News
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation has donated $1 million to establish the Morton L. Mandel Chair for Urologic Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic.
The gift was matched directly by Cleveland Clinic to endow a chair that will support innovative work in the newly formed Cleveland Clinic Center for Genitourinary (GU) Malignancies Research, a collaboration between Lerner Research Institute, Taussig Cancer Institute and Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. The center focuses on advancing discoveries to better understand, diagnose and treat cancers of the prostate, bladder and kidney.
“The Center for Genitourinary Malignancies Research is helping to streamline and focus our clinical and research efforts in urologic cancers,” said Eric Klein, M.D., chair of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute and co-director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center of Excellence in Prostate Cancer. “We are grateful to Mort Mandel for his support of this important initiative. By bolstering our research in this area, we hope to also shine a light on the need to better understand these diseases.”
GU cancers are prevalent around the world, and prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in American men. A search is underway to attract a leading urology and cancer researcher to hold the Mandel Chair. In addition, the newly established chair will serve as a challenge to other funders to continue supporting strategic areas in research that will make the most impact.
“Our overarching goal is to make practice-changing discoveries in GU cancer,” said Dr. Klein. “This gift will accelerate the important work that Cleveland Clinic researchers are doing on behalf of patients. It will help us think and act more strategically. By prioritizing where and how we invest in research, we are more likely to make the most impact.”
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute is home to nearly 1,500 researchers and support personnel in 175 laboratories. Lerner Research Institute had a $296 million research budget in 2018 and approximately 4,000 ongoing, IRB-approved protocols for clinical studies.
Cleveland Clinic's urology program is ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and the cancer program is ranked No. 7. Both programs are top-ranked in Ohio. The Center for GU Malignancies Research is led by Nima Sharifi, M.D., who holds the Kendrick Family Endowed Chair for Prostate Cancer Research.
"Our aim at the GU Malignancies Research Center is to make high-impact scientific discoveries and to bring these findings to the bedside to transform the care of patients with prostate, kidney and bladder cancers,” said Dr. Sharifi. “I am truly delighted that the Mandel Foundation is providing generous support for us to accomplish these goals.”
About Cleveland Clinic
is a nonprofit academic medical center based in Cleveland, Ohio, integrating clinical care with research and education. Founded in 1921, it is recognized among the nation’s top hospitals and is known for pioneering medical breakthroughs such as coronary artery bypass surgery and the first U.S. face transplant. The health system includes 19 hospitals and over 220 outpatient facilities across the U.S. and internationally. Learn more at clevelandclinic.org.
