PITTSBURGH, Oct. 1, 2026 – The Mario Lemieux Foundation, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and the University of Pittsburgh today celebrated the launch of the Mario Lemieux Microbiome Innovation Center, a pioneering initiative designed to advance research into the role of the microbiome in cancer prevention, treatment response, and patient outcomes.
Established through a $5 million gift from the Mario Lemieux Foundation, the center will provide researchers with cutting-edge resources to better understand how microorganisms that naturally live in and on the human body can influence cancer development and treatment effectiveness. UPMC will further amplify the impact of this gift with a $1 million contribution.
“UPMC Hillman and University of Pittsburgh investigators are already making internationally recognized discoveries in microbiome research with important implications for patients with both solid tumors and blood cancers,” said John C. Byrd, MD, director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. “This new center will bring that work together and expand its impact by providing shared resources, including microbiome biobanking, AI-enabled analytics to help researchers uncover patterns that may improve cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship.”
The center also reflects a shared commitment between the Mario Lemieux Foundation and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to invest in groundbreaking research that improves lives and advances the future of cancer care.
“When the Foundation began, we could not have imagined all the ways it would grow or the innovative research it would one day help make possible,” said Thomas Grealish, president of the Board of Directors of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. “But this is exactly why the Foundation exists: to support hope, progress and exceptional cancer care for patients and families. We are proud to help launch a center that has the potential to transform how cancer is understood and treated for generations to come.”
Growing evidence suggests the microbiome may influence cancer risk, treatment response, immune function, and overall patient outcomes, making it one of the most promising emerging areas of oncology research.
“Every patient’s cancer journey is different,” said Lauren Lemieux Antoni, treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Mario Lemieux Foundation and daughter of Mario and Nathalie Lemieux. “By bringing together information about a person’s biology, health, treatment history, lifestyle, diet and outcomes, researchers can begin to understand why some therapies work better for certain patients than others. The goal is simple: to learn faster and bring new discoveries to patients sooner. This research will help our remarkable physicians and scientists at UPMC Hillman identify better treatments and improve outcomes for patients facing cancer.”
The center will serve as a hub for UPMC Hillman and University of Pittsburgh researchers studying both solid tumors and blood cancers, helping to accelerate progress in an emerging field with significant potential for patients. By design, the center will accelerate discoveries toward pilot clinical trials, novel interventions, and more personalized treatment strategies for patients.
“As we begin this exciting new chapter through the Mario Lemieux Microbiome Innovation Center, we do so with gratitude, optimism and renewed purpose,” said Stanley M. Marks, MD, chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. “Together, we are advancing innovation, accelerating discovery and moving closer to a future where cancer is no longer a devastating diagnosis for patients and their families. The Mario Lemieux Foundation’s vision and generosity will help propel groundbreaking research that ultimately benefits patients around the world.”
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About UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center connects patients to the integrated expertise of leading clinicians, academic researchers, specialty programs and treatment centers. By partnering with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region, is accelerating the breakthroughs from the lab to clinical practice around the world. UPMC – nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in cancer care – has 80 cancer treatment locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Maryland as well as centers in Ireland, Italy and Croatia. Backed by the collective strength of UPMC, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center provides leading-edge treatments and the latest in clinical investigations to transform cancer research, care and prevention—one patient at a time.
About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to UPMC. Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow’s health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease, and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. For additional information about Pitt Health Sciences, please visit www.health.pitt.edu.
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