Vilcek Foundation Appoints Cancer Research Pioneer Dr. Jedd Wolchok To Its Board

The Vilcek Foundation, a notable entity in promoting the contributions of immigrants in the United States across arts and sciences, has recently announced a significant addition to its board of directors. Dr. Jedd Wolchok, a distinguished figure in the medical community, will join the board effective May 1, 2024. Dr. Wolchok holds the prestigious position of Meyer Director at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center and serves as a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.

Rick Kinsel, President of the Vilcek Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm about Dr. Wolchok's appointment, highlighting his extensive expertise in immunotherapy and oncology, as well as his roles as an academic, scientific mentor, and philanthropist. "We are honored and grateful to have him as a member of our team," Kinsel remarked, underscoring the valuable insights and perspectives Dr. Wolchok is expected to bring to the foundation's initiatives.

Dr. Wolchok's association with the Vilcek Foundation predates his board membership, having served as a juror for the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science from 2009 through 2024. His pioneering work at the intersection of immunology and oncology positions him as an ideal advisor for the foundation's science, biotechnology, and medicine-related prizes and programs.

His groundbreaking research has been instrumental in establishing immunotherapy as a cornerstone of cancer treatment. Dr. Wolchok's laboratory benefits from funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Project Grant Program, focusing on novel immunotherapeutic agents in pre-clinical laboratory models.

The connection between Dr. Wolchok and the Vilcek Foundation extends back to his graduate studies at NYU, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Jan Vilcek, the foundation's founder, from 1989 to 1993. Dr. Vilcek's memoir "Love and Science" highlights Wolchok's significant contributions to immunotherapy, including his clinical trials of ipilimumab.

In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Dr. Wolchok was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. He is also an elected member of several prestigious organizations including the American Association for Cancer Research and serves on its board of directors.

The Vilcek Foundation itself was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from former Czechoslovakia. Inspired by their careers in biomedical science and art history respectively, the foundation aims to raise awareness of immigrant contributions in the U.S. To date, it has awarded over $7 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and supported organizations with more than $6 million in grants.

As a private operating foundation recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3), the Vilcek Foundation continues to foster appreciation for cultural diversity and scientific advancements made possible through immigration. For more information about their work and initiatives, visit vilcek.org.