The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association announced a $2.5 million grant from Exact Sciences on Monday that will establish the James Dahlberg Fund for Cancer Detection and Clinical Integration, an initiative designed to accelerate early cancer detection.
“We are grateful to the leadership at Exact Sciences, whose vision and commitment demonstrate the transformative power of philanthropy. Their investment will fuel discovery and accelerate the breakthroughs that benefit communities here in Wisconsin and far beyond,” Alisa Robertson, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, said in a statement.
The grant will help the Wisconsin Foundation fund research teams at the school to move promising detection strategies from the laboratory to clinical validation and into everyday care more quickly.
The fund is named in honor of James Dahlberg, a professor emeritus of biomolecular chemistry and a pioneer in translating basic science discoveries into widely used cancer screening tools.
“Jim Dahlberg has always believed science should make a real difference for patients,” Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences, said in a statement. “His work helped build Wisconsin’s biotechnology industry and advanced the development of tests that allow doctors to detect cancer earlier. We are honored to make this $2.5 million grant in Jim’s name to support the scientists and clinicians who will bring the next generation of cancer detection discoveries into patient care.”
