Business Wire: Los Angeles Chapter of Israel Cancer Research Fund Kicks Off Fall 2005 Fundraising Dr

LOS ANGELES -- The Israel Cancer Research Fund -- Los Angeles Chapter (ICRF-LA) announced today the kick-off of its Fall 2005 charity fundraising drive to support groundbreaking cancer research in Israel.

ICRF-LA is unique among charitable organizations in Los Angeles because its mission is tied to scientific research conducted literally half-a-world away, at Israel's leading biomedical research institutions. And yet, the positive impact of this research, which is performed in a country with a population of just 6.5 million people -- smaller, in fact, than the population of greater Los Angeles -- is felt around the globe.

Charitable funding from ICRF has led to important advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, including the discovery of new genetic risk factors and new drug therapies. In 2004, two Israeli scientists funded by ICRF were awarded Israel's first Nobel Prizes in the Sciences.

As part of ICRF-LA's philanthropic efforts, the organization hosts annual charity events and conducts an informative Partners in Research speaker series that features lively discussions with some of LA's leading oncologists and cancer researchers. Partners in Research events are free to the public, and are designed for a lay audience.

William L. Robbins, Chairman of the Board of ICRF-LA, said: "Aiding the discovery of new ways to treat and prevent cancer is a mission that anyone can support, regardless of ethnic heritage or religious affiliation. ICRF-LA is committed to funding cancer research in Israel because Israel's scientists are absolutely world-class, and yet, government funding for cancer research in Israel is harder to come by than in the U.S. So, we appeal to LA's generous philanthropic community to help Israel's brilliant cancer scientists to continue their vital work."

ICRF-LA's Fall 2005 calendar includes the following events:

--SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 -- PARTNERS-IN-RESEARCH: AN EVENING WITH BETH Y. KARLAN, M.D., who will discuss "Genetic Testing for Cancer Susceptibility and Gynecologic Oncology." Dr. Karlan is Director, Women's Cancer Research Institute, Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Gilda Radner Hereditary Cancer Detection Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine. Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m., at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Free admission and complimentary refreshments. See www.icrfla.org for details.

--OCTOBER 1, 2005 -- VISIONS MONTE CARLO NIGHT 2005, an exciting evening for young professionals, with live music by the group Soul Traffic, dancing, prize drawings and, of course, poker, blackjack, roulette and more. Hosted by Visions: The Next Generation of ICRF. Saturday, October 1, 8:00 p.m., at the Petersen Automotive Museum. For more information and to purchase tickets online, see www.icrfvisions.

--NOVEMBER 12, 2005--ANNUAL BLACK TIE GALA, celebrating the beautiful new ICRF Park in Tel Aviv, and recognizing ICRF-LA's 2005 Honorees in Medicine, Philanthropy and Cancer Research. The evening will include a lively cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, music and a live auction. Saturday, November 12, 7:30 p.m., at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. See www.icrfla.org for full details.

--DECEMBER 1, 2005--PARTNERS-IN-RESEARCH: AN EVENING WITH RONALD B. NATALE, M.D., who will speak on "Advances in the Treatment of Lung Cancer." Dr. Natale is attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Director of the National Lung Cancer Research Program and Senior Research Advisor for the Solid Tumor Program for Aptium Oncology. Thursday, December 1, 7:00 p.m., at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Details will be posted soon at www.icrfla.org.

The Israel Cancer Research Fund is the only voluntary charitable organization in North America solely devoted to supporting cancer research in Israel. Since 1975, ICRF has provided more than $31 million in funding through more than 1,500 research grants to outstanding cancer researchers, whose laboratories are located in all of the leading scientific research institutions, universities and hospitals across Israel. ICRF has local chapters in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto and Jerusalem.

For more information about ICRF, to inquire about events, to volunteer, or to make a donation, contact the Los Angeles Chapter at 323-651-1200, or visit www.icrfla.org.