Abbruzzese To Be Honored At Caring House Gala

Caring House, a lodging facility for Duke cancer patients receiving outpatient care, will host its annual Benefit Gala at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club On Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

This year's gala honors James Abbruzzese, MD, chief of the Division of Medical Oncology and director of Clinical Research at Duke Cancer Institute. Abbruzzese is one of the world's foremost leaders in the clinical study and treatment of pancreatic cancer. His research focuses on the development of novel therapeutic agents for pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Abbruzzese has held National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NCI) grants in phase I and phase II drug development, a translational research grant from the NCI assessing novel anti-angiogenic agents in cancer patients, and a SPORE grant focused on the development of novel therapies for pancreatic cancer.

"Dr. Abbruzzese has co-authored more than 400 research pubications and has served as the chair of the Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee of the National Cancer Institute," said Sheridan van Wagenberg, executive director, Caring House. "He currently serves on the editorial board of a number of prestigious journals, including as deputy editor of the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research. He also serves on the scientific advisory board for Pancreatic Cancer United Kingdom. For the exceptional clinical care he provides and his unwavering dedication to advancing science, Dr. Abbruzzese deserves this honor."

For more than 25 years Caring House has provided a home away from home for cancer patients treated at Duke Cancer Institute. Caring House features 18 beautiful rooms, a great room, library, laundry room, gym and a fully equipped community kitchen. Funds raised through Caring House's annual gala support guests during their cancer treatment at Duke Cancer Institute.

For more information, please visit Caring House or contact Sasha Zarzour, director of Annual Giving, Caring House, at 919.490.5449.