Annual Report 2020 | Page 27

In 2010 , Barry and Virginia Weinman created the Weinman Foundation Fund for Innovation , gifting the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center with $ 1.7 million . This generous gift helped establish the annual Barry & Virginia Weinman Symposium , an international conference on cancer cell metabolism that brings together international experts from different fields of science and medicine . Each year at least one exceptionally gifted and notable scientist is presented with the Weinman Award in recognition of his or her stellar scientific discovery or accomplishment .
“ Collaborators at other institutions helped us prove our ideas ,” says Dr . Carbone . “ The young researchers who did most of the experimental work to prove and disprove our ideas are postdocs and students in our lab who often work 36 hours straight and through the weekends . Sure , they love what they are doing , but they ’ re also excited about having the best scientists in the world asking them about their experiments ! And they met each other at the Weinman Symposium .”

INSPIRING HAWAI ‘ I ’ S STUDENTS

Barry and Virginia Weinman supported the establishment of the symposium after discussion with Dr . Carbone . “ He wanted to focus the UH Cancer Center on meritocracy and excellence ,” says Barry Weinman . “ Providing world-class researchers , many of them Nobel laureates , a forum for collaboration with their peers , Dr . Carbone attracts scientists from around the world . Bringing them to Hawai ‘ i , he exposes UH students , postdocs , and local people to the best in the field of cancer research .”
Virginia Weinman says , “ We are most pleased by the growing number of high school students who attend sessions and meet with the Nobel Prize winners and members of the National Academy
2020 WEINMAN SYMPOSIUM . PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : BARRY WEINMAN , VIRGINIA WEINMAN , CRAIG B . THOMPSON , MD , LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN , LEWIS C . CANTLEY , PHD , TAK MAK , PHD , AND MICHELE CARBONE , MD , PHD .
of Science . Sharing a meal in the conference room , they ask questions and become inspired to consider careers in science .”

LAUNCHING PARTNERSHIPS AND FORMING FRIENDSHIPS

The Weinmans increased their financial support this year to enhance and maintain the legacy of the symposium .
“ This is the premier scientific conference in Hawai ‘ i , and we ’ re very appreciative of the generous support Virginia and Barry provide , to ensure it continues launching partnerships and forming friendships for the advancement of science and medicine ,” says UH Cancer Center Director Randall Holcombe , MD , MBA .
“ The Weinmans are wonderful people , highly respected by the scientists who ’ ve attended over the years , and their presence makes the symposium a special event ,” says Dr . Carbone . “ Thanks to the Weinmans , we ’ ve created a team that is competing — and winning — with the best in the world .”
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