The University of Connecticut will honor three individuals for their fight against cancer at the seventh annual White Coat Gala on April 16.
The event will benefit the UConn Bioscience Connecticut initiative, which is adding new laboratoriesand expanded facilities to accommodate a 30-percent increase in medical and dental students.
Dr. Pramod Srivastava and Bess Economos will be awarded the Carol and Ray Neag Medal of Honor for their contributions to cancer research. The event will also feature Ryan Radue, who is a patient at the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Radue is a graduate student in the UConn School of Business. While undergoing chemotherapy, Radue finished an undergraduate degree in accounting.
“UConn Health has made a very difficult process go by as easily as possible,” Radue said. “Everyone — all of the doctors, nurses, and staff —a re always willing to go out of their way to answer any question or clear up any concern. I wanted to get involved with the White Coat Gala to help shine a light on how great UConn Health is and hopefully help others facing cancer get the same care and experience I have had.”
For Economos, esearch in the fight against cancer is also highly personal. She founded Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research with her late husband, Michael, in 1998, after their daughter Lea lost her 10-year battle with leukemia. In 2006, Economos founded Lea’s Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders at UConn Health.
The Lea Foundation funds research for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
Dr. Srivastava is a professor at UConn and has earned international recognition for his work on cancer cures. He will be conducting the first clinical trial for ovarian cancer that uses a patient’s DNA as a component for a vaccine.
“I am honored to be recognized by UConn. This award is particularly meaningful to me personally because it bears the names of Carole and Ray Neag, whose selfless service makes a difference in the lives of thousands of patients facing cancer as well as other diseases,” Dr. Srivastava said.