Fox Chase Cancer Center Celebrates Fifty Years of Cancer Research

Betty Travaglini, retired editor of Fox Chase Cancer Center's Scientific Report, greets Jesse Summers, Ph.D., an award-winning researcher who joined Fox Chase in 1971 and served as scientific director from 1983 to 1986 before joining the University of New Mexico faculty in 1988. More Photos...

PHILADELPHIA (September 20, 1999) -- The Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) at Fox Chase Cancer Center celebrated 50 years of research on the Fox Chase campus, Saturday, September 18. The evening of reminiscing began in the Center's courtyard, where scientists and old friends gathered for refreshments. Among the guests were current and retired Fox Chase scientists, Fox Chase board members and administrators and donors.

Anna Marie Skalka, Ph.D., scientific director for the Institute for Cancer Research and senior vice president for Fox Chase's basic science division, gave the opening remarks in the Center's auditorium.

"ICR scientists have made major contributions to the progress of science in each of the last five decades. Who would have dreamed in 1949 where science and ICR would be today? By the same token, how can we possibly predict the fantastic achievements to come in the future? One thing we can feel comfortable about predicting is that the ICR will continue to contribute to the foundations of scientific knowledge in profound ways, and that this work will continue to have important impacts on the understanding and treatment of cancer and other human diseases. . . Happy Birthday ICR."

The Institute for Cancer Research was founded in 1927 and moved to its current location in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia in 1949.

The event featured retrospective speeches and a video presentation, depicting 50 years of research at ICR. Subsequently, guests gathered again in the courtyard, now lit by candles, for a delicious buffet dinner.

For those of you who were not present, we hope you enjoy these pictures that capture moments of a spectacular evening.

In addition, the video presentation shown during the program is available for sale. For a copy of the video, please mail a $20 check (payable to Premiere Imaging) to: Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111; Attention: Mary Williamson. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the video will benefit Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of 36 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation. The Center's activities include basic and clinical research; prevention, detection and treatment of cancer; and community outreach programs.