Pfizer donates $1M to San Diego's Moores Cancer Center for early detection initiative - Times of San Diego
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| Representatives from UC San Diego and Pfizer gathered to celebrate the donation recently. |
Major funding aims to improve screening access for prostate cancer patients in underserved San Diego communities
Representatives from UC San Diego and Pfizer gathered to celebrate the donation recently. From left, Matthew Jenusaitis, MD, Chief Administrative Officer for UC San Diego Health; John M. Carethers, MD, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences; Jeffrey Settleman, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer; Diane M. Simeone, MD, Director of Moores Cancer Center; Elena Martinez, Associate Director of Population Science at Moores Cancer Center; Jesse Nodora, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Moores Cancer Center; and Kelly Farrell, Head of Business Operations, Oncology Research and La Jolla Affairs Site Lead for Pfizer. In welcome news for the prostate cancer community, UC San Diego's Moores Cancer Center recently received a $1 million donation from pharmaceutical company Pfizer to support a groundbreaking early cancer detection initiative that includes prostate cancer as one of its key focus areas.
The funds will establish the Early Detection and Prevention of Cancer Initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between research discoveries and community health centers while improving access to early detection tests for several cancers, including prostate cancer, which is of particular interest to our IPCSG members.
Focus on Prostate Cancer Screening
Moores Cancer Center researchers specifically identified prostate cancer as one of four target cancers for community engagement, based on its incidence and mortality rates in San Diego County, as well as currently low screening rates across the region.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the National Cancer Institute reports that approximately half of all cancers are detected at later stages, when treatment is less effective. For prostate cancer patients, early detection can dramatically improve survival rates and treatment outcomes.
Community-Based Implementation
To implement this initiative, Moores Cancer Center's Community Outreach and Engagement leaders will expand their preventative testing efforts by leveraging established networks with Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout San Diego County.
"This initiative is designed to address the unequal burden of cancer morbidity and mortality for our local community. Our goal is to save lives," said Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Dr. John M. Carethers.
The Center will partner with its community advisory board to increase participation in evidence-based screening approaches, with a particular focus on helping individuals with the greatest need in our community.
Advanced Research Opportunities
Beyond increasing screening access, the initiative will include the collection and management of data and biospecimens that can be used to study key scientific questions in prostate cancer research.
"Moores Cancer Center and our outstanding team of clinicians and researchers are ideally positioned to deliver innovative care delivery approaches and advanced diagnostic technologies to members of our communities with limited access to health care to identify cancer much earlier," explained Dr. Diane Simeone, Director of Moores Cancer Center.
Pfizer Partnership
With this transformational support, Pfizer has become the inaugural member of Moores Cancer Center's Foundational Partnership Program. This new partnership program aims to connect industry partners with the cancer center to foster collaborative relationships that streamline pathways of early detection, discovery, and treatment of cancer.
"We're proud to support the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center as they develop and implement community-focused initiatives to reach people living with cancer where they are, including improved local screening and prevention programs," said Jeffrey Settleman, Chief Scientific Officer for Oncology Research and Development at Pfizer.
What This Means for IPCSG Members
For our IPCSG community, this initiative represents a significant step forward in improving prostate cancer screening access throughout San Diego County, particularly for underserved populations.
As the program develops, IPCSG members may have opportunities to:
- Learn about new screening technologies and approaches
- Participate in community outreach efforts
- Stay informed about research advances stemming from the initiative
- Connect with broader resources at the Moores Cancer Center
We will continue to monitor developments with this initiative and provide updates as the program takes shape. For more information about Moores Cancer Center and its programs, visit moores.ucsd.edu.
UCSD-PFIZER: A DECADE OF COLLABORATION
The recent $1 million donation from Pfizer to UC San Diego's Moores Cancer Center builds upon a long-standing partnership between the pharmaceutical giant and the university that dates back to 2011.
Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI)
In August 2011, Pfizer and UCSD Health Sciences announced a major five-year partnership worth up to $50 million to establish a Center for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) at Pfizer's La Jolla campus. The collaboration aimed to accelerate the movement of promising drug candidates from laboratory research to clinical trials, bridging what industry experts call the "valley of death" in drug development.
La Jolla Research Hub
Pfizer's 25-acre La Jolla campus, with over 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities, serves as an innovation hub where UCSD scientists and Pfizer researchers work side-by-side. The campus focuses on oncology research and vaccine development, among other areas, making it a natural partner for Moores Cancer Center's initiatives.
Collaborative Model
The UCSD-Pfizer partnership exemplifies a new model of academic-industry collaboration. Unlike traditional relationships where pharmaceutical companies simply fund university research without guaranteed outcomes, this partnership involves joint project selection by experts from both organizations, with research focused on commercializable treatments.
Expanding Relationship
Over the years, the partnership has expanded beyond the CTI to include fellowship programs, such as the Pfizer-Cell Signaling San Diego Fellowship supporting doctoral and postdoctoral trainees, and now the Early Detection and Prevention of Cancer Initiative at Moores Cancer Center.
Mutual Benefits
For UCSD, the partnership provides crucial funding for translational research at a time of fluctuating federal grant support. For Pfizer, it offers access to cutting-edge academic science and helps replenish its drug development pipeline. Most importantly, for patients, these collaborations aim to accelerate the development of new treatments and diagnostic approaches.
The $1 million donation to Moores Cancer Center represents the latest chapter in this productive relationship, specifically targeting cancer screening and early detection efforts in San Diego County.
News Story Sources
- "Pfizer donates $1M to San Diego's Moores Cancer Center for early detection initiative." Times of San Diego. March 27, 2025.
https://timesofsandiego.com/health/2025/03/27/pfizer-donates-1m-to-san-diegos-moores-cancer-center-for-early-detection-initiative/ - "UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Receives $1M Donation from Pfizer for Early Cancer Detection." UC San Diego Today.
https://today.ucsd.edu/story/moores-cancer-center-receives-donation-from-pfizer-for-early-cancer-detection - "Pfizer donates $1M to San Diego's Moores Cancer Center for early detection initiative." NewsBreak. March 27, 2025.
https://www.newsbreak.com/times-of-san-diego-555715/3874968570742-pfizer-donates-1m-to-san-diego-s-moores-cancer-center-for-early-detection-initiative - "UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Receives $1M Donation from Pfizer for Early Cancer Detection." Newswise.
https://www.newswise.com/articles/uc-san-diego-moores-cancer-center-receives-1m-donation-from-pfizer-for-early-cancer-detection - "Community Outreach and Engagement." UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.
https://moorescancercenter.ucsd.edu/outreach/ - "UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center."
https://moorescancercenter.ucsd.edu/
UCSD-Pfizer Partnership Background Sources
- "UCSD Health Sciences Partners with Pfizer to Speed Drug Delivery." UC San Diego Health. August 15, 2017.
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/2011/Pages/08-08-pfizer-centers-for-therapeutic-innovation.aspx - "Pfizer, UCSD collaborating on early drug discovery." San Diego Union-Tribune. September 3, 2016.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sdut-pfizer-ucsd-collaborating-early-drug-discovery-2011aug08-story.html - "Pfizer UCSD Collaboration on Research – Through the Valley of Death." Policy Med. May 5, 2018.
https://www.policymed.com/2011/08/pfizer-ucsd-collaboration-on-research-through-the-valley-of-death.html - "Pfizer Expands California Centers For Therapeutic Innovation Five Year Partnership With UC San Diego Health Sciences To Accelerate Drug Discovery and Development." Pfizer Press Release.
https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer_expands_california_centers_for_therapeutic_innovation_five_year_partnership_with_uc_san_diego_health_sciences_to_accelerate_drug_discovery_and_development - "La Jolla, California." Pfizer.
https://www.pfizer.com/la-jolla-california - "Pfizer Oncology Fellowships." Cell Signaling San Diego.
https://cellsignaling.ucsd.edu/partnerships/Pfizer - "Partners." Pfizer.
https://www.pfizer.com/about/partners/research-and-business-development-partnerships - "Pfizer partners with UC San Diego in five-year deal worth as much as $50 million." Drug Discovery News.
https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/pfizer-partners-with-uc-san-diego-in-five-year-deal-worth-as-much-as-50-million-5192 - "Translational Research at UCSD Benefits from Collaboration in Uncertain Times." Biotech Calendar.
https://info.biotech-calendar.com/bid/69397/Translational-Research-at-UCSD-Benefits-from-Collaboration-in-Uncertain-Times
IPCSG is committed to keeping our members informed about advances in prostate cancer research, detection, and treatment options. This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission of supporting prostate cancer patients and their families through education and awareness.
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