Keith A. Landesman
Memorial Fund

Each year, the Landesmans bring together an ever-growing community to raise funds to support cancer immunotherapy research. Since 2013, the Keith Landesman Memorial Fundraiser has generated more than $2.5 million in support of the Cancer Research Institute (CRI)’s postdoctoral fellows, whose groundbreaking work deepens our understanding of cancer and its relationship to the immune system — fueling discovery, innovation, and hope.

Remembering Dr. Keith Landesman

Dr. Keith Landesman was many things: a devoted father, a loving husband, and a cherished son. He was also a practicing cardiologist, remembered by those who knew him for his kindness, warmth, and genuine desire to help others. In 2008, at just 37 years old, Keith lost his life to cancer of undetermined etiology—an unexpected and devastating loss for his family and loved ones.

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From Loss to Purpose

In the wake of Keith’s passing, Jane and Dick Landesman, MD, began fundraising almost immediately, participating in events such as Relay for Life and organizing silent auctions. Determined to do even more to support cancer research, they went on to launch an annual golf tournament fundraiser at their home in Connecticut, a tradition they continued after moving the event to the Sailfish Community in Florida.

Today, the fundraiser has grown into a true community-wide effort. Hundreds of people come out to participate in the activities, which have included walking, biking, golf-carting, or any activity in memory of a loved one. The day of activity is followed by an evening of food and fun, with speakers from cancer research labs and fundraising organizations. Homes throughout the neighborhood proudly display signs in support of the cause, united by a shared goal: finding a cure for cancer.

“They don’t want anyone else to ever have to go through what they went through, and that’s what makes them so passionate about this.”

Through these efforts, the Landesmans honor Keith’s life and legacy by supporting postdoctoral fellows whose innovative immunotherapy research expands our understanding of cancer and the immune system.

Extraordinary Impact for Cancer Research

A defining goal of the Landesmans’ philanthropy is to support researchers approaching cancer from diverse scientific angles—particularly early-career scientists who might otherwise be unable to pursue their work due to limited funding. Since 2013, their annual fundraiser has raised more than $2.5 million to support these promising young investigators at the forefront of discovery.

The research funded through the Keith Landesman Memorial Fund spans a wide range of cancer types and immune system pathways, all united by a shared mission: to create a world immune to cancer.

See below for the names of these fellows and the extraordinary work they’re doing.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

In recognition of their remarkable dedication, Jane and Dick Landesman were honored at CRI’s 2025 Gala with the Oliver R. Grace Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer Research. The award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership has helped advance cancer research through fundraising, advocacy, and awareness.

Keith’s family continues to honor his legacy with pride and purpose. Through their ongoing support of CRI, they have helped empower countless young scientists whose work may one day offer more hope—and more time—to patients and families around the world.

“I think he would be so unbelievably proud that his legacy lives on through these events. This is a fundraiser for the Cancer Research Institute. And this is our family’s way of honoring and remembering Keith.”

CRI – Dr. Keith Landesman Memorial Fellows

Through the generous support of Jane and Dick Landesman and their entire community of donors, CRI has provided support to ten CRI Dr. Keith Landesman Memorial Fellows. Their work is deepening our understanding of how immunotherapies can be harnessed across many cancer types, including breast, colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancers, glioblastoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma.

• Tara Muijlwijk, PhD, New York University School of Medicine
  Defining tumor and immune co-evolution in cutaneous melanoma lymph node metastasis
• Seongyeol Park, MD, PhD, Stanford University 
  Organ-specific cancer-immune co-evolution in metastatic breast cancer 
• Peter Wang, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital 
  Targeting nerve injury to improve anti-tumor responses in pancreatic cancer 
• Yitong Ma, PhD, Stanford University
  Programmable delivery of therapeutic gene editing molecules by engineered immune cells
• Xizhi Guo, PhD, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  Investigating the role of GATA4 in immune modulation during lung tumorigenesis
• Yimeng Zhu, PhD, Columbia University
  The role of DNA-PK in DNA repair and ribosomal RNA processing
• Chang-Suk Chae, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine
  Incessant ER stress responses promote dendritic cell dysfunction in ovarian cancer
• Amanda Poisonnier, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University
  Relieving immune suppressive pathways in breast cancer to improve outcomes
• Jun Ren, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
  Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to improve immunotherapy of glioblastoma
• Nicola Gagliani, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine
  Targeting Th17 cell plasticity to control colorectal cancer development

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Why CRI? Why immunotherapy?

Conquering cancer in our lifetime with immunotherapy will require more research in laboratories and clinics around the world. Your support of the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) will help us get there sooner. CRI pioneered the field of immunotherapy, providing support for researchers since 1953. Today, CRI is leading the way in funding innovative research, fostering scientific collaboration, and educating the public about the power of immunotherapy.

Thanks to decades of research, immunotherapy has become a new way to treat cancer by harnessing our own immune system’s innate power to find and eliminate cancer. 30+ types of cancer are now treated with immunotherapy with 45% of newly diagnosed patients eligible for immunotherapy. In the past year, the FDA has approved 17 new immunotherapies. More treatments are in the pipeline for many other types of cancer. Truly, a revolution in cancer treatment has begun.

This year, more than 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 600,000 will die of cancer. Worldwide, cancer claims the lives of more than 10 million people each year. It’s a global health crisis that will worsen unless we do something now to stop cancer in its tracks. By supporting the Keith A. Landesman Memorial Fundraiser, you can help us create a world immune to cancer.