In 1972, 16-year-old Don Monti tragically passed away from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the most aggressive forms of blood cancer. Shortly thereafter, his family founded the (DMMRF) to support research aimed at understanding cancer鈥檚 growth and eradicating it from the body.
On January 24, the DMMRF donated $100,000 to support 黑料吃瓜资源 (CSHL) Assistant Professor Lingbo Zhang鈥檚 pioneering leukemia research. Although often diagnosed in patients 55 and older, leukemia is the most common cancer in children under 15. Since 2007, the DMMRF has donated over $5.8 million to support CSHL鈥檚 cancer research. Such donor support has enabled the Zhang lab to make several promising discoveries in recent years, revealing new drug targets for two types of leukemia.
鈥淭he support of the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation is extremely important to my lab鈥檚 basic science research,鈥� Zhang says. 鈥淚t will enable us to explore key fundamental studies, which are capable of laying the foundations for promising novel therapeutics.鈥�
Zhang鈥檚 research focuses on revealing the critical roles of nutrients and neural activities in leukemia and its variants. His lab has made several discoveries in AML and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which took the life of the Montis鈥� dear friend Edward Travaglianti, a longtime board member of CSHL and the DMMRF.
Both types of leukemia currently lack effective treatment options. Zhang is now working with a spin-off company to translate his lab鈥檚 discoveries into potential drugs targeting these devastating blood cancers.
鈥淏eing that funding from the private sector is more critical than ever, we sincerely appreciate the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation鈥檚 invaluable support in advancing scientific research and innovation,鈥� CSHL President and CEO Bruce Stillman says. 鈥淭heir generous contributions empower researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries at CSHL that benefit society. Their 2025 funding of Lingbo Zhang鈥檚 innovative research in blood cancers is full of exciting promise, and we are hopeful that we will see a clinical trial in the near future.鈥�
Written by: Nick Wurm, Communications Specialist | [email protected] | 516-367-5940