Berenberg and Gary Player Continue Strong Partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center & Nebraska Medicine in the Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer

William Miklavcic, a graduate student in the lab of pancreatic cancer researcher, Tony Hollingsworth, PhD, prepares a scientific experiment with cancer cells with Gary Player looking on.

Ahead of this year’s Berenberg Invitational charity tournament, golf legend Gary Player visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the event’s beneficiaries, this week to immerse himself in one of the top research and treatment facilities in the world for pancreatic cancer. This renewed partnership will provide additional funding for the Center from monies raised at the event this October.

Player, who is a brand ambassador of Berenberg, the German private and investment bank, first donated funds to cancer research in 1965 after winning the U.S. Open and completing golf’s career grand slam, one of only five men to accomplish the feat in the sport’s history. This cause has been close to Player’s heart for decades – his mother died of cancer when he was 8 years old, and in August 2021, his wife died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Gary Player and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD at a news conference at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“I, along with Berenberg, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine leaders, researchers, and clinicians at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, believe pancreatic cancer is a curable disease,” said Player. “Especially after my wife’s passing, it was important for me to dedicate my time and energy to support all the doctors, scientists and researchers in their quest to find a cure and eradicate a disease that has taken so many lives.”

The UNMC partnership with Berenberg has already resulted in research innovation funding from the Berenberg Invitational, a charity golf event that raised $700,000 in 2021. As a result of the support from Berenberg, the Buffett Cancer Center will aim to explore new medical concepts that may lead to novel findings for drug discovery, development of biomarkers and a better understanding of the genomic complexities of pancreatic cancer.

Gary Player at news conference

“Our efforts in early detection and treatment of the disease will be the initial key area of focus from the funding support from Berenberg,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, Chancellor of UNMC. “In time and as more resources are available, it will provide support for novel clinical trial initiatives in immunotherapies, and if theories are validated, will help create a direct path to more effective therapies for treating pancreatic cancer.”

According to UNMC, pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal and aggressive types of cancer in existence and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States with approximately 62,000 new cases anticipated in 2022 (170 per day). The overall five-year survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer is 5.1 percent, and for those whose cancer has spread to other organs, survival rate drops to 1.8 percent.

Berenberg has successfully invested in the biotech space and secured IPO funding for several companies in the U.S. including AbCellera, BioNTech and ATAI Life Sciences, among others.

The bank employs a highly regarded healthcare/biotech research team and is a continuously top-ranked mid cap research and sales house.

“The biotech space is one where Berenberg has shown its commitment to supporting innovative companies that will make a difference in countless lives around the world,” said Hendrik Riehmer, Managing Parnter of Berenberg. “The synergy between Berenberg and UNMC and Nebraska Medicine’s efforts aligned perfectly, which is why we selected them as beneficiaries of the Berenberg Invitational. We are proud to play a small part in their ground-breaking advancements in medicine.”

The 2022 Berenberg Invitational is scheduled for October at GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, New York. Last year’s participants included golf professionals Gary Player, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Mark O’Meara, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Trevor Immelman, John Daly, Cristie Kerr, Justin Leonard and Paige Spiranac.