Fox Chase Cancer Center Celebrates a $20 Million Legacy of Philanthropy from Marvin and Concetta Greenberg

Fox Chase Cancer Center celebrated a gift of $10.8 million from the Estate of Concetta “Chet” Greenberg, an ardent champion of cancer research during her life. This gift is the culmination of many years of support, bringing Greenberg’s total giving to nearly $20 million for pancreatic cancer research at Fox Chase.

These funds will provide further support for The Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute at Fox Chase, which was established in 2017 with transformational funding from Greenberg. 

“So often, private philanthropy can be the difference between real discovery in cancer research and a good idea that holds promise but never advances beyond this point. Because of our Fox Chase Cancer Center friends and donors, we have outstanding support to advance our mission,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase.

The Greenberg Institute fosters collaborative efforts amongst the disciplines of basic biology, clinical medicine, and population science to provide the most advanced and comprehensive care for patients with pancreatic cancer. By employing both world-class research and clinical care programs, the institute’s members are committed to achieving breakthroughs in both early detection and treatment options for this devastating disease.

Greenberg’s support also funds two endowed chairs:

• The Marvin S. Greenberg, MD, Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery, bestowed last year upon Sanjay S. Reddy, MD, FACS. John Hoffman, MD, had previously held the chair from its establishment in 2008 until his retirement.
• The Marvin & Concetta Greenberg Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research, bestowed upon Edna “Eti” Cukierman, PhD in 2023 as its inaugural holder. 

An exceptionally dedicated clinician, Reddy is passionate about providing the highest-quality care fueled by the latest advances in pancreatic cancer research and surgical techniques. He joined Fox Chase’s faculty in 2014 after completing a two-year surgical oncology fellowship at Fox Chase under the mentorship of Hoffman.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology, he also serves as Associate Program Director of Fox Chase’s Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship in addition to being a Co-Director of the Greenberg Institute. Reddy has extensive training in traditional open surgery, as well as advanced laparoscopic and robotic techniques. 

Cukierman is Co-Leader of Fox Chase’s Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program and Co-Director of the Greenberg Institute. Her research focuses on pancreatic cancer, specifically, the fibrous scar-like tissue cells that make up most of the tumor microenvironment of the pancreas and influence how tumors develop and grow. 

Cukierman came to Fox Chase in 2002 after completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Craniofacial Developmental Biology and Regeneration Branch of the NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Impressively, she has been funded by the National Cancer Institute continuously since 2004.

Her research is largely translational in nature, guided by insights made in the clinic. This approach has earned her unique recognition as a fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association. Among her many honors, she became the first Fox Chase faculty member to be awarded the American Cancer Society’s prestigious Wilmott Family Professorship in Pancreatic Cancer earlier this fall.

One of the most generous donors in Fox Chase history, Greenberg was an ardent champion of cancer research until her death in 2021, just before her 100th birthday. She had a clear vision for Fox Chase: to eradicate the disease that claimed the life of her beloved husband Marvin.

“Because of Mrs. Greenberg and her unwavering belief in us, our work doesn’t stop with discovery. We’re able to deliver on our mission. In her boldness, she gave us the resources to secure our place as a definitive leader in this very challenging area of oncology,” said Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD, Cancer Center Director.