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How You Can Help

Annual Fund

Why give to the Annual Fund rather than designating a type of cancer research for my donation? 

By giving to the Annual Fund, you allow M. D. Anderson to respond more rapidly to new ideas and new leads in the battle against cancer. Unrestricted gifts are directed to areas of greatest need and greatest promise as determined by The University Cancer Foundation’s Administrative Board, chaired by the president of M. D. Anderson.

Bridge Funding

Bridge funds help researchers continue their projects while waiting for federal grants to be approved or renewed. Because of the decrease in federal funding, this is happening more frequently than in the past. The administrative board of The University Cancer Foundation reviews research projects brought to them after the researchers have received approval from their department or division.

Seed Funding for Biomedical Research

Your Annual Fund gift provides seed money for gathering the preliminary data our physicians and scientists need to compete successfully for peer-reviewed grants. The National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society and other funding agencies decide to fund projects based on this preliminary data. In this direct way, donors get the process started.

Some Annual Fund Projects

  • Research into the cell signaling pathways involved in colon cancer, surgical techniques to repair peripheral nerves, and robotics to help scientists fine-tune promising anti-cancer drugs.
  • Purchase of equipment such as a confocal microscope and an atomic force microscope, and the establishment of a pharmacology core laboratory.
  • Professional education efforts including support for the Faculty Achievement Awards, the Physician-Scientist Program, the Faculty Scholars Program and programs for post-doctoral fellows.
  • Public education and outreach initiatives such as the distribution of solar UV cards to individuals who spend a great deal of time outdoors, and a newsletter and website devoted to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer.
  • Patient care programs including studies on stress and quality of life in cancer patients, an on-campus police escort program for patients and families, and coffee service for inpatient hospital units.

Who are the Anderson Annual Fund Partners?

The Annual Fund Partners are members of an exclusive group made up of generous and committed supporters. A donor is invited to join this group and receives special recognition opportunities based on cumulative gifts over the span of one year (September 1 - August 31). Partner recognition levels range from gifts of $100 through $10,000+. In addition, The Monroe Dunaway Anderson Society is for those who have included M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in their planned gifts. More...

Promise - Summer 2009


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center