Officials at the Siteman Cancer Center recently announced a $10 million commitment from two of St. Louis’ leading corporations to expand vital research space and support and to help ensure people in and around St. Louis will have the newest cancer treatments close at hand.
This commitment will be used as a challenge to generate $20 million in additional matching support from the School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Siteman Cancer Center.
Emerson’s Charitable Trust and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation are contributing $6 million and $4 million, respectively. The challenge gift will further St. Louis’ role as home to a nationally recognized, robust cancer research and treatment program and meet some of Siteman’s highest priorities.
The first priority for funding through the Emerson-Busch grant is expansion of cancer research space and programs in a new cancer research facility. The basic and applied research supported by this gift distinguish the Siteman Cancer Center and are keys to finding new treatments and diagnostic techniques for cancer patients.
Siteman is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the region and one of only 61 in the country.
“We are deeply grateful for this generous gift to the Siteman Cancer Center,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “Just as collaboration is the cornerstone of Washington University’s renowned research environment and of its fruitful partnership with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, likewise this partnership between Emerson and Anheuser-Busch is a testament to the power of community-wide corporate leadership dedicated to a common goal.”
According to Patrick T. Stokes, president and chief executive officer of Anheuser-Busch Cos., the grant reflects a shared vision among the University, the School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and both companies.
“We’re proud to be helping this renowned facility to continue its leading-edge research,” Stokes said. “This commitment is a challenge to generate added excitement and matching support for Siteman’s highest priorities.”
David N. Farr, Emerson chief executive officer, added, “We remain hopeful that Siteman can harness new and better ways to attack cancer and ease the pain and suffering of the individuals and families it affects. It is our hope that the Emerson and Anheuser-Busch gift will inspire others to give generously to further this important work.”
The new research center in the eight-story Barnes-Jewish Hospital Southwest Tower will include laboratories and offices for 11 principal investigators and their research teams, plus necessary support space.
It will also house and promote expansion of research initiatives such as the Stem Cell Biology Program and the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, which is one of the top four of its kind in the United States.
“Expanding our facilities will not only enhance opportunities available to our current faculty, but also will help us continue to attract top-notch scientists,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, M.D., Siteman director and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor.
Emerson, which has been in business for 113 years, is one of the world’s leading manufacturing companies with operations around the globe. Its sophisticated process-control systems help ensure the efficient, safe and high-quality production of a range of products, from petroleum and chemicals to food products and pharmaceuticals.
Its climate-control technologies enable environmentally friendly, energy-efficient air conditioning and refrigeration for commercial and residential needs.
Anheuser-Busch and its charitable foundation donate funds to hundreds of charities each year. Contributions are generally focused on communities where Anheuser-Busch operates breweries and other major facilities and cover a wide range of local organizations.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is a diversified international corporation with interests in beer, packaging and family entertainment.
“For more than a century, both Emerson and Anheuser-Busch have been devoted to improving the St. Louis community,” Wrighton said. “This gift to enhance the Siteman Cancer Center is but one example of the generosity of these two companies to the St. Louis community.”