Projects 2014-2020
They are not guilty of being 18 
This program, implemented together with our partner – Medical Center of Children Hematology, Oncology and Immunology n.a. Dmitry Rogachev, focuses on rendering medical assistance to children, who by the reason of attaining the age of 18, cannot stay any longer in the Rogachev Center, receiving treatment, financed from the budget.
Our Foundation covers all the expenses related to the cure of these “young adults” in the leading Oncological Center of Russia.
Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Unit
Sheba Medical Center, Israel
This branch of activity is realized in the partnership with Sheba Medical Center which is the leading medical complex and the most comprehensive center of Israel and the Middle East. This is the acknowledged symbol of modern technologies and achievements in science, medicine, treatment and patient-care area.
It was founded in 1948 during Israel’s War of Independence as the first military hospital and over the past 60 years Sheba Medical Center has revolutionized medical care in Israel and in the Middle East.
Today Sheba combines six major facilities: a vast medical research complex, medical education academic campus, acute care hospital, children’s hospital, women’s hospital, the country’s main rehabilitation hospital, and the world’s leading medical simulation center.
Immense complex Sheba comprises 64 medical departments, 75 laboratories, 110 outpatient clinics. The medical staff numbers over 7 500 persons, including 1 400 doctors and 2 600 nurses. Counting with 1700 hospital beds Sheba conducts 46 000 operations annually, and handles 1,5 million patient visits a year.
Sheba is home to Basic and Applied Major Research Centers in autoimmune diseases, cancer genetics and treatment, cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences, stem cell and regenerative medicine etc.
The Sheba Cancer Treatment Center is one of the largest cancer centers in the world, integrating sophisticated clinical methods with compassionate and supportive attitude to cancer treatment. The ultra-modern center treats more than 2 500 new patients a year, and handles more than 30 000 patient visits annually. Its Radiotherapy Center is one of the busiest stereotactic radiotherapy programs in the world. It treats 2 500 patients each year and over 160 patients every day. The Sheba Cancer Research Center engages in cutting-edge re-clinical research that brings to cancer patients the most advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities.
The category of young adults has been under the focused attention of doctors and scientists lately. In Israel, approximately 600 persons between the ages of 18-30 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Similar situation is noted in other countries as well. Cancer is admitted to be the most frequent cause of death in people of this age. The reason for the special concern given to this group is twofold: the incidence of cancer in young people ages 18 – 30 years has steadily increased during the past 25 years, while the outcomes of treatment for this group has not improved to the extent they have for younger children and older adult populations.
In fact, cancer appearing in this age group tends to be more aggressive than cancers appearing in older patients, and it is not diagnosed in its early stages what makes the conditions for cure poor. It should be noted as well that almost none of the newest and most effective drugs are tested on this specific age group. As a result, survival rate of cancer patients in the 18 – 30 year age group is considerably lower than either children or older adults afflicted by cancer.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness, both internationally and in Israel, that cancer young adult patients have also specific psychological, emotional and social characteristics that influence their treatment and their survival, recognizing it as a sub-specialty within oncology. These young adults afflicted with cancer are often at the most critical stage of their personal development and identity, and in some cases are beginning to raise families. Throughout their hospitalization and treatment, the hospital must take into regard the needs and difficulties of the patients and the people who are their support systems during the varying stages of the illness – this is a very important aspect, influencing the survival rate. Some of the patients are planning to have children, and the best doctors and specialists of Sheba, having at disposal the most advanced gene technologies, help to exclude the oncological inheritance in future.
The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer currently operates two cancer treatment centers: the pediatric Hemato – oncology department in its Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, and the adult oncology department in the Sheba Cancer Treatment Center. However, the current configuration of these wards does not provide the call-for specialized and comprehensive response that is needed when dealing with young adults.
The initiative of establishing a new Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Unit was supported by Mark Kaufman, who personally invested 1 000 000 USD in this project. The official opening ceremony took place on the 26th of February, 2015.
In acknowledgement of Dr. Kaufman’s active participation and financial support the top management of Sheba Medical Center took a decision of naming the new department “The Kaufman Foundation Unit".
The partner of Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation in this project is a nonprofit Israeli Foundation “Keren Hayesod”.
Genome based tailored personalized therapy
Sheba Cancer Research Center
Adolescents and Young Adults aged 15 to 39 are more prone to develop cancer than children under the age of 15. The most common types of cancer seen in adolescents and young adults are central nervous system tumors, sarcomas, lymphoma, leukemia, germ cell tumors, melanoma, and breast, cervical, liver, thyroid, and colorectal cancers. The Sheba Medical Center is the largest hospital in Israel and in the Middle East and is a renowned academic and research center.
Sheba is the largest oncology center in the country and is acknowledged as a center of excellence in adult and pediatric oncology. In recent years a major effort is invested in both the comprehensive treatment of adolescent and young adult cancer patients and in the research of the molecular basis of the main types of cancer that affect this category of patients.
The deciphering of the first complete human genome sequence a decade ago is a milestone in biomedical research. Today, new groundbreaking technologies allow rapid and affordable sequencing of large numbers of complete genomes. Parallel advances in bioinformatics, the analysis of thousands of proteins by proteomics are revolutionizing biology and medicine.
An advanced genomics facility was established at the Sheba Cancer Research Center a decade ago and became a leading biomedical research oriented center, using the most advanced technologies including next generation sequencing. The Israeli government awarded recently a center of excellence grant for "systems biology of complex diseases" to a consortium of several leading academic institutions. The Sheba Medical Center was chosen as the genomics center of this consortium. Using these assets it established a comprehensive oncology genomic center that will benefit the patients in Israel and bring advanced genomics based medicine from the bench to the bedside while advancing biomedical research.
Sheba applies a unique experimental approach using the most advanced genomic tools especially in treatment of the most difficult cases, when the patients are resistant to the standard protocols and traditional methods, like chemotherapy (which frequently leads to sterility of the above mentioned category of patients). The genome therapy for adolescent and young adult cancer patient allows to find the individual treatment approach based on the expensive “new generation” medicines, which just can’t be used blindly: given that the genome therapy belongs to the experimental field of the medicine, it is not financed either from the state budget or by the insurance companies.
Shortly after the inauguration of the Kaufman Foundation Unit for Adolescents and Young Adults in February, 2015 Professor Mark Kaufman took a decision to extend cooperation with Sheba Medical Center and to finance the heavy cost of genomic tests which can increase the potential long term recovery of patients suffering from cancer. In 2015 Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation plans to finance around 100 genome studies in the total value of up to 250,000.00 USD. These are primarily the patients with bad cancer cases resistant to the conventional methods of treatment.
Educational program on the basis of Sheba cancer center
Under the terms of agreement with Sheba cancer center a group of the leading specialists of Dmitry Rogachev oncological center in 2015 - 2016 completed the training aimed to implement the genome therapy in Russia at the earliest possible moment. The first group of doctors succesfully finished a 2-week course in June 2015. The second group visited Sheba in January 17 -30, 2016.
Municipal clinical hospital of S. Botkin project
Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation launched a new project, carried out in the framework of the agreement between the municipal clinical hospital n. a. S. Botkin and FSCC PHOI n.a. Dmitry Rogachev.
Cytogenetic and molecular analyses are the fundamentally essential at the first – time (primary) diagnostics of the patients with such grave diseases as the acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.
These laboratorial analyses make it possible to specify both the prognosis and the therapeutic approach (standard/target/ «restrictive» chemotherapy, including the decision upon transplantation of the hematopoietic stem cells).
Annually the clinical hospital n.a. S. Botkin accepts around 200 – 250 patients diagnosed with ALL and 80-90 with myelodysplastic syndrome. However at present the hospital does not possess the necessary laboratory equipment to carry out the study on its own.
Since 2014 our foundation has been collaborating with the FSCC PHOI n.a. Dmitry Rogachev which is one of just a few federal centers that is equipped with the ultra – modern cytological and molecular laboratories, capable of undertaking the corresponding studies.
Taking into the account the acute necessity of the mentioned above laboratory studies in case of the oncological diseases, the President of the foundation Mark Kaufman made a decision of financing the cytological and molecular analyses for the patients from the municipal clinical hospital n. a. S. Botkin in FSCC PHOI n.a. Dmitry Rogachev. The project was launched at the end of March, 2016.
August, 2017
From June to August 2017 another 38 patients of the municipal clinical hospital n.a. S. Botkin passed the cytogenetic and molecular analysis at FSCC PHOI n.a. Dmitry Rogachev. We continue to support them, following their case records.
April, 2017
We are at the end of a full year of three-party cooperation between Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation, the municipal clinical hospital n. a. S. Botkin and FSCC PHOI n.a. Dmitry Rogachev. The outcome results of cytogenetic and molecular analysis realized on the basis of Dmitry Rogachev Center proved the relevance of carrying forward the project.
From April, 2016 through May, 2017 two hundred patients of Botkin clinical hospital had the cytogenetic and molecular analysis, which allowed the physicians to confirm/exclude the diagnosis, determine/adapt the treatment tactics, decide upon bone marrow transplantation. 39 patients after the diagnosis was confirmed and the therapeutic approach was specified - reached remission and either released from hospital or having supporting treatment. 48 patients responded to the treatment and the physicians decide on the prognosis as favorable.
Understanding the acute necessity of having the cytogenetic and molecular analysis, which are the foundational in primary diagnostics, Mark Kaufman - the President of the Charitable Foundation took a decision of one year renewal of the project.
Our foundation sincerely thanks the investment compnay A1 and Mr. Vinokurov A.S. personally for the donation of RUR 585 120 done in March 2017 in support of the progamme with the clinical hospital n.a. S. Botkin.
The Charitable foundation of Mark Kaufman sincerely thanks Mr. Vinokurov S.L. for his generous donation of RUR 1 000 000 done in November, 29, 2016 in support of this really important project.
We express our grateful acknowledment personally to Mr. Vinokurov A.S. and his friends who donated in October 2016 the amount of RUR 775 179,00 to this project.
Partnership with Thalassotherapia Opatija, Croatia
The new branch of activity of Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation is realized in partnership with the Thalassotherapia Opatija, based in the Republic of Croatia.
Founded in 1957 Thalassotherapia Opatija is admitted to be the leading center for cardiac rehabilitation in Croatia and one of the largest laboratories for functional non – invasive cardiac diagnosis.
By the decision of the Ministry of Health of Croatia in 1981 the Center was granted the status of the Special Hospital for the rehabilitation of heart, lungs and rheumatism, and in 1998 became the first and the only Reference Centre for Healthcare Tourism and Medically Programmed Recreation for the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia.
Thalassotherapia Opatija’s fundamental activities beside the primary cardiological direction include the physical medicine, rehabilitation, rheumatology, dermatology and neurology fields.
Complimentary to the continuous improvement of its traditional functions the Thalassotherapia Opatija with the equal professional enthusiasm focuses on the health and spa tourism, opening on its basis the top wellness center with a wide range of services.
To provide a breakthrough approach to the diagnostics and treatment of the cardiac diseases, the Thalassotherapia Opatija in partnership with Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation established within the Special Hospital a new Unit, equipped with the next generation device “Siemens Cios Alpha” for angiography and electro stimulation.
The cost of the equipment, donated by the Foundation, arises to 190,000 Euro, and in acknowledgement of the financial support rendered by Mark Kauffman Charitable Foundation the cutting edge Unit will be named “Kaufman Foundation Unit”.
In February, 17th the department was officially inaugurated. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Mr. Željko Plazonić expressed his personal gratitude to Professor Mark Kaufman for the «invaluable contribution in this top priority project, that provides the base for rendering high – quality medical services to the citizens of Croatia, and for reinforcing standing of the country on the market of international health tourism». The Director of «Thalassotherapia Opatija» Mr.Victor Peršić stated in his turn that the new department, inaugurated through Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation support will allow the Center to enter a whole new level of providing the medical assistance to the patients.The grand opening of the department is already qualified as the flagship event of the year 2017 – when «Thalassotherapia Opatija» celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The Scientific Centre of Monaco (CSM)
The Scientific Centre of Monaco was founded in 1960 at the request of Prince of Monaco Rainier III to provide the Principality of Monaco with the means of carrying out oceanographic research and to support governmental and international organizations responsible for the protection and conservation of marine life.
Since 1989, the CSM has specialized in studying the function of coralline ecosystems (tropical and Mediterranean) with regards to global climatic changes and pollution problems.
On the basis of CSM two more perspective and fast growing brancheswere recently launched: Polar Biology Department which brings the scientific basis to use penguins as bioindicator of environmental changes in polar ecosystems, and Medical Biology Department which links basic molecular research and clinical applications, providing the new approaches to pathology treatment, including cancer diseases. The Medical Biology Department includes an observatory for the use of cord blood in the treatment of sickle cell disease, an agency for the development of clinical research in the Principality of Monaco and two translational research teams bringing the results of basic research into clinical laboratories.
Since 2015 Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation has started a close cooperation with the Scientific Centre of Monaco, having donated 50,000 Euro.
Given the utmost importance of CSM activity for the Principality HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco approved the foundation of the Association of CSM Friends (L'Association des Amis du Centre Scientifique de Monaco), which was finally founded in February, 2015 under the chairmanship of HRH Princess Camilla de Bourbon.
M. Kaufman was invited as one of the foundation members of the Association.
Outward Bound Monaco
One of the private projects, implemented and financed personally by Prof. Mark Kaufman is the financial support of the Outward Bound Trust (UK) branch in Monaco – Outward Bound Monaco, presided by Prince Albert II.
Being one of the honorary members of Outward Bound Monaco, Mark Kaufman on a regular basis backs up the Association, primarily sponsoring the courses, which aimed at unlocking the potential in young people through discovery and adventure in the wild.
The Outward Bound Trust was founded in 1941 by Lawrence Holt, Chairman of the Blue Funnel Shipping Line, and the renowned educationalist Kurt Hahn. It was initially intended as a survival school for merchant seamen who might find themselves shipwrecked and forced to cope with all manner of situations and conditions in any environment in the world.
After the war, it was felt by many that the success of the school was in more than just teaching survival skills. The Outward Bound programme could also, in peacetime, be a valuable means of making individuals more independent, self aware and able to cope for themselves.
Today young people from all social backgrounds can attend courses and here through outdoor challenges they do realize what one of the greatest sentences in the English language “I can” really means.
To support the activity of Outward Bound Monaco on the 6th of December, 2014 Prince of Monaco Albert II hosted a spectacular event – the 9th Charitable Bal De Noël, which took place in Belle Epoque (Hermitage Hotel). The high spot of the event became the traditional charitable Sotheby’s auction, and one the striking lots was the rare cognac Hennessy Timeless 1999 from the private collection of Mark Kaufman along with the fantastic visit to the historical residence of the Hennessy House - Château Bangolet.
Web - service launch in collaboration with Geophysical Center,
Russian Academy of Sciences
In the framework of collaboration between the Geophysical Center Russian Academy of Sciences (GC RAS) and the Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation a web-service portal gis.gcras.ru will provide on-line access to a set of maps showing the incidence of children's oncology and mortality in the regions of Russia in recent years.
The maps provide information on pediatric oncology and child mortality from cancer, depending on the sex of the child and the type of cancer. Data will be presented at the regional level in the territory of Russia showing the dynamics of changes in recent years, which allows the trends in morbidity and mortality to be analyzed.
The web-service includes an application for remote user interaction with the corresponding digital layers. This specialized mapping web application does not require the end users to install additional geo-information software. All digital spatial data layers (the maps) and the appropriate attribute information is stored centrally on the GIS server to access the multiuser mode.
The developed interface allows a comparative analysis of spatial data in pediatric oncology in order to provide information to the public about the development of diseases at the regional level. Data analysis can be performed by any user of the system via a browser, through the implementation of convenient and affordable tool for data visualization. Each set of maps is also accompanied by thematic description.
According to the results of the project in addition to the direct mapping service developed by experts of GC RAS, a data mining process will reveal some patterns of morbidity, that in the future, we hope, will become an efficient tool to prevent them.
Mark Kaufman Charitable Foundation granted 920 000 RUB to support this project.
The first set of maps was uploaded in January, 2015. Thus, you obtain a unique opportunity to get access to the following statistics:
- children cancer disease (0-17) in 2004-2013;
- girls cancer disease (0-17) in 2008- 2013;
- boys cancer disease (0-17) in 2008-2013.