Kathy Coleman commits additional $3.5 million to fuel the future of clinical trials at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

CLEVELAND - A $3.5 million gift from Kathy Coleman to Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals will fuel the future of clinical trials at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. The critical support will allow for site renovations and expansion - in size and scale - of the existing Kathy and Les Coleman Clinical Trials Center.

"UH Seidman Cancer Center ushered in a new era of cancer care at UH when it opened in 2011, and the Kathy and Les Coleman Clinical Trials Center has been integral to that," said Theodoros Teknos, MD, President and Scientific Director, UH Seidman Cancer Center, and Jane and Lee Seidman Chair in Cancer Innovation. "Currently, we offer more than 400 clinical trials annually and it helps thousands of patients. With Kathy's support, we will triple our capacity by 2030, bringing potentially life-extending treatments to more patients than ever."

As a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, UH Seidman Cancer Center has direct access to the newest clinical trials and is one of only seven cancer centers in the country with access to a pipeline of novel drugs from the National Cancer Institute. UH is also only one of 11 academic medical centers to successfully manufacture CAR T-cells for patient use. The UH Wesley Center for Immunotherapy can create these cells in just 24 hours, compared to the industry standard of 12-30 days. That access and expertise, bolstered by this gift, will enable UH Seidman Cancer Center to build one of the nation's premier Phase 1 Clinical Trials programs.

A passionate supporter and volunteer leader, Kathy Coleman has given more than $14 million to UH, all in memory of her late husband, Lester Coleman Jr. The former chairman and chief executive of Lubrizol Corp., Les passed away four months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer. Additionally, Kathy is an active member of the UH Seidman Cancer Center Leadership Council, a past co-chair of the hospital's signature Five Star Sensation, and a recipient of UH's highest honor, the Samuel L. Mather Visionary Award.

"Clinical trials are critical for so many reasons," said Kathy Coleman. "On a global level, they help advance research and move us closer to cures; but for individuals and families, I know personally the hope they bring. When you're sitting with someone you love and everything feels dark and final, a clinical trial and the life-extending potential it carries is a bright spot, even if it comes with no guarantees."

Following renovations, UH will relocate the Coleman Clinical Trials Center into a dedicated, 16,000-square-feet space on main campus. The move will centralize care for clinical trial patients and make way for new machinery that will expand investigation into theranostics and other diagnostic-based trials. Most importantly, it will enable UH to triple patient capacity within the next five years."

As a disease, cancer takes a devastating toll on patients, families and communities," said Quintin Pan, PhD, Deputy Director for Research, UH Seidman Cancer Center, and Dr. Lester E. Coleman, Jr. Chair in Cancer Research & Therapeutics. "Because of Kathy, we will be able to push the boundaries of discovery and bring tomorrow's treatments to our patients today, offering them new hope."UH is committed to transforming cancer care. Because of You, UH is meeting patients where they are, delivering personalized care close to home, while furthering investments in ground-breaking treatments like clinical trials and immunotherapy. Learn more about UH's historic Because of You campaign at UHGiving.org.