Irving Gift Launches Plans for New Building Herbert and Florence Irving The Herbert Irving Cancer Pavilion will become the third building in the Audubon Biomedical Science and Technology Park. With the announcement of a first gift for the new building’s construction promised from Herbert and Florence Irving, the Health Sciences is inaugurating a campaign to raise funds for the $100 million facility. Initiatives involving both private and government support are already under way. As prospects for developing newer, more successful methods of treating cancer continue to increase, the Herbert Irving Cancer Pavilion promises to become a valuable national resource. The new six-story building will be named to honor Mr. Irving, whose many gifts have made him the most generous donor in the history of the Columbia Health Sciences. In 1987, he and his wife, Florence, established the Irving Center for Clinical Research and provided sponsorship for young researchers, known as the Irving Scholars, as well as support for four assistant professorships. In 1995, they gave funds for construction of CPMC’s new cancer treatment facilities, followed by support for the Health Sciences’ cancer programs, which were renamed the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. The center is directed by Dr. Karen Antman, who holds the Herbert Irving Professorship established for that position. The creation of a state-of-the-art building to accommodate basic scientists and clinicians working in cancer at a single site on campus is expected to encourage collaborative efforts, building on Columbia’s recent important contributions to cancer research and treatment. At the molecular and genetic level, new data include Dr. Ramon Parsons’ identification of PTEN, the first gene to be associated with sporadic breast, brain, and prostate cancer; the discovery by Drs. Yuan Chang and Patrick Moore of the virus responsible for Kaposi’s sarcoma; and Dr. Riccardo Della Favera’s discovery of the oncogene for diffuse large cell (non-Hodgkin’s) lymphoma. Significant strides in clinical therapy at Columbia incorporate one of the nation’s leading bone marrow transplant programs, the pioneering use of innovative non-invasive diagnostic and surgical techniques for brain cancer, and major improvements in screening for prostate cancer. The Herbert Irving Cancer Pavilion will provide a focus for strengthening and consolidating further important work on the development of preventive measures and better treatments for cancer.