William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation

08/26/2026

🔬 When we invest in researchers, we invest in what’s possible.
It’s an exciting time for Forbeck Scholar Aguirre De Cubas, PhD and his research team. Their recent study, published in a peer-reviewed leading oncology journal, uncovered a surprising vulnerability in kidney cancer.

When the SETD2 gene is mutated, these cancer cells become highly dependent on a protein called BCL-xL to survive. That discovery could provide a way to selectively target these cancer cells while sparing healthy ones - opening a potential new path toward more precise treatment.

Now, Dr. de Cubas, is taking the next step. He has been awarded a five-year NIH/NCI R01 grant to investigate why this dependency occurs and how these findings could ultimately be translated into new treatments for patients with kidney cancer.

"The support and community provided by the Forbeck Foundation have been invaluable throughout my career."
Aguirre De Cubas, PhD
Assistant Professor
Medical University of South Carolina

That is why we do what we do. Because behind every discovery is a researcher who needs the support and resources to keep asking the next question.

Read the full article here: https://hollingscancercenter.musc.edu/content-hub/Spotlight-Stories/2026/06/26/kidney-cancer-gene-reveals-an-unexpected-weakness-and-a-new-path-for-treatment

08/24/2026

✨ A little sparkle. A lot of heart. 💛
The Hearts of Gold Annual Blue Jean Ball is coming September 26, 2026, to Lake Geneva, WI! 👖✨

This special evening honors Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and supports the Forbeck Foundation, helping fuel the research that brings us closer to brighter futures.

Because behind every gold ribbon is a story, a family, and a whole lot of research. 💛

📅 September 26, 2026
📍 Lake Geneva, WI
CLICK the link to purchase your tickets today https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E130830&id=33

Grab your favorite pair of denim, and bring your heart for a night that shines for something bigger. ✨

08/12/2026

We're proud to welcome Ting Wang, PhD, of WashU Medicine as the third and final addition to the Forbeck Foundation's Scientific Board.

Dr. Ting Wang’s path took him from Peking University to Washington University in St. Louis, where he now holds the inaugural Sanford C. and Karen P. Loewentheil Distinguished Professorship and leads the Department of Genetics. He’s internationally recognized for showing how so-called “junk DNA,” the transposable elements once dismissed as genomic filler, actually shapes gene regulation and can drive cancer when it goes wrong. His lab built tools used by scientists worldwide, including the WashU Epigenome Browser, and he currently directs several major national genomics initiatives, from the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium to the SMaHT Network. Somehow, he also finds time to lead nearly half a dozen major data centers at once.

“I enjoy the Forbeck philosophy and by serving on SAB I hope to help protect the future of freedom in science.”
Ting Wang, PhD
WashU Medicine

08/11/2026

✨ The Blue Jean Ball: Hearts of Gold is almost here! 💛
As we get ready to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re bringing our community together for an evening filled with heart, hope, and a whole lot of GOLD. 💛✨

It’s more than a night out - it’s a night to celebrate the families, researchers, and advocates who inspire us to keep moving cancer research forward.

📅 Sept 26, 2026
⏰ 6-10PM

Don't miss it! Get your tickets now! 🎟️
🔗 https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E130830&id=33

08/10/2026

We’re excited to continue introducing the newest members of our Scientific Advisory Board. Today, we’re proud to welcome Jay F. Sarthy, MD, PhD, of Seattle Children's Hospital.

Dr. Jay Sarthy works at the intersection of two of the hardest parts of pediatric oncology: caring for children through bone marrow transplants and unraveling the genetic mysteries behind their disease. As an Attending Physician at Seattle Children’s and an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, he treats kids with blood cancers and rare genetic conditions like telomere syndromes, while his research digs into pediatric cancer epigenetics, or how genes go off script and let cancer take hold. That dual view, bedside and bench, drives his search for better treatments.

08/10/2026

🎙️ New podcast episode: mice, zebrafish, lab-grown tissue... cancer research relies on all of them, and none of them are perfect. Our hosts dig into what the co-chairs of our upcoming Next Generation Models of Cancer forum call the "ecosystem of imperfection." Give it a listen 👇

Science Podcast · Updated Monthly · Forbeck on the Forefront explores the breakthroughs shaping the future of cancer research. Hosted by the Forbeck Foundation, each episode features leading scientists and innovators discussing bold ide…

08/07/2026

💙 This is what community is all about. A huge thank-you to for hosting our Mahjong fundraiser at Lake Geneva Country Club in support of the Forbeck Foundation!

Missy recently shared this sentiment (shown in photo) with her community, and honestly…we love this!❤️

She talked about the “aligned mission” we share - bringing people together, making connections, and creating community. And that is exactly what we love about these events.

As Missy said, “When we all share our knowledge, we are more powerful.”
We couldn’t agree more. 🙌

Thank you, Missy, for sharing our mission, bringing everyone together and helping make this such a fun and meaningful day. And thank you to everyone who came out, played, laughed and supported the Forbeck Foundation.

We’re pretty lucky to have such an amazing community around our table. 💙🀄️

08/06/2026

🧢💙Do you have gently used denim jackets, jeans, shirts, or other denim fabric sitting in your closet that could use a new purpose? We’d love to give it a second life!

The Forbeck Foundation is collecting denim to be used to create decor pieces for this year’s Blue Jean Ball. Your favorite old jeans or jackets could become part of the event decor while helping create a memorable evening in support of cancer research. ✨

Ready to clean out your closet and make an impact? Drop off your previously loved denim donations at:

📍 Green Grocer - Williams Bay
📍 The Bottle Shop - Lake Geneva

Thank you for helping us! Every piece donated helps bring our Blue Jean Ball vision to life. 💙👖

08/05/2026

We are excited to introduce one of our newest Scientific Advisory Board members, Douglas Green, PhD, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He brings a wealth of experience, an impressive career in research, and a longstanding connection to the Forbeck Foundation.

Dr. Doug Green has spent his career asking one of biology’s biggest questions: how do cells decide between life and death? As Co-Leader of the Cancer Biology Program and the Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology at St. Jude, he’s published more than 600 papers and earned election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2020. But what really sets Doug apart is how he leads. He’s built a research community rooted in collaboration and mentorship, bringing the same creativity to the lab that he brings to his life outside it as a musician, blogger, and magician.

“The Forbeck Meetings have consistently been among the very best I've attended, with thoughtful discussions, great insights, and an incredible generosity of shared findings (many unpublished), with the overriding goal of kicking cancer in the butt. There really is nothing quite like a Forbeck Symposium. In addition, the Forbeck Scholars bring their "A" game to these meetings, and their engagement and full participation gives me great hope for the bright future of biomedical research.”

Douglas Green, PhD
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

08/04/2026

🎉 🏓🀄 A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for the Forbeck Foundation's Mahjong & Pickleball event at Lake Geneva Country Club! Whether you came to compete, laugh with friends, or just enjoy a beautiful day, you made this event something special.

Because of your support, we were able to have a whole lot of fun while helping advance the Forbeck Foundation's mission to fund groundbreaking cancer research. That's a winning combination if you ask us!💙

Thank you to our players, volunteers, sponsors, donors and everyone who helped make the day a great success. We couldn't do it without this amazing community!

Here's to sunshine, friendly competition, and making a difference…one game at a time. 💙🎉