Grateful patient pays it forward with donation to Cancer Center’s Gene Therapies Program

In January, 2016, Harvey and Tina Crosby were unsure of what the future held. Harvey’s ophthalmologist had referred him to Tufts Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a rare, highly-aggressive, and usually fatal blood disease – plasmablastic lymphoma. Under the care of Kenneth Miller, MD, Harvey began chemotherapy. Ultimately, Dr. Miller and his team made the decision to do a stem cell transplant using Harvey’s own cells to treat his cancer. Throughout the trials and tribulations of his treatment Harvey maintained his positive outlook and sense of humor, saying “The good news is everyone knows me on the eighth floor. The bad news is that everyone knows me on the eighth floor!” Now six years have passed and Harvey is healthy and thriving. He credits Dr. Miller, and everyone working in the Hematology/Oncology units on the eighth floor of Tufts MC’s North and South Buildings, with saving his life.

In the years since the successful treatment, Harvey and Tina have paid it forward in a meaningful way with philanthropic support of Tufts Medical Center. They have generously supported the Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Covid-19 research, a new computerized teaching mannequin for the Cancer Center and a variety of other important needs throughout the Medical Center.

Since Dr. Miller’s retirement, Harvey is now under the care of Andreas Klein, MD, who serves as Associate Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the Bone Marrow and Cell Transplant Program. When the Crosbys learned from Dr. Klein that the Cancer Center was in need of a new laboratory in order to expand its work in the development of gene therapies, they jumped into action and donated $100,000.

Harvey and Tina’s gift supports the purchase of state-of-the-art technology that will allow Dr. Klein and his team to actually create cellular and genetic therapies within the laboratory, rather than having them developed off-site by biotechnology companies as was previously done. By developing the therapies on-site, the Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center will significantly increase its capacity to offer more patients with different types of cancer the opportunity for transformative gene therapies.

Dr. Klein notes, “The past five years have seen a dramatic evolution in our fight against cancers of all types. Our new understanding of the action of our immune systems against cancer has opened doors to new discoveries - powerful gene therapies, known as CAR T-cell therapies-that harness our natural defenses in the treatment of cancer. Tina and Harvey are great partners in our efforts to transform the way we treat cancer today. I cannot thank them enough for their incredible generosity.”