FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2006
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Grant Aids Rebuilding of Tulane’s Bone Marrow Transplant Program
NEW ORLEANS --Tulane Cancer Center’s Bone Marrow Transplant Program recently received a $230,000 grant from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Program. The world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services donated $100,000 to rebuild Tulane Cancer Center’s clinical research program in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; $80,000 to replace vital machinery and support personnel; $40,000 to support a social worker to assist displaced and returning patients; and $10,000 to help restore the leukemia research laboratory of Charles Hemenway.
“We are very grateful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their participation in our recovery effort,” says Hana Safah, director of the bone marrow transplant program. “This grant is a generous demonstration of their concern that patients being treated for hematologic malignancies in Katrina-stricken areas continue to have access to quality, research-driven cancer treatment and necessary support services.”
Since its establishment in January 1994, Tulane has performed more than 250 bone marrow transplant procedures for both adults and children. Safah recently performed Tulane’s first two bone marrow transplant procedures since Hurricane Katrina at Tulane-Lakeside Hospital in Metairie.
“In order to meet the critical health care needs of blood cancer patients in New Orleans, the society is committed to helping get treatment centers and patient support services up and running again,” says Carter K. Guice Jr., president of the New Orleans chapter. “We are proud to be able to help Tulane with its rebuilding effort.”
For more information about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, go to: www.LLS.org or call Andrea Greif at (914) 821-8958.
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