Silicon Beach-Based Nonprofit Startup Cure Glioblastoma Launches Laboratory Operations and Appoints Drs. John Boockvar and Lisa Haile as Senior Fellows
On July 1, 2020, Cure Glioblastoma, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization focused on building awareness and solutions for glioblastoma—the most common and aggressive adult brain cancer—announced the appointments of its first Senior Fellows: John Boockvar, MD and Lisa Haile, JD, PhD. Senior Fellows are charged with supporting the organization’s initiatives and overall vision.
"Senior Fellows are more than advisors; they are integral members of the organization with a deep connection to the disease,” said, Cofounder and President of Cure Glioblastoma, W. Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD. “Cure Glioblastoma is unusual in that we are essentially a nonprofit biotech startup leading our own cutting-edge immunotherapy research programs through our newly launched laboratory operations at BioLabs LA at The Lundquist Institute. The involvement of the Senior Fellows is critical during these difficult times as we are actively seeking to grow the organization and scale our impact for the immediate benefit of patients.”
John Boockvar, MD, is Vice Chair of Lenox Hill Hospital Neurosurgery in New York City. He is a neurosurgeon-scientist and runs the Laboratory for Brain Tumor Biology at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. He is also a principal cast member in the new hit Netflix docuseries “Lenox Hill” which prominently features his clinical research and the journey of several of his glioblastoma patients. Dr. Boockvar stated, “It is truly an honor to be a founding Senior Fellow of Cure Glioblastoma. Defeating this complex disease will require synergy that comes from the marriage of knowledge, clinical and research tools, biotechnology, experience, a great team, and most importantly, a will to do things differently.”
“I’ve worked with Dr. Carbonell for nearly a decade in the industry,” said Lisa Haile, JD, PhD a Partner at DLA Piper LLP in San Diego, California with nearly 30 years of experience representing biopharma companies in intellectual property strategy and protection. Dr. Haile was the former co-chair of the Global Life Sciences Practice at DLA Piper for 15 years. She continued, “It is my absolute pleasure to join the fight and serve as a Senior Fellow in this unique new effort, particularly after having recently lost a close friend and colleague to this devastating disease.”
In addition to their ongoing internal research and development efforts, Cure Glioblastoma is working on several new initiatives including a curated clinical trials database, Junior Fellowships for trainees, a black student brain cancer research scholarship, a biotech startup fund, and promoting brain cancer awareness through its patient, influencer, and celebrity networks.
You can read the full press release here and learn more about Cure Glioblastoma here.
