President's Story:

A 12-year cancer survivor, Lynette Bisconti is a passionate champion for patient empowerment and patient-centered care. Her personal experience of navigating through cancer treatment at a young age while pregnant taught her how to advocate for herself. Now she advocates for others.

Ms. Bisconti is an accomplished and nationally recognized speaker on patient-centered care and patient empowerment. She has appeared on the Today Show, been involved in the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, and has served on the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Patient Advisory Board where she brought awareness to health care policy and cancer research.  Ms. Bisconti brings a critical perspective to the needs of cancer patients and their families and continues to push for increased funding, improved research methods and better access to quality care.

As president of The Gateway for Cancer Research, a non-profit organization, Ms. Bisconti has shaped its mission to provide cancer patients with treatment options that can quickly restore quality of life and health.  Ms. Bisconti is working to change the face of cancer research today by injecting urgency and accountability into the equation.

At The Gateway, the only results that matter are those that restore quality of life, provide a patient with more time or cure a patient today. As such, The Gateway supports treatment innovators^SM who are focused on delivering new treatment options to today’s patients, as well as holding itself and treatment innovators^SM accountable for continuous improvement and results. The Gateway looks to support bold ideas that might not otherwise receive funding.  It is unique among cancer charities in that 99 cents of every dollar received goes directly to cancer research.

Founder’s Story:

Mary Brown Stephenson lived a rich and meaningful life. Her son, Richard J Stephenson, remembers her as a supportive, empowering mother with a strong spirit and will. Mary’s life was inspiring, in part, because of the many battles she won with grace and strength. However, more than 25 years ago, Mary faced a battle she could not win. Mary and her family found themselves in a place of ongoing frustration. She was unable to access the arsenal of weapons necessary to fight her disease, and she lost her battle.

Mary’s daunting experience and struggle with cancer led to Mr. Stephenson’s personal quest to change the face of cancer by empowering cancer patients with holistic medical care and innovative treatment options to fight their disease.

In 1991, Mr. Stephenson founded Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, now known as The Gateway for Cancer Research. The organization is a not-for-profit corporation and public charity that was established to identify and pursue new and promising clinical studies and progressive treatments leveraging innovative medical technologies and practices. Over the years, The Gateway has expanded its staff and, for a time, operated the Society for Nutritional Oncology Adjuvant Therapy (NOAT).

Today, The Gateway is dedicated to curing cancer by funding clinical studies focused on finding promising new treatment options and lifesaving breakthroughs for today's cancer patients. Our organization follows Mr. Stephenson’s original goal: to offer whole patient care that encompasses mind, body and spirit—and empowers each patient to play an active role in their care.