"I am thrilled not only as a physician who cares for our amazing patients afflicted with these disorders, but also as a patient himself who understands, on a personal level, the overwhelming impact of what such therapies provide."
- Marc B. Garnick, M'72, Penn Medicine Advocate, congratulatory note for the FDA's historic approval of CAR T cell therapy
The FDA landmark decision to approve the CAR T Cell Therapy — developed by Dr. Carl June and team, and studied in trials of children by colleagues at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), represents investment and perseverance by the Abramson Cancer Center and our philanthropic partners.
The ImmunoRevolution at Penn Medicine began over 20 years ago, at a time of limited funding opportunities for novel ideas — when researchers like Dr. June relied on personal philanthropy to fuel innovation.
As a result of the approval, we have seen congratulatory messages and Penn pride from all over the country.
Marc Garnick, MD, ’72, has a deeply personal relationship with Penn and the cancer community, as a proud graduate of the Perelman School of Medicine and former Penn Medicine Board member.
Dr. Garnick is an international leader in medical oncology, urologic cancer and prostate cancer treatment, as well as a Gorman Brothers Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and board member of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is often shuttling between Boston and Philadelphia, and it gave him and his colleagues with Penn ties tremendous pride when Penn Medicine had the opportunity to tout its research leadership in the mighty halls of Boston Medicine.
"I wish the Abramson Cancer Center every genuine congratulations on your extraordinary creativity, leadership and persistence in bringing CAR-T therapy to fruition to our patients so much in need of novel and life-saving therapies. It is a distinct honor to know you and to be associated with the institution where this groundbreaking work was performed."