The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) celebrated its ten-year anniversary and “New Frontiers” in the field of cancer gene therapy research with a gala benefit on April 19, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.  More than 450 supporters of ACGT and 30+ of the nation’s top cancer research scientists gathered to celebrate progress that has been made in the field.  The event raised more than $1.4 million, of which 100 percent will go directly toward funding new grants and clinical trials using cancer gene therapy.

Marking this decade of scientific advancement, ACGT also honored the life of ACGT’s visionary co-founder, Edward Netter (1932-2011), by presenting the first ever ACGT “Partnership” award to Barbara Netter, Ed’s wife who co-founded ACGT with her husband, and who is continuing on today with the organization’s quest to find a better treatment for cancer.

Robert Bazell, the Emmy award-winning chief science and health correspondent for NBC News, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Dennis Clegg, professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, was the featured scientist at the dinner.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) is the nation’s only non-profit dedicated exclusively to cell and gene cancer therapy research.  ACGT is unusual in that 100 percent of all contributions go directly to research, and fund grants with leading scientists in the U.S.  To learn more about ACGT, visit http://www.ACGTFoundation.org.