Dear Friends,
There is an exciting cancer research foundation - the International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD) - which has the mission of accelerating the anticancer drug pipeline at all levels, particularly through patient education, cutting-edge patient advocacy, and clinical trials advocacy. IFADD is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, based in Phoenix. Dr. Bob Pettit, the Director of the Arizona State University Cancer Research Institute, has called IFADD the most effective patient advocacy organization he has ever worked with in his 44-year career.
IFADD seeks to increase the NCI budget for anticancer drug discovery-particularly for compounds isolated from marine life, terrestrial plants and microorganisms. IFADD is a member of the National Coalition for Cancer Research (one of 27 members) and is one of 60 members of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (the top lobbying group of academic and patient advocacy organizations supporting stem cell research).
I have recently become a member of IFADD's National Advisory Council and am volunteering my time to expand the professional contacts for this unique organization because of my expertise in "head-hunting" in the medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry and natural products areas as CEO of BioAlliance, my company based in Tarzana, California. IFADD is in the process of assembling both a Scientific Advisory Council and a Physicians Advisory Council, whose members (everyone being on a pro bono basis) would provide phone or mostly e-mail advice to IFADD's CEO and staff when they need answers to questions that are in your specific area.
IFADD is also looking for volunteers from the scientific and medical community to serve as patient advocates for those fighting the battle for their lives. IFADD would assign you, if you're willing, to be a "buddy" of a particular cancer patient, and then you could help outline clinical trials options for the patient to discuss with his/her oncological team. More than anything else, you'd just "be there" in case the patient has a question or needs guidance. As you know, a diagnosis of cancer can leave many folks numb and flailing around in the morass of information that suddenly bombards them from well-meaning friends and family.
And the amount of time this would all involve? For patient advocates, maybe 10 to 20 hours per year. For those who are "on call" answering IFADD's questions via e-mail (mostly e-mail!) or phone in your specific area, maybe 15 minutes a year. So, all in all, not much time, but the psychic rewards you will reap in helping cancer patients--plus an organization fighting for their lives and giving up on no one - will stay with you forever.
If you're interested, please call me at 800-417-1886.
Thanks so much for considering signing on to help a cancer foundation at the vanguard of patient advocacy efforts.
Best regards,
Allison Marks
CEO, BioAlliance
National Advisory Council
International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD)
allison@bio-alliance.com
Marcia K. Horn
President and CEO
International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD)
27 West Morten Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021-7246
(602) 861-3777
(602) 944-8759 fax
MarciaIFADD@aol.com
Please note: IFADD does not purport to dispense medical advice. Our delineation of options for the cancer patient as well as our cancer patient education and clinical trials advocacy programs are solely for purposes of providing the patient with additional avenues to explore with his/her oncological team. IFADD is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization seeking to expedite the anticancer drug pipeline at all levels.
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