L I G H T Neuroscience Research Program

L I G H T research program established in honor of Leslye K. Indenbaum

A gift of $3 million was made by the Herrick Foundation to Henry Ford Health System’s Hermelin Brain Tumor Center to help advance the treatment of -- and someday find a cure for - malignant gliomas.

This gift was made in memory of Leslye K. Indenbaum, who died Jan. 6, 2012, at age 50 after a hard fought battle against the disease. The Herrick Foundation made this gift in Leslye’s name in the sincere hope that the research it supports will soon provide patients diagnosed with this disease better treatment options and more hopeful and positive outcomes.

Leslye was a beloved patient who showed grace and strength and although she lost her battle with glioma, her spirit and determination will live on in this program. In her honor, the LIGHT (Leslye Indenbaum Glioma Hope from Therapy) Research Program was established to help countless patients just like Leslye, into the future.

Gliomas account for 77 percent of all malignant, or cancerous, brain tumors. There are no clear causes for these tumors, which infiltrate normal brain tissue, significantly complicating treatment and making surgical removal extremely difficult. While this type of brain tumor affects all ages, it is more common in adults.

Today, any patient diagnosed with a malignant glioma has few treatment options and a bleak prognosis. But, researchers/scientists at Henry Ford and other centers are confident meaningful progress is being made.

The Herrick Foundation’s gift will specifically fund research led by Hermelin Brain Tumor Center Co-Director Tom Mikkelsen, M.D., who said, “We currently have a number of ongoing clinical trials of molecularly targeted drugs, which we are working to have approved. We already are looking for the next breakthrough, including the study of tumor stem cells and other approaches.”

Because of researchers like Tom Mikkelsen and the efforts like those in honor of Leslye Indenbaum, an answer will be found someday. Leslye’s determination lives on in her family. Michael Indenbaum, Leslye’s husband, and her three daughters -- Shoshana, Alyssa and Lily are committed to helping the Henry Ford Neuroscience doctors and scientists find a cure. Increasing the awareness of this disease, helping to raise funds for advanced research and educating patients and loved ones about the options for their care are ways that everyone can participate.

The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford Hospital has long been a national leader in the research and development of advanced brain tumor therapies. It is also one of only 15 brain tumor centers nationwide -- the only center in Michigan -- participating in the National Cancer Institute’s Adult Brain Tumor Consortium, a broad-based initiative to develop the most advanced care for patients in the United States.

Please join the Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute, The Herrick Foundation and the Indenbaum Family and countless others in the fight against gliomas. Please make a gift today and help us get the word out about the LIGHT Research Fund and the work that is being done at Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute.