Mary DeRome, Translational Research Manager
As Translational Research Manager
“This is so much more immediate.
patients. What
for the MMRF, Mary DeRome helps
Science is never boring because you’re
we do impacts
scientists conduct preclinical research.
always learning something new. Here,
them directly, and
This research helps transfer knowledge
when results come out, they will be
the answers we get
about multiple myeloma from the
disseminated among our partners and
from using their samples helps
laboratory to the clinic.
potentially translated into a clinical trial. all multiple myeloma patients.”
The speed is very gratifying.”
Mary is well suited to “enabling
In addition to providing tissue, analysis,
scientists to do their work,” as she puts
“We are constantly speaking with our
and other tools for facilitating research,
it. She comes to the MMRF with a BS
academic and industry partners about
Mary directs the MMRF’s competitive
in Chemistry, an MS in Molecular/Cell
new avenues of research. For example,
peer-reviewed grant programs. But
Biology, and an extensive scientific and
if they have ideas for therapy in a
unlike at other foundations, “here,
investigative background. She spent 12
different type of cancer that we think
grant-making is only a part of what we
years as a senior investigator in oncology
might be good for our patients, we will
do. Other foundations are not involved
drug discovery at Bayer HealthCare,
work with them to develop the idea and in data generation, clinical trial start-up
then seven years in nano-technology
help provide resources to investigate
and patient enrollment, which help
vaccine development at Artificial Cell
its use in our patient population. It’s an
speed the discovery of a cure for multiple
Technologies. “I worked in pharma for 12
excellent model — we’re a small, lean
myeloma. We are doing work that has
years, but that is not like this.”
organization. We’re very close to the
not been done.”
Michael Hund, Director of Development
Michael Hund,
very lofty goal. Every day I’m motivated
From Michael’s perspective, “We’re giving
Director of
by the fact that we are within grasp
people the opportunity to change the
Development for the
of finding a cure for this illness and I
entire landscape of how cancer research
MMRF, was raised on
believe it with every