Photo: Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo inside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo inside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo outside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo outside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy CEO and President John Walter inside his office in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy CEO and President John Walter inside his office in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Executive Director Margaret Cianci inside her office in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Executive Director Margaret Cianci inside her office in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo inside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo inside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo outside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) CEO and President John Walter and Executive Director Margaret Cianci pose for a photo outside the ACGT offices in Stamford, Conn. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Stamford-based ACGT sees success with support of cancer research

STAMFORD The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy recently announced two grants totaling $500,000. But its leaders are already filling the funding pipeline to support future recipients.

Describing itself as the only nonprofit in the country solely dedicated to funding and supporting research into cell and gene therapies for cancer, ACGT has built itself into a fundraising force since its founding in 2001. It has awarded 52 researcher grants totaling almost $27 million. Major events such as Swim Across Americas annual swim between Greenwich and Stamford and a gala held other every other year the next gala is set for April 19 at the Harvard Club in Manhattan are founts for the organizations giving.

We want to keep creating new interest in the organization, new donors and new dollars, ACGT President and CEO John Walter said in an interview Monday. For people who are interested in investing in cancer research, were a good place to turn to because of the success weve had.

Research backed by ACGT focuses on gene and cell mutations, a targeted approach that aims to reduce or eliminate debilitating side effects of traditional treatments.

The recipients of ACGTs latest Young Investigator Awards, the University of Calgarys Marco Gallo and the University of Pittsburghs Greg Delgoffe, each earned a $250,000 grant.

We play a very key role in helping young investigators, said Margaret Cianci, ACGTs executive director. They have wonderful ideas, and we want to help them fund that research and move into the next phase.

ACGT-supported research has produced four companies that are developing major new treatments, according to ACGT officials. They said they hope the first gene-therapy drug will launch in the U.S. later this year. One of the drugs that could soon enter the market is based on Car T cell research by an ACGT fellow, Dr. Carl June, who is an immunotherapy professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Buoyed by recent advances, ACGT officials said that they want to keep supporting research of emerging treatments.

While you have these excellent immunotherapies, how can we combine them with some of the gene therapy going on? Cianci said. The goal is to be sure that the cancers dont come back.

All of ACGTs donations fund research. The nonprofits board covers administrative expenses for the nonprofits staff of four.

Headquartered on Cummings Point Road in the citys Waterside section, ACGT has made several leadership changes recently. Walter and Barbara Gallagher, national director of philanthropy, both arrived last year. Walter succeeded Barbara Netter, who co-founded ACGT with her late husband, Edward Netter.

Barbara Netter, a Greenwich resident, maintains an important role in the organization as honorary chairman. She said that the organizations work is fulfilling Edward Netters vision.

With the promise of new drugs coming on the market, it should really make a statement about gene therapy, she said. Im very optimistic.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott

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Stamford-based ACGT sees success with support of cancer research - The Advocate

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