Lawrence gift to boost bone disease research, clinical activities at BCM, M. D. Anderson

HOUSTON -- (December 11, 2008) -- Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence have given the Bone Disease Program of Texas $4 million to expand clinical care and research activities at its two collaborating institutions -- The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The Lawrence family made a $2 million gift in 2000 to launch the program. To honor them for their generosity and active role in raising awareness of bone disease, the two institutions have named their collaborative program the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas.

people at the ceremony announcing the Lawrences' gift

From left: Dr. Brendan Lee, director of the Lawrence Bone Disease Program and professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM; Berdon and Rolanette Lawrence; Dr. John Mendelsohn, M. D. Anderson president; Dr. William T. Butler, BCM interim president; and Dr. Robert F. Gagel, head of the Division of Internal Medicine at M. D. Anderson

"I've been very pleased with the success of the Bone Disease Program over the past few years and Rolanette and I hope this gift will allow the Bone Disease Program to be even more successful," said Berdon Lawrence.

The gift, shared equally among the two institutions, will provide for the program's continued growth.

"This is an exciting day for M. D. Anderson and Baylor College of Medicine. Because of the generosity of Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence, a pivotal collaboration between M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine has been achieved in the area of bone disease," said M. D. Anderson president Dr. John Mendelsohn. "The Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas represents how forward thinking and strategic action truly impact lives. This program has the potential to help millions of people affected by bone disease both now and for years to come, and we are extraordinarily grateful for the active role the Lawrences have played in its establishment. Certainly it has become the premier bone disease program in Texas."

"We are appreciative of the generosity the Lawrences have shown in the development of the Bone Disease Program," said BCM Interim President Dr. William T. Butler. "Their continued support has allowed Baylor and M. D. Anderson to expand clinical and research endeavors related to bone disease and we look forward to continuing this truly collaborative effort."

Support previously provided by the Lawrence family created the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence annual research grants, which have funded two grants each year for the past four years. These grants and the results they have produced have led to the program's expansion and attracted talented scientists to the field of bone research.

The recent gift will be used to establish the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence research grants in perpetuity and continue to support and expand core facilities necessary for bone research. The gift also will provide seed funding for additional research, enabling scientists to provide proof of concept that their ideas work and allowing them to successfully compete for additional funding.

"This is a milestone in collaboration. We look forward to expanding clinical care and research programs at BCM, and collaborating further with our partner institution M. D. Anderson," said Dr. Brendan Lee, director of the Lawrence Bone Disease Program and professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM. "This funding will also enable us to draw talented investigators to this field who may not have otherwise explored research in bone disease."

The funding also will be used to expand the clinical program at BCM, to recruit additional research faculty and to provide ongoing support for core facilities. It will also be used to support the establishment of a clinical program within the departments of human genetics and internal medicine focused on delivery of personalized genetic medicine in bone health, as well as the recruitment of a high quality clinician/bone-biologist.

At M. D. Anderson, the gift will be used to expand and further develop the Section of Metabolic Bone Disease in the Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and recruit faculty focused on the relationship between cancer and bone or bone loss in patients with cancer.

"The commitment by Rolanette and Berdon not only has included generous financial support, but also includes their active encouragement of young investigators and their continued interest in the progress of the program," said Dr. Robert F. Gagel, head of the Division of Internal Medicine at M. D. Anderson. "Their support has made it possible to put 'bone' on the map in the Texas Medical Center. We anticipate continued growth and development, and this new support creates pivotal and exciting momentum. We are extremely optimistic about future decades of scientific breakthroughs that will help the millions of people who experience or will be faced with the challenges of osteoporosis, spread of cancer to bone and other bone diseases."