A $5M gift from the Mario Lemieux Foundation will support microbiome research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center received a $5 million gift from the Mario Lemieux Foundation to launch of the Mario Lemieux Microbiome Innovation Center, a pioneering initiative designed to advance research into the role of the microbiome in cancer prevention, treatment response and patient outcomes.

The center will provide researchers with cutting-edge resources to better understand how microorganisms that naturally live in and on the human body can influence cancer development and treatment effectiveness. UPMC will further amplify the impact of this gift with a $1 million contribution.

"UPMC Hillman and University of Pittsburgh investigators are already making internationally recognized discoveries in microbiome research with important implications for patients with both solid tumors and blood cancers," said John C. Byrd, director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Pitt's associate vice chancellor for cancer affairs. "This new center will bring that work together and expand its impact by providing shared resources, including microbiome biobanking, AI-enabled analytics to help researchers uncover patterns that may improve cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship."

The center also reflects a shared commitment between the Mario Lemieux Foundation and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to invest in groundbreaking research that improves lives and advances the future of cancer care.

"When the foundation began, we could not have imagined all the ways it would grow or the innovative research it would one day help make possible," said Thomas Grealish, president of the Board of Directors of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. "But this is exactly why the foundation exists: to support hope, progress and exceptional cancer care for patients and families. We are proud to help launch a center that has the potential to transform how cancer is understood and treated for generations to come."

Growing evidence suggests the microbiome may influence cancer risk, treatment response, immune function and overall patient outcomes, making it one of the most promising emerging areas of oncology research.

"Every patient's cancer journey is different," said Lauren Lemieux Antoni, treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Mario Lemieux Foundation and daughter of Mario and Nathalie Lemieux. "By bringing together information about a person's biology, health, treatment history, lifestyle, diet and outcomes, researchers can begin to understand why some therapies work better for certain patients than others.

"The goal is simple: to learn faster and bring new discoveries to patients sooner. This research will help our remarkable physicians and scientists at UPMC Hillman identify better treatments and improve outcomes for patients facing cancer."

The center will serve as a hub for UPMC Hillman and Pitt researchers studying both solid tumors and blood cancers, helping to accelerate progress in an emerging field with significant potential for patients. By design, the center will accelerate discoveries toward pilot clinical trials, novel interventions and more personalized treatment strategies for patients.

"As we begin this exciting new chapter through the Mario Lemieux Microbiome Innovation Center, we do so with gratitude, optimism and renewed purpose," said Stanley M. Marks, chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. "Together, we are advancing innovation, accelerating discovery and moving closer to a future where cancer is no longer a devastating diagnosis for patients and their families. The Mario Lemieux Foundation's vision and generosity will help propel groundbreaking research that ultimately benefits patients around the world."

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In the top photo, from left: Doug McCullough, Pitt's acting chief advancement officer; Nancy Angus, president of the Mario Lemieux Foundation; Jodi Weisfield, Pitt's vice chancellor for health sciences and clinical programs advancement; Lauren Lemieux Antoni; Nathalie Lemieux; Mario Lemieux; Stanley Marks; John Byrd; Beth Wild, president of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; Tom Grealish; Kevin Washo, Pitt's senior vice chancellor for external relations