October 24, 2008

Contact:
Office of Communications
Jennifer Berman
NYU Cancer Institute
NYU Langone Medical Center
Jennifer.berman@nyumc.org
212-404-3532

SPOTLIGHTS THE PEDIATRIC NEURO- ONCOLOGY PROGRAMS

New York, October 21, 2008 - Robert I. Grossman, M.D., Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO, of NYU Langone Medical Center, hosted the Second Annual Gala of the NYU Cancer Institute on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, at Cipriani 42nd Street. More than 500 people attended this year's Gala, chaired by Lori W. Fink, NYU Cancer Institute board member and NYU Langone Medical Center trustee, and Laurence Fink, co-chair of NYU Langone Medical Center Board of Trustees and CEO of BlackRock, Inc. The event honored two extraordinary philanthropic couples, Jennifer L. and Stephen J. Czech, and Maya and Edward Manley, for their exemplary leadership in fighting cancer, particularly in children and families affected by this disease. This year's physician honoree is Aaron R. Rausen, M.D., founding director of the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; he is renowned for his superb work in treating NYU Langone's pediatric cancer patients with the highest level of compassion and expertise.

Norman Eig, Chairman of the NYU Cancer Institute Board of Directors, NYU Langone Medical Center trustee, who is also managing member of EXOP Capital LLP, also led last night's Gala.

The Physician Committee chair of this year's Gala was William L. Carroll, M.D., the Julie and Edward J. Minskoff Professor of Pediatrics, who directs the NYU Cancer Institute. Dr. Carroll is also the medical director of the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

This year's Gala raised more than $1.5 million to help support NYU Cancer Institute's landmark pediatric neuro-oncology program and to continue the groundbreaking research and specialized care that make a significant difference in the lives of the youngest patients at the Cancer Institute.

Dr. Carroll states: "Cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease. It is complex, which is why the Cancer Institute and all its departments take a team approach to groundbreaking translational research and exceptional patient care. We seek and create opportunities for collaboration within our walls, within the NYU campus network, and with researchers at other institutions. In fact, the more we know about cancer, the more important it is to partner with those who share our dedication to eradicating this disease."

This year's Gala spotlighted the Cancer Institute's landmark pediatric neuro-oncology programs. When a child receives a brain or spinal cord tumor diagnosis at NYU Langone Medical Center's Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a multi-disciplinary team assembles to determine the best course of treatment. This collaborative team consists of Drs. William Carroll; Jeffrey Allen, director of the Division of Neuro-Oncology; Matthias Karajannis, assistant professor of pediatric oncology; Ashwatha Narayana, assistant professor of radiation oncology; Sharon Gardner, assistant professor of pediatric oncology; Elizabeth Raetz, associate professor of pediatrics; and Robin Dulman, pediatric oncologist. This team meets frequently with dedicated physicians in neuro-radiology, pediatric neurosurgery, and other specialties.

The Gala honored Jennifer L. and Stephen J. Czech, who is managing member, chief investment officer, and founder of SJC Capital Partners, L.L.C., and both a member of the NYU Cancer Institute Board of Directors and the Hassenfeld Center Board of Advisors. Jennifer and Stephen brought a particularly personal element to last evening's event. Their warm and loving family, recently suffered the loss of their only son, James Michael "Mikey," on September 7, 2008, to complications associated with a brain tumor. It was paramount to the Czechs that Mikey be able to lead an active life, one of hope and courage, after his diagnosis on January 6, 2008, his11th birthday. Mikey's ordeal has been the driving force behind the Czechs impassioned commitment to the neuro-oncologists at the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, who cared for Mikey and provided him and his family with the extra time that proved so precious to them.

The Czechs have established The Mikey Czech Foundation, Inc., dedicated to pediatric brain tumor research in Mikey's honor. It will support a new, world-class pediatric neuro-oncology translational research laboratory at the NYU Cancer Institute, to help manage, and ultimately eliminate, pediatric brain tumors.

Approximately 150 children, ages 3 - 18, each year are diagnosed with IDPGs in the U.S.- 80% of those diagnosed die within 12 months; 90% die within 24 months and 99% die within five years. There is no effective treatment whatsoever for IDPGs,"said Mr. Czech. "IDPGs are classified as an "orphan" disease, resulting in virtually no funding for a cure. Hence, the only way to find a cure for this disease is through philanthropy. This must change and will change with our efforts."

Also honored at the Gala were Maya and Edward Manley, parents of a pediatric brain tumor survivor, who established the Making Headway Foundation 12 years ago. Their mission was to enhance care, comfort and treatments for children affected by brain or spinal cord tumors, as well as address the needs of these patients' families.

Maya and Edward Manley have funded a variety of initiatives at NYU's Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Among the other NYU Langone projects receiving $3.3 million in funding by the Making Headway Foundation are a Brain Tumor Bank and, most recently, the Otto and Marguerite Manley and Making Headway Endowed Professorship in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, which will be held by Dr. Jeffrey Allen.

"Our goal is to make the experience of treatment for a brain or spinal cord tumor as comfortable as possible for families," said Maya, who volunteers at the Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and is on the Hassenfeld Family Advisory Board.

Maya and Edward are exceptionally devoted to their foundation's work, and they have the strong support of Making Headway co-founder and friend, Clint Greenbaum.

The 2008 Gala celebrated the Cancer Institute's remarkable progress against cancer on all levels: patient care, research, education, and prevention. The NYU Cancer Institute is at the forefront of translational research, to accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments, evaluate immunotherapies, broaden access to clinical trials, and deepen the understanding of cancer's demographic patterns.

Attendees included: Kenneth G. Langone, chairman of the board of trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center, and wife Elaine; Norman Eig, chairman of the NYU Cancer Institute Board of Directors, and his wife Barbara; and the following NYU Cancer Institute Board of Director Members: Ellen Banner; Roberta Greenberg; James M. Kenny; Sandra and Edward Meyer; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter; Steven J. Czech and wife Jennifer.

About NYU Cancer Institute
The mission of the NYU Cancer Institute is to discover the origins of human cancer and to use that knowledge to eradicate the personal and societal burden of cancer in our community, the nation and the world. NYU Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated Cancer Center.

About NYU Langone Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center is one of the nation's premier centers of excellence in health care, biomedical research, and medical education. For over 167 years, NYU physicians and researchers have made countless contributions to the practice and science of health care. Today the Medical Center consists of NYU School of Medicine, including the Smilow Research Center, the Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, and the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences; the three hospitals of NYU Hospitals Center, Tisch Hospital, a 726-bed acute-care general hospital; Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the first and largest facility of its kind; NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, a leader in musculoskeletal care; and such major programs as the NYU Cancer Institute, the NYU Child Study Center, and the Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

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Above: Jennifer Czech, Maya Manley, Stephen Czech and Edward Manley

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