The Stanford Challenge
Leading the Way
What if we could detect and destroy a tumor long before it begins its devastating journey through the body? ... identify the genes that cause heart disease, then turn them off permanently? ... immunize people who are at high risk for stroke? ... prevent an outbreak of an emerging infectious disease before it crosses the border?
At Stanford University Medical Center, world-renowned scientists and clinicians are at the forefront of an immense undertaking to reveal the secrets of the diseases that afflict us, then apply those findings to preventive strategies and innovative therapies that will greatly diminish suffering and save lives — a process called translational medicine.
Change will happen here. We are the heirs to a remarkable legacy of groundbreaking discoveries in biomedical research. With our compelling record of scientific breakthroughs, our long tradition of providing expert and compassionate patient care, and our history of training the nation's top physicians and investigators, the building blocks for success are already in place.
The time is now. The Stanford Challenge, the first university-wide campaign of the new century, is a bold and ambitious venture dedicated to discovering new solutions to the global challenges before us and to educating the next generation of leaders who will take on those vast concerns. At Stanford University Medical Center, we have an essential role to play in this effort through our multidisciplinary funding priorities and through our involvement in the university's Initiative on Human Health, an unprecedented alliance of basic scientists, bioengineers, and physicians all working to build the fundamental base of knowledge from which new therapies, technologies, and cures will emerge.
Join us. We stand at the threshold of a pivotal time in medicine, one that has the potential to transform the way we treat and prevent disease. Stanford is dedicated to committing its considerable capabilities to this promise. But we cannot do it alone. Your support will propel us forward faster as we strive to create a healthier, more hopeful future for people everywhere. We invite you to be our partner in this great endeavor.
MARTHA H. MARSH
PRESIDENT AND CEO, STANFORD HOSPITAL & CLINICS
PHILIP A. PIZZO, MD
DEAN, STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
THE CARL AND ELIZABETH NAUMANN PROFESSOR
