Investing in the Promise of Cell Therapy

The field of cellular therapy is experiencing an unprecedented wave of innovation. In 2023 alone, seven new cell and gene therapies were approved by the FDA. By 2025, the agency anticipates approving 10 to 20 new cell and gene therapy products each year. There are more than 1,000 cell and gene therapies in clinical development in the United States. Cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves transferring new cells, or cells that have been modified in a laboratory, into a person to treat disease. Immunotherapy is now known as the “fifth pillar” of cancer treatment, alongside chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and targeted therapy.

This surge represents a transformative era for cancer treatment, and The University of Kansas Cancer Center is at the forefront of this revolution. This vision is fueled by a generous gift from the Cinelli Family Foundation, enabling the creation of a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) lab that will be housed in the new KU Cancer Center facility and directly impact cancer care today as well as shape future treatments. 

A Personal Mission Rooted in Family

For the Cinelli family, cancer is a deeply personal topic. In 1976, Janet and her family lost their mother to leukemia. This marked the beginning of a more than 45-year-long journey confronting this disease. 

"When my mother died of leukemia, it was a profoundly challenging time for our family," says Janet Cinelli, executive director and president of the Cinelli Family Foundation. "Fast forward to 2020, when we lost our stepmother, Sharon, to pancreatic cancer. In those difficult moments, she and my father Al became very thoughtful about the foundation's mission. They wanted it to focus on the three cancers that had the greatest impact on our family: leukemia, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer."

The family’s connection to leukemia is what initially drew them to The University of Kansas Cancer Center and its groundbreaking work in CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of cancer immunotherapy that involves genetically modifying T cells in a lab to enhance their ability to find and destroy cancer cells more effectively. The cancer center is home to the largest and most comprehensive hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics program in the region. Currently, researchers are conducting more than 20 active CAR T-cell clinical trials for liquid and solid tumors.

“When we found out what KU Cancer Center was doing with CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancers, it felt like it was right in the Cinelli Family Foundation’s wheelhouse,” Ms. Cinelli adds. “It aligned perfectly with our mission, and it’s right here in Kansas City.” 

The establishment of a GMP lab is particularly important because it brings critical cancer therapy processing capabilities to the cancer center, eliminating the need to send patients’ T cells outside the region – a process that can take weeks and costs lives. These genetically modified immune cells play a crucial role in developing the therapies used for CAR T-cell treatment.

Eric Ryan, who is married to Janet Cinelli, serves as co-executive director and secretary.

“Sometimes people wait weeks for their engineered cells, and in that time, some are dying. With a larger laboratory, we will be able to increase local treatment and save lives,” Mr. Ryan says. “Looking ahead, the findings from the research could lead to even more lives saved and pave the way for harder-to-treat solid tumors like pancreatic cancer.”

A Win for Kansas City

The Cinelli Family Foundation’s donation also reflects their deep connection to Kansas City and their belief in the city’s growing prominence.

“Kansas City is on an incredible trajectory,” Ms. Cinelli says. “With the new airport, the World Cup and now the expansion of the cancer center, the city is becoming a world-class destination.”

Joseph McGuirk, DO, division director of the Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics program and a national leader in cell therapy, shares the Cinelli family’s optimism.

“Our new facility will not only be right across the street from our 100-bed inpatient unit but also co-locate our scientists and clinicians. This collaboration will foster synergies that will drive further advancements in CAR-T and other cell therapies,” Dr. McGuirk says. “We are confident this will contribute to remarkable progress for years to come.”

As the largest donation in the Cinelli Family Foundation’s history, this gift represents a significant step forward in cancer research and treatment. But this is only the beginning, according to the family.

“We will continue to invest in cancer research and treatment because we believe in a future where fewer people have to face this devastating disease,” Ms. Cinelli says.