City of Hope, a California-based cancer research and treatment organization with centers across the country, has announced a $150 million gift from entrepreneurs and philanthropists A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. and his daughter, Tessa Stephenson Brand, in support of pancreatic cancer research.

The gift includes creation of the annual Stephenson Prize, one of the largest privately funded awards for scientific investigation, which will award $1 million to a leading scientist or team making promising advancements in pancreatic cancer research, treatment, and cures. Funds will also support the establishment of the Stephenson Fellows Program, which will award grants to researchers and support their work in pancreatic cancer research, an annual symposium focused on pancreatic cancer, studies of novel immunotherapies and other groundbreaking clinical research, and a pancreatic biorepository at City of Hope to enhance genomic-informed patient care, aid in early disease detection, deepen understanding of cancer biology and immune response, and contribute to developing innovative therapies.

The gift was made in honor of Toni Stephenson—wife of A. Emmet and mother of Tessa—who, after surviving lymphoma, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2020.

“This initiative is a purposeful investment to spur ingenuity and ensure that the most promising advances move forward as fast as possible,” said A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. “We believe City of Hope is an excellent partner for this program to facilitate lifesaving work."

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