Support for trainees ensures a bright future for BRCA science

Minh Than, MD, PhD, is not only the lead author of a groundbreaking preclinical study on pancreatic cancer interception in Science, but an emblem of the future of research on cancer interception and related discoveries to help people at elevated hereditary risk of cancer. He is a recipient of the philanthropically supported Basser Center for BRCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

The fellowship owes its origins, in part, to Ilana Katz Sand, MD, and Michael Sand, Basser Center Advisory Board members who also gladly offer their Penn pride as 2003 Wharton alumni, along with philanthropy and personal experience.

Training investigators across a range of disciplines—basic and translational science, implementation and behavioral science, preventive medicine, bioinformatics, and clinical trials—fellows work alongside a Basser Core Investigator and receive funding to advance their independent research.

Significant changes to how biomedical research is funded in the United States are having impacts on scientist and physician training. This is above and beyond the pressures already experienced by young investigators.

“People may not realize that the availability of guaranteed funding is something that residents weigh when deciding whether or not they want to pursue research and continue their training—and which field to pursue, since many have multiple interests,” Ilana explained.

“I have gone through the experience of being a trainee, selecting a fellowship program, building a career in clinical research, and, now, mentoring trainees. I have witnessed friends and colleagues who are incredibly bright—and could have done great science—let go of their research potential because of a lack of guaranteed funding.”

The competitive Basser Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides support for one postdoctoral fellow for three years or the last two years of training for a clinical fellow like Than. They are offered salaries, benefits, and additional funds to advance their research.

In addition to full-time effort in the lab or clinic, the fellows forge collaborations, establish professional networks, and delve deeper into the clinical aspects of BRCA1/2-associated disease. Basser fellows are frequently at the front lines of the Basser Cancer Interception Institute’s work to stop BRCA-related cancers, such as prostate, pancreatic, breast, and ovarian cancer, at their earliest stages.

Service fueled by personal experience and Penn pride

It is a personal connection to BRCA mutations and inherited cancers that moved Ilana and Michael to become involved in biomedical research. They found themselves inspired by the vision and generosity of fellow Penn alumni and Basser Center founders Mindy and Jon Gray, both from the Class of 1992; the leadership of Basser Professor in Oncology and Basser Center Executive Director Susan Domchek, MD; and the powerful scientific team that was assembled to make the Basser Center a reality.

“Also, their global approach to funding medical research has led to remarkable advances in such a short period of time,” Michael shared. “The fact that this incredible Center was growing at our alma mater was so meaningful to us.”

Michael is a managing director at the private equity firm American Securities and serves on the Boards of Directors of several companies owned by American Securities, as well as the Rodeph Sholom School. Ilana is associate director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai: a role that involves clinical care, research, education, and administration.

A glimpse into one promising future

Than, who is already making headlines in the cancer world due to the pancreatic cancer interception study, was directly supported by the Sands’ gift.

“This study shows us the power of being proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to cancer,” Than said. “It will be exciting to evaluate this in our patients in the next phase of this work.”

As he completes his clinical and research fellowship in Hematology-Oncology, Than is transitioning to join the Penn faculty in July. (The study itself received funding from the Basser Center and other generous philanthropic support.)

A 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Young Investigator Award recipient, Than recently presented his research at its prestigious annual meeting: his first time sharing his work in any scientific forum. Soon after the 2026 AACR conference, he went on to this year’s two-day Basser Scientific Symposium.

“I’m really excited to talk about cancer interception, see how people receive it, and get feedback,” Than said. “I think all of that experience is going to really help shape what we do in the future."

And he is already considered an inventor—with Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center, and Ben Stanger, MD, PhD, the Hanna Wise Professor in Cancer Research and director of the Penn Pancreatic Cancer Research Center—on a provisional patent application.

“As an investor, I can’t think of a better investment to make than in helping a young researcher start their career,” Michael concluded. “Those researchers will make contributions to their fields, set up new departments across the world, teach new researchers and raise additional funds. The compounding impact is wonderful to imagine.”

A growing community of support

The Basser Center for BRCA is grateful for the philanthropy to launch and support its Fellowship Program from:

• Caryn Seidman Becker
• Heidi and Richard Rieger
• Raquel Flatow Haas and Michael Haas
• Kim and Sean Hehir
• Phyllis and Irving Smith Foundation
• Helene and Robert Sorin

Learn how you can support Basser’s Fellowship Program or be part of bringing hope to those affected by a BRCA mutation by contacting Laura Rostock, Senior Executive Director of Development for the Basser Center for BRCA, at lrostock@upenn.edu.