USA: Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma

Organisation Profile

Our Mission: Raise awareness of childhood and adult sarcoma and fund research in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

In January 2011, Drs. Hussein Tawbi and Kurt Weiss, with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, along with a start-up committee of 12 members, joined with the Sarcoma
Foundation of America (SFA) to fundraise and build awareness of sarcoma in the Pittsburgh area. The group pursued a 5K event with a goal to support others who had been affected by this rare cancer.

The overwhelming success of the initial 5K fundraiser in 2011 set the foundation for this to be an annual event, which continued to grow each year. By 2019, PCS events had raised $1,400,000 to support sarcoma research in Pittsburgh and across the nation through the SFA.

For the tenth anniversary, PCS secured their own 501c3 designation, effective October 4, 2019. This transition away from the SFA has enabled PCS to raise more money, secure corporate sponsors, and give stronger financial support to our regional sarcoma researchers and clinicians. PCS continues today as it was founded – a 100% volunteer led organization.

In 2024 PCS awarded $460,708, moving the total grants awarded to over $2,600,000. Join us in 2025 to continue supporting sarcoma research as we work together to find a cure. 2024 grants included:

• $50,000 - Dr. Kurt Weiss - Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to support the maintenance of the tumor registry and sarcoma tissue bank
• $35,000 - Dr. Benjamin Nacev - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to study epigenetics
• $35,000 - Dr. Jessica Daley - Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to study Ewing sarcoma
• $30,000 - Dr. Karen Schoedel - UPMC Presbyterian Anatomic Pathology to study chondrosarcoma
• $25,000 - Dr. Lisa Ercolano - Allegheny Health Network to study clinical course of sarcoma patients
• $17,700 - Dr. Guiseppi Intini - UPMC School of Dental Medicine for osteosarcoma mouse model
• $10,000 - West Virginia University Sarcoma Fund - totaling $25,000 since 2023
• $10,000 - West Virginia University Sarcoma Fund - totaling $25,000 since 2023
• $10,000 - Allegheny Health Network Sarcoma Fund - totaling $44,181 since 2021
• $5,000 - Hillman Cancer Center Sarcoma Fund - totaling $773,134 since 2011

Board of Directors: Dr. Mark Goodman - President, Josh Plassmeyer - Vice President, Arthur McAuley- Secretary, Peter Kern - Treasurer, Susan Cullinan, Dr. Kossivi Dantey, Howard Louik Esq, Rod Rothaus, Joan Rothaus, Darlene Wisniewski, Sue Suit, Emeritus

Medical Advisory Committee: Cynthia Goodman - Committee Chair, Dr. Kelly Bailey, Dr. Melissa Burgess, Dr. Anette Duensing, Dr. Lisa Ercolano, Dr. Giuseppe Intini, Dr. Ivy John, Dr. Brock Lindsey,
Dr. Benjamin Nacev, Dr. Sarah Taylor, Dr. Kurt Weiss