Jill O’Donnell-Tormey retires after 37 years at the Cancer Research Institute

Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, CEO and Director of Scientific Affairs at Cancer Research Institute, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On August 26, I will retire after 37 years at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and having served as its chief executive officer and director of scientific affairs since 1993.

It has been a true honor and privilege to have lead CRI.

I have been lucky to have worked with a remarkable group of people that includes my dedicated staff, the Board of Trustees, our Scientific Advisory Committee, and our donors, who have supported, nurtured, inspired, and collaborated with me.

It has been extremely gratifying to see the pioneering work of CRI, which has been and will continue to be driven by scientific excellence, impact the field of cancer immunology and benefit millions of cancer patients.

I take deep pride in the growth CRI has experienced during my tenure.

Our research support grew from a single postdoctoral fellowship program to seven programs—Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowships, Immuno-Informatics Fellowships, Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program, Lloyd J. Old STARs, Technology Impact Award, Clinical Accelerator, and the Clinical Innovator—that support the entire continuum of discovery from basic and translational research to clinical trials.

We have introduced numerous resources to patients and their caregivers, providing much-needed information about cancer immunotherapy, including access to CRI-patient summits, webinars, patient stories, and ImmunoAdvocates.

Through these efforts we have reached more than two million patients and their families. This growth has been made possible by the individuals, foundations, and corporations who have believed in CRI’s mission and generously supported it.

Thanks to philanthropic support, I have seen our operating budget increase tenfold from $3 million to $32 million and our total assets increase from $2.3 million to $131 million.

I wish to thank all those who have given so generously to CRI.

I have been personally enriched by the many relationships that I have built over the years with our scientists, trustees, and donors. Together they have helped CRI deliver impact.

CRI scientists have pushed the boundaries of research and made the seminal discoveries that are changing the face of cancer care.

Our scientific advisors have been our expert talent scouts guaranteeing that donor’s dollars are used to fund the best and brightest investigators tackling the most important questions in cancer immunology.

CRI trustees have ensured that the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to the singular vision that the immune system could be harnessed to treat, control, and potentially cure all cancers. Our donors have fueled all that CRI has accomplished.

It is hard to imagine my life without CRI. I have been truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful organization.

I want to thank everyone that has made the past almost four decades so meaningful. Together we have made a difference, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished.

I look forward to CRI’s next chapter and know that the CRI family with all its passion, talent, expertise, and commitment will deliver on our collective vision of a world immune to cancer.”

Source: Jill O’Donnell-Tormey/LinkedIn