William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation

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William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation

The Forbeck Foundation was established in 1984 by George and Jennifer Forbeck after losing their son Billy to neuroblastoma at age 11.

They launched the first Forbeck Forum in 1985, uniting top cancer researchers to share findings and advance treatments. While the Foundation may provide grants for pilot research studies and educational efforts, its centerpiece activity will be an annual Forum, a scientific roundtable held at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Attending the Forum each year will be twelve to fifteen physicians and

scientists who will meet in a completely private "think tank" environment, where they can exchange ideas freely in the hope of building on each other's ideas, knowledge, and experience. The objective is not to discuss published research, but rather to provide a forum for the cross fertilization of ideas, concepts, and observations. Participants will be invited to the Forum based on the recommendation of the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board, a distinguished panel of physicians and scientists. We fully support the activities of the William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation Junior Board, particularly the Scholar Retreat.

06/03/2026

⛳️❤️ Thank you for being part of this special day. We hope you enjoy these highlights and relive some of the wonderful moments with us! 🎥✨

Special thanks to our co-chairs, Andy Culbertson and Robert Windon, for their leadership and dedication. We’re also incredibly grateful to board members Annie Calteaux and Staci Leineberg, along with volunteers Sandy Achille and Karen Munter, whose hard work behind the scenes helped make everything run smoothly.

Because of your support, we are able to continue advancing the mission of the Forbeck Foundation and accelerating progress in cancer research.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

🏆Greg Johns StackStone Wealth

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Missy mahjong, Happy Ending Cocktail Co. and Sore Muscle Jelly

06/02/2026

🏌️‍♂️ What a wonderful day at the Forbeck Foundation Golf Outing and Mahjong Social at Lake Geneva Country Club!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us for a day of friendly competition, connection, and support for cancer research.

⛳️A heartfelt thank you to Greg Johns of StackStone Wealth, our Premier Sponsor, whose generosity helped us tee up a successful event in support of the Forbeck Foundation's mission. We couldn't have done it without you!💫

We'd also like to thank our amazing sponsors:

🀄️ Missy Mahjong
🥃 Happy Ending Cocktail Co.
💪 Sore Muscle Jelly

Your partnership and support help advance the Forbeck Foundation's mission of accelerating breakthroughs in cancer research through collaboration and innovation.

Thank you for helping us create a memorable event while making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer. Together, we are making a difference.

05/28/2026

We're proud to welcome W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, MMHC as the new Chair of the Forbeck Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Rathmell's connection to the Foundation actually stretches back to 2004, when she first attended as a Scholar. Over the past two decades, she's mentored emerging scientists, chaired Forums, and remained a steadfast part of our community. Now she steps into a role that feels like a natural next chapter.

Her credentials speak for themselves. CEO of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, former Director of the National Cancer Institute, and author of more than 300 peer-reviewed articles on kidney cancer. But what makes this appointment so meaningful is the relationship behind it.

We can't wait to see where her leadership takes us.

Read the full release at www.forbeckfoundation.org/blog/new-sab-chair-announced-2026

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05/26/2026

✨What an incredible evening at Lago Lake Zurich!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in support of the Forbeck Foundation and our shared mission to advance cancer research. Your presence, passion, and generosity mean everything to us and to the patients whose lives depend on this work.

We were honored to be joined by an extraordinary group of scientists that are driving real impact Dr. Lucy A. Godley (Northwestern), Dr. Yogesh Goyal (Northwestern), and Dr. Jeffrey Rathmell (University of Chicago) — whose groundbreaking research gives us reason for hope every single day.

Thank you also to Foundation President Ron Miller, Vice President Galen Eckland, all our dedicated board members, and every supporter and donor who makes this mission possible.

Together, we're building something meaningful. We can't wait to continue the journey with all of you. ❤️

05/14/2026

✨Some evenings are about more than just gathering — they’re about creating momentum for something bigger.

We’re looking forward to a special night at Lago Lake Zurich by Fabio Viviani on May 21, 2026.

We would love for you to join us as we bring together supporters, researchers, and friends of the Forbeck Foundation for meaningful conversation and connection.

Guests will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from leading scientists and Foundation leadership about the work being done to push cancer research forward and why collaboration continues to make such a difference. 💙

Reserve your tickets here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E130830&id=26

Photo featuring our Foundation President Ron Miller and Director of Development Marla Schrager

05/11/2026

When amazing minds come together, big things happen. 🧠✨

Join us at Lago Lake Zurich by Fabio Viviani for an inspiring evening in support of the Forbeck Foundation and our mission to advance cancer research.

Learn how this collaborative model is driving meaningful impact for patients, and meet Forbeck scientists Lucy A. Godley, MD, PhD (Northwestern, SAB member), Yogesh Goyal, PhD (Northwestern), and Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD (University of Chicago). You’ll also connect with Foundation President Ron Miller, Vice President Galen Eckland, board members, and fellow supporters and donors.

TICKETS: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E130830&id=26

05/07/2026

🎙️FORBECK ON THE FOREFRONT: Causes and Consequences of Cellular Plasticity in Cancer

In this episode, we preview the upcoming Forbeck Forum on Cellular Plasticity, chaired by Dr. Ben Stanger (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Cory Abate-Shen (Columbia University). The conversation explores a rapidly emerging area of cancer research: how cancer cells don't just accumulate mutations, but can actually change what type of cell they are — a process called cellular plasticity — allowing them to spread, survive, and resist treatment in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.

Ben and Cory explain why this field has taken off in just the last few years, how plasticity connects across many different cancer types, and why understanding it could open the door to an entirely new class of cancer treatments. They also discuss how a Cancer Grand Challenges competition helped galvanize a global research community — and why bringing together scientists from different disciplines and career stages is exactly the kind of environment where breakthroughs happen.

Tune in to our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forbeck-on-the-forefront/id1851349772

Address

Chicago, IL

Telephone

+17734255980

Website

https://www.forbeckfoundation.org/

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