The London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF) has been gifted $1 million from a local auto dealership in support of prostate cancer research.
Lexus of London, an avid supporter of prostate cancer research, has been raising funds for prostate cancer studies and patient care for over two decades through an annual golf tournament, the Lexus of London Golf Classic.
"The entire Lexus of London team and our dedicated Board of Directors are incredibly proud of the contributions made by the Lexus of London Golf Classic,” said General Manager Chris Pinelli. "We remain steadfastly committed to providing the vital financial support required for the groundbreaking research and compassionate patient care provided by the dedicated health-care professionals at LHSC."
The hospital foundation said the endowment will help establish LHSC's Prostate Cancer Biobank through the purchase of an advanced freezer system and the initial funding for its day-to-day operations. The freezer will contain patient biosamples such as blood, urine, and tissue. It will also use a database of detailed clinical information to help discover and validate new biomarkers, which helps clinicians tailor treatment plans for better outcomes.
"As the recipients and designated stewards of this gift, we are very honored by the generosity of Lexus of London and humbled for being entrusted with this duty," said the Co-Director of the Prostate Cancer Biobank Dr. Nicholas Power. "Our team is already in the process of building a unique and innovative repository of patient data that will leverage the existing wealth of research experience locally and hopefully provide new insights into cancer care that will have an impact on the world stage."
According to LHSF, 30,000 Canadian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. About one in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, while one in 28 will die. Access to a prostate cancer biobank is said to help provide LHSC scientists with a wealth of untapped knowledge for generations to come.
"The support and generosity from community members like Lexus of London is what makes scientific advancements at our hospital possible," said LHSF President and CEO John MacFarlane. "Today, the door to scientific opportunity has been opened for prostate cancer research right here in London, and I look forward to seeing what has been made possible in the future."