Discoveries that Make a Difference

The Campaign for Weill Cornell mediCal College

Discoveries that Make a Difference

The Campaign for Weill Cornell mediCal College

The Campaign for Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medical College

1300 York Avenue, Box 123

New York, NY 10021

212.821.0500

www.med.cornell.edu

Prepared and printed October 2006

The Medical College offers

ways for donors to designate their

investments to any number of

initiatives, including research,

scholarship, and facilities.

For more information about

the campaign and donor

recognition opportunities,

please contact the

Campaign Office at

212.821.0500

To unlock the promise of medicine, we will

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Double the existing research space and build a cancer center worthy of an NCI designation 3

Harness the power of collaborative partnerships 9

Translate discoveries into greater healing power 15

Recruit more world-class faculty 19

Become a force in global health 25

The world stands poised and ready for a new era of hope and healing.

Thanks to major advances in biomedicine in recent years – particularly

the mapping of the human genome – astonishing victories against

cancer, infectious disease, autism, Parkinson’s Disease, and other sources

of human suffering are now within sight.

In addition, revolutionary new technologies promise to make a host

of surgical procedures less invasive, while ever more highly targeted

therapies hold the potential to heal patients faster and with fewer and

less severe side effects.

Weill Cornell Medical College has been at the forefront of these

innovations.

Now we are determined to know more, serve better, and pioneer the

great discoveries of tomorrow.

Discoveries that Make a Difference: The Campaign for Weill Cornell Medical

College will raise an unprecedented $1.3 billion in private philanthropy

to support groundbreaking initiatives in biomedical research, medical

education, and patient care.

Your support will enable the Medical College to harness the full power

of our collaborative projects with Cornell University and other pres-

tigious institutions and become a global force for progress in human

health and well being.

To know more. To serve better.

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Weill Cornell: ready to write the next chapter in human health

Weill Cornell Medical

College and Graduate School

of Medical Sciences is

one of the world’s leading

medical institutions. Our

exceptional strengths

in medical education,

research, and clinical

care – and our extensive

collaborations with the

researchers and scientists

of Cornell University in

Ithaca – are a source of

great promise for health

care locally and through-

out the world.

■ The field of biomedical

science is undergoing

rapid transformation. New

doors have been opened,

unlocked by the conver-

gence of many scientific

and technical disciplines,

including biology, chemis-

try, physics, mathematics,

nanobiotechnology,

robotics, and computer

science. Innovative cross-

disciplinary partnerships

hold dramatic potential for

the development of new

technologies, less-invasive

therapies, and advanced

medical devices to treat

cancer and a multitude of

other chronic and acute

disorders.

■ Weill Cornell physicians

and scientists are widely

recognized for cancer

research. Unlike typical

cancer-only institutions,

we offer the full range

of medical and scientific

expertise in all medical

subspecialties. To further

enhance our capabilities, we

aspire to create a world-

caliber cancer center that

will enhance interactions

between researchers and

clinicians and further pro-

mote translation of funda-

mental scientific advances

to improve patient care.

■ The next chapter

in Weill Cornell’s

development focuses on

concentrating our power-

ful and unique resources:

our campus in Qatar; our

close programmatic ties

with Cornell University in

Ithaca, New York;

our longstanding partner-

ship with NewYork-

Presbyterian Hospital

and, more recently, The

Methodist Hospital,

Houston; and our neigh-

boring biomedical research

partners, Memorial Sloan-

Kettering Cancer Center

and The Rockefeller

University.

■ With our central role

among these eminent

research universities and

medical centers, we have a

profound opportunity to

achieve progress in medical

education, interdisciplin-

ary research, and, most

important, patient care.

2

Accelerate discoveries in some of the most vital and promising areas of medicine 1Campaign funds will strengthen the Medical College’s existing core

research facilities and introduce new translational and clinical

research programs addressing areas of the most pressing urgency – and

greatest potential – in public health today. Our vision includes creating a

National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Plans call for the construction of a major new biomedical research

building on East 69th Street. The new facility will effectively double the

Medical College’s existing research space.

Conceptual rendering of the new biomedical research building

Dean Gotto beside a portrait of William M. Polk, the first Dean of the Medical College

“For more than 100 years,

Weill Cornell scientists and physicians have been

expanding the frontiers of medicine and

redefining the standard of care. Now we have the talent,

the partnerships, and the will to unlock the full promise

of biomedicine in the 21st century.”

Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D.

Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean

Weill Cornell Medical College

Provost for Medical Affairs

Cornell University

Mission: advance hope through pioneering research, education, and patient care

The mission of Weill

Cornell is to produce

future generations of

medical leaders and

to translate the most

advanced scientific

breakthroughs into

treatments and therapies

that benefit patients

throughout the world.

■ Weill Cornell Medical

College and Graduate

School of Medical Sciences

has pioneered advances

in hormone therapy, gene

therapy for heart disease,

kidney transplantation,

and the organic synthesis

of penicillin, along with

leading-edge treatments

for cervical cancer, cystic

fibrosis, Parkinson’s

Disease, and numerous

other disorders.

■ In just the last 15 years,

Weill Cornell has achieved

several medical “firsts,”

including:

■ the first successful

embryo-biopsy (preim-

plantation genetic screening)

for retinoblastoma

■ the first in vivo gene

therapy for cystic fibrosis

■ the first clinical trial

for gene therapy for

Parkinson’s disease

Other breakthroughs have

marked this period as well.

■ Weill Cornell scientists

demonstrated for the first

time that the brains of

minimally conscious

patients recognize and

respond to speech in ways

similar to healthy

individuals.

■ Thanks in part to Weill

Cornell’s outreach efforts,

the survival rate tripled

for 1,000 AIDS patients

receiving antiretroviral

therapy in Haiti.

■ In a finding that could

be a major advance in the

repair of damaged hearts

and other organs, a Weill

Cornell team found that

a specific type of human

fetal stem cell can develop

into functional vascular-

ized muscle tissue.

■ In cancer research in

particular, Weill Cornell

has spearheaded a series of

key advances, including:

■ the development of a

monoclonal antibody

to fight prostate and

other cancers

■ the use of a universal-

array genomic chip

for rapid and accurate

detection of cancers and

other diseases

■ breakthrough research

in the use of COX-2

inhibitors for cancer pre-

vention and treatment

■ Weill Cornell’s mission

has become increasingly

global. With deeply rooted

partnerships in Europe, the

Middle East, East Africa,

and Asia, the Medical

College is immersed in the

battle against HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis, malaria, and

other infectious diseases

that threaten the develop-

ing world and potentially

the entire globe.

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Maximize synergies across disciplines and campuses 2A key objective of Weill Cornell’s strategic plan is to fully capitalize on

collaborative projects with Cornell University. Partnerships between the

Medical College and the University focus specifically on biomedical

engineering, nanomedicine, and systems biology in Ithaca, and cancer

biology, chemical biology, experimental therapeutics, and global health

and infectious diseases in New York City.

Dr. Andrew Dannenberg, Henry R. Erle, M.D.-Roberts Family Professor of Medicine, in his Cancer Prevention Laboratory

Sanford I. Weill in front of the new Ambulatory Care and Medical Education building

Sanford I. Weill

Chairman

Board of Overseers

“Weill Cornell is an unparalleled powerhouse

offering the best hope for fighting disease and

advancing the practice of medicine.”

Partnerships: an unmatched network of top minds and resourcesWeill Cornell has culti-

vated strong relationships

with leading medical

institutions in New

York and beyond. These

complementary affiliations

enable the Medical College

to marshal the intellectual

capital and resources it

needs to bring the latest

advances in medical dis-

covery and technology into

the clinical setting quickly

and effectively.

Weill Cornell’s longstand-

ing central affiliations are

with Cornell University and

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Few institutions can match

the breadth and scope

of Cornell University’s

programs in the biological

sciences, life sciences,

engineering, mathemat-

ics, physics, human and

veterinary medicine,

computer science, and

other disciplines necessary

for driving innovation.

The University has a deep-

rooted culture of inter-

disciplinary research, and

its visionary leaders have

made significant invest-

ment in the life sciences a

University imperative.

As New York’s largest

hospital – and one of the

nation’s best – NewYork-

Presbyterian is a recognized

leader in medical innova-

tion and in providing

the highest level of

patient care.

The Weill Graduate School

of Medical Sciences, which

operates under the auspices

of the Graduate School

of Cornell University, is a

unique academic partner-

ship between the Medical

College and the Sloan-

Kettering Institute. Under

the guidance of Dean

David P. Hajjar, Ph.D.,

the Graduate School’s

top-caliber faculty teach

and conduct ground-

breaking research in

the full spectrum of bio-

medical sciences.

Weill Cornell reaffirms its

position at the forefront

of clinical and scientific

scholarship through its

Tri-Institutional Partnership

with The Rockefeller

University and Memorial

Sloan-Kettering Cancer

Center. Together with

these institutions, Weill

Cornell is preparing the

next generation of physi-

cian-scientists in the most

challenging yet promising

fields in research, from stem

cell therapeutics to com-

putational biomedicine.

Weill Cornell-Qatar is the

first United States-

accredited medical school

in a foreign country. Its

mission is to provide a

superb medical education

curriculum and the best

in primary and specialty

care in order to advance

healthcare, understanding,

and security – and prompt

goodwill – throughout

this critical region of the

world.

The Medical College’s

longstanding work on

HIV and AIDS in Haiti,

and its instrumental

efforts in bringing

urgently needed medical

education to East Africa

(Tanzania), are aimed at

battling deadly infec-

tious and communicable

diseases.

Weill Cornell’s affiliation

with The Methodist Hospital-

Houston has international

import – building a bridge

between different regions

of the Americas on a full

spectrum of initiatives

including international

medicine, national

healthcare policy, clinical

research, and graduate

medical education.

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Translate discoveries into effective clinical treatments and therapies 3It is essential that the Medical College convert laboratory breakthroughs

into greater healing power at the bedside. Our strategic plan calls for

the establishment of new translational research programs in key areas such

as cardiovascular and cancer care, metabolic and digestive disorders,

organ transplantation, and reproductive medicine.

Weill Cornell physicians providing team-based care in the Neurosurgery unit

Results: surging forward through careful planning and investment

Weill Cornell’s position as

one of the nation’s lead-

ing clinical and medical

research institutions is a

result of focused leader-

ship, energy, scholarship,

and financial investment

over the past 10 years.

■ Phase I of Weill

Cornell’s Strategic Plan,

New Horizons for Medicine,

and Phase II, Advancing the

Clinical Mission, resulted

in the investment of over

$1 billion in medical

education, clinical care,

and new research initia-

tives in such areas as

structural biology, genetic

medicine, and neuroscience.

■ As a direct corollary,

Weill Cornell has expe-

rienced the highest rate

of increase in National

Institutes of Health (NIH)

core funding among lead-

ing American medical

colleges – this during a

time when such funding

has become increasingly

competitive and the avail-

ability of federal research

dollars scarce.

■ Recent financial invest-

ments, made possible

through record-breaking

private philanthropy, have

advanced the Medical

College’s clinical mis-

sion in a host of ways. A

powerful symbol of this

progress is the newly con-

structed Ambulatory Care

and Medical Education

Building, a state-of-the-

art, 300,000-square-foot

facility for outpatient ser-

vices, as well as innovative

clinical, educational, and

research activities.

■ Phase III of the Strategic

Plan, Discoveries that Make

a Difference, recognizes

Weill Cornell’s special

promise and the urgency

of discovery. It follows

logically upon the earlier

phases of the strategic

plan; where Phase I

focused on basic research

and Phase II on patient

care and clinical research,

this phase ties the two

together and completes

the vision by means

of translational research. It

is designed to harness the

resources of all partners

in combating the effects

of aging, cancer, cardio-

vascular disease, diabetes,

and many other debilitat-

ing and life-threatening

conditions.

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Weill Cornell faculty are universally recognized as leaders in their

respective fields. Looking ahead, the Medical College is committed to

recruiting even more outstanding scientists and physicians and medical

professionals to ensure the best possible care for future generations

and to make the most of farsighted investments. The Medical College

will introduce new investigative areas, establish Research Scholar Awards,

and seek outstanding basic, translational, and clinical research faculty

– attracting the best available talent to New York.

4Educate and train the 21st century’sleading medical professionals

Weill Cornell researchers with Dean of the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences David P. Hajjar, Ph.D. (second row, middle)

President Skorton in Weill Cornell’s Uris Faculty Room

David J. Skorton

President

Cornell University

“Among the most fundamental purposes of a university are the

betterment of life and the understanding of the human condition.

With the farsighted leadership of Weill Cornell Medical College and

the visionary support of its alumni and friends, Cornell University

is poised to make transformative contributions to advancing health

and combating disease throughout the nation and the world.”

■ Construct the new Biomedical Research Building $650 million

■ Attract and retain leading physicians and scientists $400 million

■ Augment the Medical College’s endowment $200 million

■ Strengthen and expand clinical programs $200 million

■ Undertake collaborative efforts with Cornell University $150 million

Total $1.6 billion

The Campaign for Weill Cornell Medical College: essential resources for the future

Financing the objectives of Strategic Plan III through 2011 will require an investment

of $1.6 billion in five key areas:

Of this total amount, a full $1.3 billion must be generated through private philanthropic support.

Achieving this goal will require one of the most comprehensive and ambitious

fundraising efforts of its kind.

* This figure represents 50% of an overall $300 million goal for collaborative projects of Cornell’s New York City and Ithaca campuses. The University will raise the remaining 50%.

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Advance the worldwide struggle against illness

The Medical College is committed to expanding its international presence

and sharpening its concentration on global health issues. Cornell graduates

and faculty have a longstanding tradition of aiding underserved populations

in developing countries throughout the world. Progress in HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious diseases – combined with a

local presence in the Middle East, East Africa, and the Caribbean – casts

Weill Cornell Medical College in a leading role in the fight to lessen the

world’s suffering.

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Patients at the clinic in Bugando, Tanzania

Robert J. Appel in front of the New Horizons for Medicine Principal Benefactor Wall

Robert J. Appel

Chairman

The Campaign for Weill Cornell Medical College

“Weill Cornell is at the peak of its powers.

A gift to this campaign represents the best possible

investment one can make in scientific progress –

with benefits now and for generations to come.”

Join Us

■ The Board of Overseers

is excited to announce

this campaign and its goal

of raising $1.3 billion in

private philanthropy.

Inspired by a powerful

alignment of mission,

purpose, and direction,

Weill Cornell and Cornell

University are moving

forward for the betterment

of the region, the nation,

and the world. With

aspirations higher than

ever, we invite all to join

in this pivotal effort.

■ Together we can greatly

accelerate progress and

deliver its benefits to those

in greatest need here and

throughout the world. Our

goal is nothing less than

the alleviation of pain

and human suffering.

As we strive to know

more, we can serve better,

improving the quality

of people’s lives and the

vibrancy of communities

around the world.

Now is

the time

to unlock

the promise

of medicine.

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Discoveries that Make a Difference

The Campaign for Weill Cornell mediCal College

The Campaign for Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medical College

1300 York Avenue, Box 123

New York, NY 10021

212.821.0500

www.med.cornell.edu

Prepared and printed October 2006

The Medical College offers

ways for donors to designate their

investments to any number of

initiatives, including research,

scholarship, and facilities.

For more information about

the campaign and donor

recognition opportunities,

please contact the

Campaign Office at

212.821.0500

To unlock the promise of medicine, we will

Build a cancer center worthy of an NCI designation 3

Harness the power of collaborative partnerships 9

Double the existing research space 15

Recruit more world-class faculty 19

Become a force in global health 25

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