Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Announces $5 Million Gift from Larry and Susan Marx

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced that Larry and Susan Marx have made a $5 million gift to support cancer prevention and early detection. This commitment will establish the Larry and Susan Marx Chair for Early Detection and expand funding for the Larry and Susan Marx Fund for Early Detection at Dana-Farber.

“For 30 years we have been dedicated to investing in bright minds doing amazing things at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Everyday Dana-Farber is making progress in cancer prevention and early detection. I am hopeful that our continued support will help drive discovery and inspire others to get involved,” said Larry Marx.

A portion of their support names the Larry and Susan Marx Chair for Early Detection which will fund work being done by the first incumbent Sapna Syngal, MD, MPH, Co-Director of the Centers for Early Detection and Interception at Dana-Farber. Syngal’s career has focused on building research, clinical, and training programs in cancer genetics, screening, and prevention beginning with inherited gastrointestinal cancers and expanding to prevention of cancers more broadly.

Syngal’s research has helped shape clinical care for patients with elevated risk and established assessment models, including PREMM, which has led to a patent owned by Dana-Farber and is now incorporated into national guidelines for estimating risk for hereditary cancer syndromes.

“The Marx’s generosity will provide critical resources needed to execute the vision for the Centers for Early Detection and Interception and train the next generation of leaders in the field,” said Syngal.

The gift will also continue their support of the Larry and Susan Marx Fund for Early Detection at Dana-Farber. Established in 2022 and led by Catherine Marinac, PhD as the Principal Investigator, in collaboration with Betsy O’Donnell, MD, the Fund supports a robust research agenda at the Centers for Early Detection and Interception. Marinac’s key initiatives include expanding access to early cancer detection testing for high-risk families and strengthening, extending, and implementing multi-cancer early detection (MCED) research.

This commitment adds to a legacy of 30 years of partnership with the Marx family that has shaped Dana-Farber’s leadership in population sciences research while continuing to support other key priorities. Larry Marx served as a Dana-Farber Trustee from 1994 to 2005 and rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge multiple times in support of Dana-Farber from 1989-1999. Susan Marx, along with Larry, was a member of the Dana-Farber Society. Susan passed away in November 2025.

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 3 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care.

As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,200 clinical trials.