City of Hope receives gift to open new Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research

The Judy and Bernard Briskin Family Foundation has announced a gift to launch the new Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research at City of Hope, the third named center within City of Hope's new Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute. The generous gift will enable the institution to further its already considerable accomplishments in the field of myeloma treatment and research.

The gift reflects City of Hope's national reputation in the field of myeloma research, notably its scientific and clinical care successes, its leadership in advancing care for myeloma patients, and its research and clinical depth. It also calls attention to - and will enhance - City of Hope's remarkable collaboration track record by creating a scientific advisory board of leading myeloma researchers. This advisory board will help City of Hope extend its reach to potential collaborators, ultimately enabling City of Hope research to benefit as many patients as possible worldwide.

The Briskins' support will also accelerate myeloma research at City of Hope, as well as support four new clinical trials for treatment of myeloma, all of which were conceived and developed by scientists and clinical investigators at City of Hope. These trials involve innovative uses of already existing drugs, as well as unique combinations of new drugs and immune-based treatments. Together, they will not only further researchers' understanding of myeloma resistance to current treatments but also lead to more effective therapies.

The gift to create the Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research will help City of Hope's researchers rapidly bring the most promising multiple myeloma treatments to patients. Already a leader in the research and treatment of myeloma and related diseases, City of Hope's experience, specialized therapy protocols and extensive program of clinical trials provides tailored treatment regimens to patients at all stages of myeloma from the newly diagnosed to those with advanced disease who no longer respond to standard therapy.

"To truly change the future for multiple myeloma patients, we need to support the nation's leading experts in their work to develop new treatments and cures," said Bernard Briskin, "As someone currently in treatment for multiple myeloma, I understand the importance of clinical research. I'm confident that by supporting City of Hope, we will help speed the best treatments, breakthroughs and clinical approaches to as many researchers, doctors and patients as possible."

The Briskins are well-known philanthropists and, through their family foundation, they support an array of programs and institutions that emphasize health, medical treatments and cures, and education.

Steven T. Rosen, M.D., chief scientific officer and provost at City of Hope, created the myeloma cell lines now used in more than 150 laboratories nationwide. Arthur D. Riggs, Ph.D., director of the Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope, and his team developed the technology that makes possible the monoclonal antibody treatments in use today. That technology is behind today's development of monoclonal antibody treatments for multiple myeloma, including the drugs daratumamab and elotuzomab.

"We are deeply thankful for the support of Judy and Bernard Briskin and for their recognition of City of Hope's leadership in this field," Rosen said. "Our success in improving the overall survival rates for patients with multiple myeloma is undeniable, and we are committed to developing even better treatments for these patients."