Provided by Dr. Mary Neal and Ron Neal, the $25 million gift will fund translational research, attracting and retaining physician scientists focused on new cancer treatments, and expanding the cancer center’s impact within the Greater Houston community and beyond at all Houston Methodist Cancer Centers, according to the Nov. 19 announcement. The hospital system, meanwhile, will raise an additional $12 million in matching funds, bringing the total philanthropic impact of this gift to $37 million.
It is unclear when, but each of the hospital system’s seven Greater Houston cancer centers will be renamed to the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, a Houston Methodist spokesperson confirmed.
“Houston Methodist is humbled to have the support of Dr. Mary and Ron Neal to elevate the cancer center and build upon our legacy of excellence in cancer research and treatment,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist, in the announcement. “Their gift plays an important role in advancing our leading medicine mission and bringing potentially life-saving cancer treatments to more patients throughout Houston and the nation.”
The gift will bolster work from Dr. Jenny C. Chang, director of the Houston Methodist Cancer Center and Emily Herrmann presidential distinguished chair in cancer research, who has looked to advance cancer therapy through new targeted drugs that alter the tumor immune landscape of triple-negative breast cancer, according to the announcement.
“Our vision for the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center is to grow our network of cancer physicians offering comprehensive care with the latest technologies and clinical trials so that patients across the region have the best access to cancer care,” Chang said in the announcement. “While the gift from the Neal family will have direct impact for patients at the community level in areas that are often deserts for cancer care, my hope is that it will also propel our ongoing research and work to the national level toward NCI designation.”
