A gathering of scientists might not seem very glamorous, but the cancer researchers who came together at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich Thursday evening were celebrities at a gala marking the 10th anniversary of a local nonprofit that has provided more than $22.5 million to help investigate innovative therapies.

The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy celebrated its founding 10 years ago by Greenwich residents Barbara and Edward Netter, who decided to raise money for research into gene therapy after losing their daughter-in-law to breast cancer.

The event Thursday served as a tribute to Edward, who died last February. It also allowed the scientists to gather and discuss the cutting-edge research they are doing, and how the Alliance can help along the often painstakingly slow process of bringing new therapies to the market.

A few years ago, during the event celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Alliance, the scientists' discussion led to the eventual awarding of grants that recently paid off with a major breakthrough.

The nonprofit had already been funding so-called young investigators conducting exploratory research.

"We also envisioned there was a lack of science and clinical development," said Dr. Savio Woo, chairman of the Alliance's scientific advisory council. "You need to test patients."

Since then, the Alliance has begun giving out its Fund for Advancement awards, which provide up to $1 million to scientists conducting research that will move cell and gene therapies from the laboratory toward clinical trials.

Last year, an Alliance-funded gene therapy trial at the University of Pennsylvania caused two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia to go into complete remission, and significantly reduced the cancer in a third patient.

Dr. Carl June, who headed the small trial, which genetically modified the patients' own T-cells to target and kill the tumors, called the gathering Thursday a "celebration" of the work the Alliance has been supporting.

"After a decade, it's clear there are going to be FDA-approved products in cell and gene therapy that there weren't 10 years ago," June said.

Read more:
Greenwich gala celebrates cancer therapy breakthrough

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