
Heather Fineman
Robert Fleshner
Brian Forsse
Tami Fountain
Martin Freund
Jeffrey Friedman
Joel Gardner
Margaret Garofalo
Tess Gatof
James Gerkiss
Stephanie Germanovich
Martae Giometti
Paula Gitles
Richard Gladstone
Debbie Glickman
Bonnie Gold
Judith Goldstein
Janice Gordon
Julie Greenberg
Patricia Greenberg
Jenna Greenspan
Helen Grimm
Diane Grimmig
Peter Grudberg
Cheryl Gubitosa
Juanita Gubitosa
Kathleen Gunsberger
Meighan Harmon
Eliza Hatch Saada
Karen Herskovitz
Jean & Jacob Herz
Mary Hiserodt
Barbara Horowitz
Judy & Terry Hunt
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro
Ivy Israel
Dani & Mark Nodelman
Milton Jacobson
Elaine Jacoby
Gail Johnson
Spirit Jones
Janine Karbon
Gale Katz
Sandra Kellman
Robyn Kelton
Diane Klein
Jeffrey Klein
Priscilla Kleinberg
Julia Klosk
Charles Knopf
Melissa Koenigsberg
Jennifer Kreil
Tyler Kreil
Elana Krutoff
Karen Lanci
Lauren Lasker
Tracey Lavine
Martha Lemp
Christine Leonard
Sophia Levine
Gregg Levy
Robin & William Levy
Thomas Linthorst
Irene Lipsky
Stephanie Lonidier
Daphna Ludwig
Jamie & Matthew Ludwig
Andrea Lukoff
Diane & Mark Maas
Diana Magaard
Catherine Manganiello Hagle
Derek Mann
Yanna Manous
Stephanie & Collin Marton
Barbara Mayer Golen
Paula McConville
Didi McDonald
Judy McElwain
Patrick McLaughlin
Ellen McLeod
Dorothy & Chris Mejia-Smith
Taro Meyer
Cassandra Mitchell
Vallerie Murchison
Jennifer Muzzi
Evan Namerow
Tamika Nealy-Farmbry
Kristin & Hennessy Nocco
Barbara Norcross
Corinne O'Day
Jenn Dolin Olsen
Jon Oram
Melody Padilla-Nguyen
Debbie Paley
Mary Paz
Laura & Stuart Perilstein
Annie Pockriss
Josh Poulin
Lauren Profis
Kathy Randolph
Christopher Rathbun
Nancy Richmond
Ellen Rieder
Nancy & Robert Risman
Erica Rivera
Dr. Alan Rosen
Jennifer Rosen
Kathy Rosenblat
Rosencrans Family Foundation
Robin Roth
Jennifer Rothenberg
Matthew Rubin
Scott Rudin
Melanie & David Samuels
Debra Bernard & Robin Schachtel
Jordana Schelberg
Zach Schelberg
Nichole Schiller
Dana Schofield
Jennie Scholick
Lois Schwartz
Diane Seeberger
Elisa Seeherman
Taryn Seidenspinner
Tessa Seidenspinner
Jaye Seidlin
Shaklee Products Naturally
Paige Shanahan
Marcelle & John Shapiro
Joseph Shaw
Jamie Shelton
Marcy Sher
Kate Sherman
Frank Shields
Terrilinn Short
Anita Siegal
Lauren Siegel
Laura & Matthew Silverman
Eva Silvestro
Kathryn Sklar
Nel Reynolds Snyder & David Snyder
Kathy Solganik
Jenny Sorin
Molly Spitalnik Weingart
Beth Stearman
Kathleen Stoeckel
Jaclyn Stout
Margaret Sullivan
Michael Sweeney
Heather Symecko
Najwa Tabrah
Beth Timen
Carolyn Touchet
Lola Serovsky Tsetlin
Lisa Udine
Adrianus Van Hees
Donna Waldt
Sondra & Marvin Wasman
Margaret Watro
Andrea Weisberg
Stephen Weiss
Katrina Wells
Megan Wheeler
Anna & Daniel Wildman
DeRonda Williams
Elizabeth Williams
Janice Woerner
Michelle Wolf
Wendy Wolf
Lolli Zarlin
Jean Rene Zetrenne
Mia Zuckerkandel

Tributes

The Basser Center for BRCA has received many generous and thoughtful gifts in honor, memory, and celebration of the following individuals.

SWIPE

JoAnne Accardo
Sydney Alexander
Robyn Alexander
Adam Axler
Ali Bandier
Romy Barnard
Faith Basser
Pearl Basser
Melissa & Leah Beight
Ian Berg
Sherry Berkowitz
Karen Lavan Bokelman
Celia Braverman
Donna Breslow
Sharon Buzzell
Lisa Carbone
Elizabeth Cats
Allison Charney Epstein
Dr. Susan Domchek
Kimberly Doner
Mackenzie Dougherty
Fred & Phebe Downey
Irene Edelstein
Katherine Fraggos
Jack Freeman
Shirley Gardner
Jennifer Garrard
Joyce Gaston Dent
John Gavin
Cindy Gavin
Jennie Goas Jacober
Mindy and Jon Gray
Raquel Haas
Ellen Hardy
Wendy Hirschtritt
Donna Hunter
Gaylord "Rusty" Johnson III
Fred Kaufman
Sally Kelton
Michele & Kevah Konner
Alexandra Korry
Cherie Kugler
Charlie Lonidier
Sara Edelman Lustgarten
Helene Manganiello
Dr. Ruta Mayekar
Catherine McDonough
Danielle McKenna
Marla Mehlman
Sarah and Hyman Meyer
Jack O'Connell
Laura Perilstein
Stuart Perilstein
Mary Polewczak
The Ponticiello Family
Dr. Tenley Poulin
Susan Price
Lynn Riestenberg
Terry Roth
Paige Kendall Davis Shanahan
Helene Shandell
Beth Stearman
Bruce Stern
Gail Taflin Silvert
Carla Teich
Paul Uhlmann
MerryBeth Davis Vithoulkas
Robert Zassman

JoAnne Accardo
Sydney Alexander
Robyn Alexander
Adam Axler
Ali Bandier
Romy Barnard
Faith Basser
Pearl Basser
Melissa & Leah Beight
Ian Berg
Sherry Berkowitz
Karen Lavan Bokelman
Celia Braverman
Donna Breslow
Sharon Buzzell
Lisa Carbone
Elizabeth Cats
Allison Charney Epstein
Dr. Susan Domchek
Kimberly Doner
Mackenzie Dougherty
Fred & Phebe Downey
Irene Edelstein
Katherine Fraggos
Jack Freeman
Shirley Gardner
Jennifer Garrard
Joyce Gaston Dent
John Gavin
Cindy Gavin
Jennie Goas Jacober
Mindy and Jon Gray
Raquel Haas
Ellen Hardy
Wendy Hirschtritt
Donna Hunter
Gaylord "Rusty" Johnson III
Fred Kaufman
Sally Kelton
Michele & Kevah Konner
Alexandra Korry
Cherie Kugler
Charlie Lonidier
Sara Edelman Lustgarten
Helene Manganiello
Dr. Ruta Mayekar
Catherine McDonough
Danielle McKenna
Marla Mehlman
Sarah and Hyman Meyer
Jack O'Connell
Laura Perilstein
Stuart Perilstein
Mary Polewczak
The Ponticiello Family
Dr. Tenley Poulin
Susan Price
Lynn Riestenberg
Terry Roth
Paige Kendall Davis Shanahan
Helene Shandell
Beth Stearman
Bruce Stern
Gail Taflin Silvert
Carla Teich
Paul Uhlmann
MerryBeth Davis Vithoulkas
Robert Zassman

Thank You

What if this could be the last generation of cancer in your family?

basser.org

Contact the Basser Center:
215-662-2748
BasserInfo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104

To Make a Gift:
basser.org/donate
215-605-0402
lferr@upenn.edu
3535 Market Street, Suite 750
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Our Unwavering Mission

2020 PROGRESS REPORT

Our Vision for the future

SUSAN M. DOMCHEK, MD

BRCA By The Numbers

New in 2020

TREATMENT & COUNSELING

How Our Efforts Thrived in the Face of COVID-19

Genetic Counseling Via Telehealth

virtual visits with genetic counselors

The Use of Telemedicine in Genetic Counseling

OUR CORE INVESTIGATORS

Angela R. Bradbury, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

What this means for patients

Susan M. Domchek, MD

Basser Professor in OncologyExecutive Director, Basser Center

What this means for patients

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD

Franklin Payne Associate Professor of PathologyDirector of Gynecologic Cancer Research, Basser CenterDirector, Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center

What this means for patients

Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD

J. Samuel Staub, MD ProfessorDirector of Basic Science, Basser CenterDirector, Penn Center for Genome Integrity

What this means for patients

Katherine L. Nathanson, MD

Pearl Basser Professor for BRCA-Related ResearchDirector of Genetics, Basser CenterDeputy Director, Abramson Cancer Center

What this means for patients

Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

John H. Glick, MD Abramson Cancer Center Director’s ProfessorDirector, Abramson Cancer CenterVice Dean, Cancer Center Programs, Perelman School of MedicineVice President, Cancer Programs, University of Pennsylvania Health System

What this means for patients

Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

Funded Research

Improving Surgical Prevention Options

Overcoming PARP Resistance

Exploring the Potential of CAR T Cells in Ovarian Cancer

Expanding Genetic Testing within Families

Using Organoid Models to Study Ovarian Cancer

Improving Individual Cancer Risk Assessments

Research Prizes

Basser Global Prize

Bella Kaufman, MD

Past Recipients of the Global Prize include:

Pearl and Philip Basser Innovation Research Award

Kim Reiss Binder, MD

External Grants

Understanding breast cancer driver mechanisms in BRCA2 mutation carriers

Characterizing a new mouse model of Fanconi anemia

Vaccination as a strategy to prevent or treat drug resistance caused by BRCA reversions

In 5 Years

Sharing Our Knowledge

Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Study

Olaparib and Durvalumab in Patients with Germline BRCA-mutated Metastatic Breast Cancer

Exploring the Mechanisms of PARP Binding

Changes in Classification of BRCA1/2 Mutations are Extremely Rare

The TP53 Mutation

IN 10 YEARS

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD

Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System Dean, Perelman School of Medicine

2020Highlights

The Alissa Reiner McCreary Professorship in BRCA Excellence

The Alissa Reiner McCreary Professorship in BRCA Excellence

Donor Recognition

Our Donors

Trace McCreary

The Stone Family

YLC Young Investigator Award

Kim Reiss Binder, MD

Virtual Events

Young Leadership Council Panel Series

Racial Health Disparities in the United States

Annual Research Webinar with Susan M. Domchek, MD

Young Leadership Council Panel on Sexual Health & Intimacy

Young Leadership Council “Lunch and Learn” with Kim Reiss Binder, MD

Breakthroughs and Discoveries Panel Moderated by Susan M. Domchek, MD

Talking With Your Family About BRCA Mutations – Parents Leadership Community Webinar

Young Leadership Council Panel Series: ACLU, Myriad, and the Supreme Court

Young Leadership Council Panel Series: Navigating the World of Fertility and Family Planning

We hosted 9 virtual public events with 3,000 attendees across the U.S. and around the world

Outreach & Education

LATINX & BRCA

OUR CORE
INVESTIGATORS

Basser Professor in Oncology
Executive Director, Basser Center

Franklin Payne Associate Professor of Pathology
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research, Basser Center
Director, Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center

J. Samuel Staub, MD Professor
Director of Basic Science, Basser Center
Director, Penn Center for Genome Integrity

Pearl Basser Professor for BRCA-Related Research
Director of Genetics, Basser Center
Deputy Director, Abramson Cancer Center

John H. Glick, MD Abramson Cancer Center Director’s Professor
Director, Abramson Cancer Center
Vice Dean, Cancer Center Programs, Perelman School of Medicine
Vice President, Cancer Programs, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System
Dean, Perelman School of Medicine

Susan M. Domchek, MD
Executive Director

Beth Stearman, MPH
Administrative Director

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research

Katherine Nathanson, MD
Director of Genetics

Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD
Director of Basic Science