Michael E. Connolly Endowment for Lung Cancer Research

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer of men and women worldwide. The purpose of this endowment is to encourage existing faculty researchers to turn their attention specifically to investigations into the science of lung cancer and its treatments. Grants consisting of the interest from the $500,000 endowment with 100% matching funds from the Hendricks Fund will be offered to Upstate faculty members who propose to investigate lung cancer topics.

Upstate serves a 17-county region in Upstate New York, including Greater Binghamton and the Southern Tier, and continues to provide clinical care and research unmatched in this region. Additional research on the causes and cures of lung cancer and related malignancies is critical to saving the lives of lung cancer patients.

Michael Connolly was a hardworking family man and dedicated volunteer coach. He was a star football and baseball player at Binghamton North High School in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Despite his athletic background, and despite the fact that he did not smoke, Michael Connolly died from lung cancer in August 2002 at the age of 39. In the later months of Michael's life, he sought treatment at Upstate Medical University.

In 2004, Michael's wife Penny and son Ryan approached Upstate with a plan to honor the memory of Michael Connolly and his 22-month battle with lung cancer by raising much needed funds for lung cancer research. Their efforts have resulted in the establishment of the Michael E. Connolly Endowment for Lung Cancer Research at Upstate Medical University.

“Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer, yet it gets less funding than other types of cancer research,” stresses Fund Coordinator Leslie Kohman, M.D., distinguished service professor of surgery at University Hospital. "The benefits of expanded research into this deadly disease will be felt locally and nationally—but only with your help. Please join us in our fight to bring lung cancer research to the prominent position it deserves at Upstate Medical University."