Grants & Presentations

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s 2019 GIST Education Conference & Luncheon

The GIST Educational Conference and Luncheon was held on May 7, 2019 at OHSU Cancer Institute. Presenters were: Brian Druker, M.D., Director, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Christopher Corless, M.D. Ph.D., Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, OHSU Knight Diagnostic Laboratories, Joseph Bubalo, Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Tracy Havnar, R.N., B.S.N. Clinical Research Nurse, Lilli Klugm PH.D., Jason Kent, Graduate Student and Michael Heinrich, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Cell/Developmental Biology. A special presentation was made by Dr. Brian Druker, developer of the lifesaving drug Gleevec, to Tania Stuntman, chairperson of GCRF to celebrate her 70th birthday. After the conference, Robert Stutman and GCRF Board Members Pamela Fedowich and Karen Turano present check to Dr. Heinrich to support GIST Cancer Research.



The GIST Cancer Research Fund (GCRF) is a non-profit 501(C)(3) charity and was founded to support the research that is vital to the long-term survival of GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) patients. GIST cancer centers and institutions across the United States depend on the funds from the GIST Cancer Research Fund to increase the understanding of what makes GIST so rare. Scientific study has helped to advance the diagnosis and treatment of GIST in children and adults but so much more is needed to someday find a cure. But this takes a lot of money to accomplish.

The GCRF team is committed to eradicating this devastating cancer through increased awareness and raising money to furthering the cause for research that is absolutely essential for GIST’s cure. We award Annual Grants to these leading cancer research institutions:

• Brigham & Women's Hospital 
Dana Farber Cancer Institution
 • Boston, MA

• Fox Chase Cancer Center
 • Philadelphia, PA

• Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
 • New York, NY

• Oregon Health Sciences University Cancer Institute • Portland, Oregon

• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center  • Pittsburgh, PA

GCRF donates 100% of its fundraising directly to GIST cancer research. Throughout the year, the GCRF Board travels to the GIST research institutions around the country to present their grant award. Each grant presentation affords anyone touched by GIST, to a wonderful opportunity to meet and interface with the best GIST doctors and researchers in the country, as well as with their staff and the administrators of these top ranked cancer facilities that specialize in GIST. Each of the researchers provide an educational forum as part of the grant award program. This gives an opportunity to the GIST community to receive the most current information on the research work being done for GIST.

Research Checks Presented to Memorial Sloan Kettering/Penn Medicine GIST Cancer Research Doctors

The GIST Cancer Research Fund’s Tania and Robert Stutman attended the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on May 31 and presented checks to MSKCC Research Doctors, Dr. Cristina R. Antonescu, MD, MSKCC and Dr. Ping Chi, MD, PhD and Penn Medicine Research Doctor, Ronald P. DeMatteo, MD, FACS. Each respective doctor gave updates on the most recent research and achievements in GIST Cancer clinical treatments. A special presentation in honor of Eleanor Svendi, who passed away from GIST Cancer, was made to her family. Eleanor was a bright star and champion for GCRF and a finding a cure. We will never forget her!

Dr. Ron DeMatteo and GCRF Chairwoman, Tania Stutman

Eleanor Svendi with Dr. Margaret Von Mehren and Dr. Cristina Antonescu

The Svendi Family

Accepting GCRF research checks (L to R): Ronald P. DeMatteo, MD, FACS, Penn Medicine, Dr. Cristina R. Antonescu, MD, MSKCC and Dr. Ping Chi, MD, PhD, MSKCC

Dr. Ping Chi and GCRF Robert Stutman

GCRF Board Members, Tania Stuntman and Pam Fedowich

A Message of Thanks for the GIST Cancer Research Fund from Jonathan A. Fletcher, MD

An update and message of thanks for the GIST Cancer Research Fund from Jonathan A. Fletcher, MD, and his team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital: (in order of appearance) Nacef Bahri, Alexandra Lauria, Meijun Zhu, MD, Bin Li, MD, PhD, Stacy Yanofsky, Armelle Dufresne, MD, PhD, Wenbin Ou, PhD, and Anastasios (Tasos) Kyriazoglou, MD, PhD.