Estate Gift of $2.8 Million Helps Fund Three Professorships in Cancer Research

July 13, 2016

A former Greensboro resident has helped fund three professorships in cancer research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The gift of $2.8 million from the estate of Doris Stormyr Anderson was combined with money from Wake Forest Baptist’s Discovery Fund to create the professorships. The Discovery Fund includes contributions from hundreds of donors who give in support of the Comprehensive Cancer Center each year.

The three new Anderson Professors are:

  • Hui-Kuan Lin, Ph.D., professor of cancer biology and director of the Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence, who has been named the Anderson Discovery Professor for Cancer Research
  • Peiqing Sun, Ph.D., professor of cancer biology and associate director for basic sciences, who has been named the Anderson Oncology Research Professor
  • Kounosuke Watabe, Ph.D., professor of cancer biology and associate director for shared resources, who has been named the Doris Stormyr Anderson Professor for Cancer Research

Anderson, who died in 2013 at age 94, designated funds in her estate plan to support cancer research at multiple academic medical centers in North Carolina.

“We are grateful for this visionary estate gift and for the gifts of the hundreds of people who support our Discovery Fund each year,” said Norman D. Potter, chief philanthropy officer for Wake Forest Baptist. “Collectively, these contributions help us fulfill our mission, to improve health, and fund research that ultimately will lead to better treatments and outcomes for cancer patients.”

Philanthropic investments in chairs and professorships recognize the achievements of exceptional faculty members, provide resources and time for research, education and patient care, and help retain and attract outstanding research faculty.

Wake Forest Baptist is raising $350 million as part of a campaign to further its mission in patient care, education and research. Areas of focus for the campaign include cancer, aging and Alzheimer’s disease, children’s health, diabetes and obesity, heart and vascular, regenerative medicine and medical education.

The effort is part of Wake Will, the campaign for Wake Forest University, which has a goal of raising a combined $1 billion for the University and the Medical Center.

Media Relations

Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273

Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228