T.J. Martell Foundation Announces Clive Davis Research Fellowship Award

Press Release

Source: M2M PR 

Clive Davis

When Tony Martell was faced with a devastating diagnosis of leukemia for his young son T.J 40 years ago, music industry icon and friend Clive Davis did not hesitate to partner with him in launching what would go on to be one of the most aggressive and ambitious organizations fighting to find a cure for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS – The T.J. Martell Foundation, “Music’s Promise for a Cure.”

This year, the T.J. Martell Foundation proudly celebrates its 40th year with the creation of The Clive Davis Research Fellowship Award.  The permanent grant bearing the five-time Grammy-winner’s name will be awarded annually to a scientist or medical professional undertaking substantial early-stage work aimed at finding a cure for Leukemia, Cancer or AIDS at one of T.J. Martell Foundation’s funded institutions.

For decades, Clive Davis – the iconic music producer and executive who has steered some of the world’s biggest superstars to musical success – has quietly supported the Foundation, which has been responsible for saving of thousands of lives since its inception as a result of innovative research and medical treatments in the fight against Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS.

Davis, who has worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Simon & Garfunkel, Aerosmith, Carlos Santana, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, The Grateful Dead, Herbie Hancock, Jennifer Hudson and so many others has been behind-the-scenes in helping to support innovative cancer research that is truly remarkable.  As a founding member of the Foundation, the organization has seen Tony’s initial promise to raise $1 million dollars grow to over $270 million dollars in the fight against the diseases.

“I am deeply touched that Tony and the T.J. Martell Foundation chose to name this prestigious fellowship award after me,” Davis said.   “I will never forget the day – 40 years ago – when Tony called asking for my help setting up the Foundation in honor of his beloved son T.J.    I proudly stood by the Foundation as it quickly grew to become THE music charity and a genuine leader in the fight against Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS.   This is a fantastic organization that is saving lives and I am proud to have my name permanently associated with it.”

In the spirit of Clive Davis’s legendary career in music, other  musical artists and industry executives have supported Tony’s vision.  Stars like Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Sting, Sheryl Crow, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Grace Potter, Mary J. Blige,  Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Little Big Town, John Legend, Norah Jones, Enrique Iglesias, Bryan Adams, The Band Perry, Crosby & Nash and many others along with industry decision makers like Clive Davis, the late Bruce Lundvall,  Monte and Avery Lipman, Mel Karmazin, Tom Corson, Marsha Vlasic, Irving Azoff, Rick Krim, Kid Leo, the late Frances Preston, Daniel Glass, Judy McGrath, John Sykes and others have stood by the man with a promise in the fight to cure cancer and AIDS.  The T.J. Martell Foundation has become known as Music’s Promise for the Cure.

The T.J. Martell Foundation’s contributions to medical research and its encouragement of scientists to leverage funds with other larger funding sources has resulted in more than $1 billion dollars  in additional research funding and alliances with the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute.  Current research facilities funded by The T.J. Martell Foundation include Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Mayo Clinic, Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“It has been many years since the $1 million dollar mark was achieved — but for my beloved son T.J., and for everyone else who has undergone the experience of cancer, leukemia, or AIDS, I pledge that the T.J. Martell Foundation will not rest until a true cure is discovered,” said Founder and CEO, Tony Martell. “I am privileged to be able to work alongside such an icon of the music industry and friend as Clive Davis, who has been with us since that day 40 years ago when we decided to take action.”

To date, some of the results of funding provided by the T.J. Martell Foundation have included:

• For 30 years, the T.J. Martell Foundation has supported Dr. Robert Seeger’s outstanding research in the area of Neuroblastoma, a deadly form of cancer attacking young children. For years, Neuroblastoma had a survival rate of less than 15% for those with the high-risk form of the disease, but thanks to research and new treatments, the cure rate is now 45%. Drs Seeger, Yves DeClerck, and Shahab Asgharzadeh are improving our understanding of tumor growth and developing new treatments for targeting the microenvironment (soil) and tumor cells (seed) that may improve survival of children with neuroblastoma.  The T.J. Martell Foundation has helped these investigators obtain numerous peer-reviewed research grants from the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense, and several other foundations so that they are a leading group in neuroblastoma research.
• The T.J. Martell Foundation funded internationally known researcher Dr. Brian Druker at the Oregon Health & Science University who developed the drug Gleevac, a powerful weapon against myeloid leukemia. Because of the T.J. Martell Foundation funding, Gleevac revolutionized the way cancer is now treated.  Before Gleevac, 50% of patients with CML survived the disease, now nearly 90% survive.
• The creation of the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has exceeded projected results in programming, research and its efforts to give back to the community. The Vanderbilt-Ingram Center also houses a web based program, org, where patients and doctors can get high quality information and a network of investigators can communicate for further research and clinical trial availability. Frances Williams Preston laboratories were created as the cornerstone of the facility and to create a “laboratories without walls.”
• The creation of the field of psycho-oncology by Dr. Jimmie Holland is due solely as a result of the work of the T.J. Martell Foundation. This collaboration at Memorial Sloan Kettering essentially established an entire field of study and research. There the department runs communication modules which are mandatory for every physician on staff.
• My Cancer Genome, the nation’s first personalized cancer decision support tool, created by the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center was funded by the T.J. Martell Foundation and has provided physicians and patients with the latest information on discoveries and clinical trials around the world.

ABOUT THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION:

The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.  The Foundation, headquartered in New York, is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues in loving memory of his son T.J., who died of leukemia. The Foundation has provided more than $270 million dollars for research that supports top hospitals in the United States. For more information click on the T.J. Martell Foundation go to www.tjmartell.org

www.facebook.com/tjmartellfoundation

www.twitter.com/tjmartell

www.pinterest.com/tjmartellfndn

https://instagram.com/tjmartellfoundation/