The Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute is a product of the collaboration between Sidney Farber, MD and
philanthropist Charles A. Dana.
In 1947, Farber founded the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation
which aimed not just to find a cure and preventive measures for cancer that
afflicts children, but to provide children who suffer from cancer with the
advanced and compassionate treatments they deserve. In 1969, the foundation
expanded its reach to include research and treatment for cancer in people of
all ages. In 1974, the foundation was renamed to the Sidney Farber Cancer
Center in honor of its founder Dr. Farber.
The foundation’s biggest contributor was the Charles A. Dana
Foundation. Dana’s help in finding cures and preventive treatments was
recognized by the foundation in 1983 when it was renamed again to Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute.
Today, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is also a federally
designated center for AIDS Research and is also a principal teaching affiliate
of Harvard Medical School.