The Suzanne Wright Foundation advocates for HARPA, the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency, to drive innovation in biomedical research.
Despite medical innovation over the last century, millions of Americans with deadly and debilitating conditions have seen no progress….
There are more than 9,000 known diseases, yet there are approved treatments for only 500.
Two out of five Americans have a disease with no cure.
HARPA would leverage federal research assets and private sector tools to develop capabilities for diseases that have not benefited from the current system.
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Bob Wright established the Suzanne Wright Foundation in honor of his wife Suzanne, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2016. 91% of patients die from this disease- most within the first year of diagnosis. CodePurple is a Suzanne Wright Foundation initiative to drive urgency and action in the fight against pancreatic cancer. The improvement in survival rates for breast, colon, prostate and other cancers demonstrates how the power of advocacy and focused funding can drive research and save lives. Pancreatic cancer is an emergency that requires an innovative, focused approach. Bob Wright and the Suzanne Wright Foundation have proposed the federal initiative HARPA, a Health Advanced Research Projects Agency, to build life-saving capabilities for diseases that have not benefited from the current system.
READ MORE ABOUT USAugust 17, 2018
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On August 16, 2018 Aretha Franklin died from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. She was 76.
The Queen of Soul shared her incredible talent with the world, and inspired us all with her spirit and grace.
Her family’s statement: “Franklin’s official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute.”
More than 54,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, and more than 44,000 patients will die from the disease. Despite medical advances, there have been no improvements in the mortality rate– more than 91%. Nothing has changed in more than 40 years! We need a new approach.
With no early detection test, more than 85% of patients are diagnosed in an advanced stage. Developing an early detection test for pancreatic cancer would dramatically increase the chances of survival, by catching the disease before it spreads. We continue to advocate for HARPA as the most effective way to develop a detection test and curative treatments for pancreatic cancer.
“Aretha Franklin was a legend who shared her gift with all of us for decades. Her death from pancreatic cancer should be an urgent wake up call to the federal government that the current research model for this disease is not working. There has been no improvement in the mortality rate – 91%! – since Nixon declared the “war on cancer” in 1971. There is still no early detection test or curative treatment. What is taking so long? We need a new approach. HARPA is the most effective way to develop an early detection test for this deadly disease and save thousands of lives. We can do this now.” –Bob Wright, Frmr Vice Chair GE & Chair NBCU; Founder, The Suzanne Wright Foundation; Co-Founder, Autism Speaks
June 25, 2018
A segment from “The Patients Are Waiting: How HARPA Will Change Lives Now”
July 29, 2018
Two years ago today, we lost Suzanne Wright to pancreatic cancer. She was an incredible force, and we channel her energy and passion each and every day.
Nearly 86,000 people have died from pancreatic cancer since Suzanne Wright’s death. We #DemandANewApproach in honor of everyone we have lost to this deadly disease. We need bold action to save lives.
Suzanne lives on in the work she did, the lives she changed, and in the memories of her family and friends. Today, we honor her and those memories.
The Suzanne Wright Foundation is dedicated to driving urgency and action in the fight against pancreatic cancer—the most deadly of all major cancers. 91% of patients die. This is an emergency. This is #CodePurple.
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Checks should be made payable to “The Suzanne Wright Foundation” and mailed to:
THE SUZANNE WRIGHT FOUNDATION
610 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 605
NEW YORK, NY 10020
