Funding Research and Treatment of Gliobastoma.
Finding the Cure
The Morizzo Foundation, established in 2024, is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that invests in glioblastoma-specific research.
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Our purpose is to raise awareness of glioblastoma, fund research efforts, and to provide support to patients and their families in an effort to ensure equitable access to treatments.
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The Morizzo Foundation itself does not engage in medical research, however it funds doctors and institutions that do so.
Since 2024, we've provided over $150,000 to glioblastoma-specific research projects and patient support initiatives globally.
What is Glioblastoma?
Commonly known as glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, Glioblastoma is a highly malignant form of cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord. More than 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with GBM every year. GBM accounts for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors. It can affect anybody at any age, although it is more commonly found in people ages 45 to 70. It is non-genetic in nature and develops quickly. The reasons for its occurrence are unknown.
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There is no cure for Glioblastoma. Treatments focus on removing or shrinking the tumor to reduce symptoms; however, they are not successful in long-term survival, making Glioblastoma a devastating diagnosis with most patients surviving an average of 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.
Duke Neuro-Oncologist Dr. Henry S. Friedman, M.D., talks about hope for patients, in spite of brain cancer.
Explore groundbreaking insights from Duke University’s top neuro-oncologists on why glioblastoma remains so deadly and the cutting-edge treatments that are giving new hope to patients.
Discover the innovative therapies and targeted approaches that are paving the way for a future where survival is no longer the exception, but the expectation.
Treating the "Hypothetical" Patient
By Meredith LiCalzi, Medical Student
​In my time at medical school
I’ve noticed a disconnect
Between studying patients
And seeing them in the flesh
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A “hypothetical” patient
Students riddle the answer
“Can’t breathe, can’t speak, can’t swallow his tea;
Anaplastic thyroid cancer”
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“If I were him
I’d start drafting my will”
A smug student chortles
And laughs with a thrill
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It’s easy to feel removed
From this “character’s” plight
When you survey the room
No patient in sight
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Desensitization:
The name of the game​
Dissect, don't reflect
Then do it again
​No time to pause
To stop and digest
Keep up with the punishing pace
Of these tests
Eye on the prize
Get the diploma
Until my uncle was diagnosed
With glioblastoma
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All at once
It became crystal clear
These “fictional” patients
Are actually real
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So, I hold onto this tightly
I’ve made it my mission
To care, grieve, and pray for them
I’m their physician
"This poem was inspired by the shift in my perspective following a cancer diagnosis in my family. It served as a reminder that the patients we study in our pre-clerkship years all represent real people with families, jobs, hobbies, and passions. We must not lose sight of this in the high stress, fast paced environment of medical school that can sometimes promote knowledge and success over empathy and human condition."
Donate Today
We need your help to transform the standard of care for glioblastoma.
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Your donation will directly fund the development of novel drug therapies for glioblastoma. Together we can find new therapies for glioblastoma.
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Please consider supporting our mission to transform the standard of care for glioblastoma.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about upcoming events or questions regarding The Morizzo Foundation and our mission, send us a message today.