Aug. 5, 2011 — Neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Linskey and neuro-oncologist Dr. Daniela Bota have received a second $250,000 gift from philanthropists Sue and Ralph Stern to support ongoing research and treatment for malignant spinal cord and brain tumors.
The latest gift to the co-directors of UC Irvine’s Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program brings the grateful family's total donation to $500,000. The first gift followed the doctors’ successful treatment of Sue’s spinal cord tumor in 2009.
"We are grateful for the Sterns’ generosity and their enthusiasm for the work we are doing to improve the standard of care for spinal cord and brain tumor patients,” says Dr. Linskey.
“This thoughtful gift will help us maintain technology and talent, as well as continue to promote the research efforts that are essential to a world-class tumor research and treatment program," he adds. "We will continue the promising tumor biology research that we hope leads to clinical trials and perhaps, one day, a cure for these debilitating tumors."
An estimated 64,530 new cases of primary non–malignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2011, according to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States. Drs. Linskey and Bota lead the only comprehensive neurooncology program in Orange County, treating, on average, more than 300 patients a year.