$1 Million Gift to Mass General Cancer Center Will Support Promising Research Conducted by Pioneering Physician-Scientists

The John and Ashley Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation will activate funding of promising cancer research, helping to advance critical work in the fight against cancer.

BOSTON, MA – Philanthropists John R. and Ashley Ranelli have established the John and Ashley Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. Launched with a $1 million gift to Mass General Cancer Center, the Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation will seed innovative ideas and ensure that talented researchers and physicians have the resources needed to advance cancer research, diagnostics and treatment options.

A respected business leader and a member of the Mass General Cancer Center Advisors, Ranelli is the former CEO of Central Garden & Pet and Mikasa, and Chairman & CEO of Woolrich, Inc. and FGX (FosterGrant). He currently serves as a Board member of Central Garden & Pet and Ortholite, Inc. His late father Frank Ranelli’s experience as a patient of Ephraim Hochberg, MD, deputy clinical director of Mass General Cancer Center, and the Ian K. and Isabelle P. Loring Endowed Chair in Lymphoma, inspired him to promote groundbreaking cancer research and eliminate barriers to funding.

The Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation honors Frank Ranelli’s memory and supports visionary physician-scientists in their pursuit of new ideas and promising perspectives in cancer research.

“Supporting dedicated young researchers is the best way to honor my father’s life and legacy,” said John Ranelli. “Our family is committed to seeking support from friends, neighbors, colleagues and the broader cancer community as part of our effort to bring pioneering cancer research and hope to cancer patients and their families worldwide. We encourage others to join us in funding this vital work. Without question, the research conducted by our Scholars will change lives for the better, for patients and families around the globe.”

“Our mission is to attract and retain the most talented, forward-thinking minds in the field to provide our patients with the best possible care by advancing the treatments and therapies of tomorrow,” said David Ryan, MD, physician-in-chief of Mass General Brigham Cancer, and clinical director of Mass General Cancer Center. “The Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation will play a vital role in achieving this goal.”

According to Dr. Hochberg, medical research funding strategies are often conservative and can limit real scientific discoveries. Hochberg believes the Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation will promote the kind of pioneering research often overlooked by traditional sources of funding.

“The Ranelli Endowed Scholar will provide Mass General Cancer Center researchers with ongoing funding that can be leveraged for significant long-term impact,” said Dr. Hochberg. “This crucial support will bolster Mass General’s position as a leader in cancer care innovation and expand opportunities for our physician-scientists who will give hope and life to the patients of tomorrow.” Endowed Scholars represent one of the most prestigious honors that can be bestowed upon a physician at Mass General. The award recognizes a demonstrated record of excellence and potential in clinical care, research or hospital-based education. Matthew Frigault, MD, a cell therapy specialist working to extend and improve his patients’ lives through leading-edge research, is the inaugural Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation.

Dr. Frigault’s cutting-edge work is well-aligned with the vision of the Ranelli Endowed Scholar in Cancer Innovation. His groundbreaking research and implementation with CAR T-cell therapy is already positively impacting patients with blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and has helped position Mass General as a leader in the burgeoning field of cellular immunotherapy. Dr. Frigault and his team are now exploring how CAR T-cell therapy can help people with solid tumors like glioblastoma.

In planning and administering their gift, the Ranelli family will continue to work closely with Dr. Hochberg, Dr. Ryan, and the Mass General Cancer Center team.

About the Mass General Cancer Center

Mass General Cancer Center, a member of Mass General Brigham, is an integral part of one of the world’s most distinguished academic medical centers and is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top cancer centers in the country. Through a powerful synergy between scientists in the laboratories and physicians at the bedside, the Cancer Center fosters innovation in basic, translational and clinical research. The Cancer Center can be found online at: www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center.

About Mass General Brigham

Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org