Turning a devastating loss into life-saving action.

Max Vincze Foundation Empowers Research for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers

April 2022 - The Max Vincze Foundation, established by Craig and Suzanne Vincze in loving memory of their late son Max, declares its commitment to financing research focused on adolescent and young adult cancers. In the aftermath of Max's tragic battle against NUT Carcinoma and the realization that viable treatment options were lacking, the Vincze family is determined to transform their heartbreaking loss into life-saving initiatives.

NUT Carcinoma, an aggressive and fatal cancer primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, has presented significant challenges due to the limited attention and research funding dedicated to this specific age group. Despite remarkable advancements in cancer treatments over the past decades, combating this rare and deadly disease has experienced alarmingly slow progress. Shockingly, only 4% of government funding in the United States is allocated to rare cancer research, despite these cancers accounting for 40% of cancer-related deaths.

Motivated by their unyielding dedication to spare other families the anguish of losing a cherished loved one like Max, the Vincze family established the Max Vincze Foundation. Its primary mission is to provide essential funding for research on adolescent and young adult cancers, with a particular focus on discovering new treatments for NUT Carcinoma and other related cancers.

In pursuit of this objective, the Max Vincze Foundation has joined forces with Dr. Christopher French, a renowned research pathologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Dr. French is the sole researcher in the United States dedicated to studying NUT Carcinoma, making him the world's leading authority on this disease. Despite minor breakthroughs during his 18-year tenure, Dr. French has faced frustratingly slow progress due to limited funding resources.

Thanks to the private funding from the Max Vincze Foundation, Dr. Christopher French, M.D., and his colleague, Dr. Geoffrey Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D., are now spearheading groundbreaking research in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They are actively designing clinical trials with the aim of developing innovative medicines and treatments specifically tailored to cancers affecting adolescents and young adults.

The Max Vincze Foundation stands as a beacon of hope, ensuring that no other family endures the heart-wrenching loss experienced by the Vincze family. By fostering advancements in research and treatment, the foundation strives to preserve the lives of young individuals who are full of vitality and embrace the joys of life, just as Max did.