The Foundation for the NIH Names Andrew Lee the Winner of the 2018 Charles A. Sanders, M.D., Partnership Award

NORTH BETHESDA, MD, September 12, 2018 — The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) will honor 22-year-old Andrew Lee, President and CEO of Driven to Cure, Inc., with the 2018 Charles A. Sanders, M.D., Partnership Award. The award honors persons and/or organizations that have made significant contributions to the FNIH’s work to build, implement and nurture public-private partnerships in support of the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The FNIH is bestowing this year’s Partnership Award to Andrew for his unwavering commitment to advancing biomedical research on rare kidney cancers. In just over two years, he developed a powerful grassroots movement that has increased visibility about rare kidney cancers and raised funds for the FNIH to further cutting-edge research conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the NIH Clinical Center.

“Andrew is an inspiration to all of us. He exemplifies what one individual can do with persistence, hard work and great spirit, to improve the lives of others,” said Steven M. Paul, M.D., Chairman of the Board, FNIH. “We are delighted to present this year’s Charles A. Sanders, M.D., Partnership Award to Andrew for his determination and dedication to supporting biomedical research.”

After being diagnosed at age 19 with a rare kidney cancer known as HLRCC, Andrew formed Driven to Cure, Inc. Through this not-for-profit, he uses his passion for cars to travel the country attending events to raise awareness and funding for rare kidney cancer research in children and young adults. Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in men and women, with the rate of new cases continuing to rise, according to NCI.

Since its founding, Driven to Cure, Inc. has donated $300,000 to the FNIH to support the research of W. Marston Linehan, M.D., Chief of Urologic Surgery and the Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research at NCI. Dr. Linehan pioneered the study of the genetic basis of kidney cancer and is developing new approaches to treat multiple forms of the disease.

“I am truly humbled by this award. And I accept it in honor of those who have come before me, choosing to fight for others in the face of a tough diagnosis. I haven’t stopped fighting, my family and new friends from all over the country have given me tremendous support – and the courage to keep going,” said Andrew. “Driven to Cure is not about me, it’s about the road ahead, and a lot of people making it possible for those AFTER me to face better odds, perhaps even a cure, through lifesaving biomedical research.”

The Charles A. Sanders, M.D., Partnership Award, named for the former Chairman of the FNIH Board of Directors, will be presented at the FNIH Annual Fall Board Dinner on October 24, 2018 in Washington, D.C. For more information, please click here.

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About the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions in support of the mission of the NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency. The Foundation, also known as the FNIH, works with its partners to accelerate biomedical research and strategies against diseases and health concerns in the United States and across the globe. The FNIH organizes and administers research projects; supports education and training of new researchers; organizes educational events and symposia; and administers a series of funds supporting a wide range of health issues. Established by Congress in 1990, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For additional information about the FNIH, please visit fnih.org.

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