News Release

October 28, 2010

Contact: Chris DeFrancesco, 860-679-3914
e-mail: cdefrancesco@uchc.edu

Avon Couple Pledges $1 Million for Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Richard and Jane Lublin, of Avon, have pledged an estimated $1 million bequest for the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

The gift will support the work of leading clinician-scientists including Dr. Upendra Hegde, co-director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center’s head and neck/oral oncology program and associate director of medical oncology in its melanoma program.

"You’re not going to solve this tomorrow, but Dr. Hegde is on the front line," Richard Lublin says. "Jane and I are both cancer survivors, and we are extremely interested in speeding up the research for more effective and faster ways of relieving patients of the terrible suffering they endure with this horrific disease."

The Lublins’ continued philanthropic support of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center includes a major gift last year in support of Hegde’s research, sponsorship of the inaugural White Coat Gala last April, and a commitment to be a lead sponsor of the 2011 White Coat Gala.

"We are grateful for the Lublins’ commitment to the UConn Health Center," Hegde says. "Philanthropy is essential to continuing the work we are doing in basic science research and translational medicine."

Richard Lublin is a longtime attorney in the Hartford area who in retirement became a television and film actor. He recently joined the advisory board of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is focused on helping researchers make advances.

More information about the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center is available at http://cancer.uchc.edu. More information about the UConn Foundation is available at www.foundation.uconn.edu.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/hegde.jpg
Caption: Dr. Upendra Hegde’s work as a clinician-scientist in the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center has inspired continued philanthropic support from Richard and Jane Lublin, of Avon.

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the UConn Health Today news page (http://today.uchc.edu) for regularly updated news and feature stories, photos and media stories. News releases are archived at http://today.uchc.edu/newsreleases/2014. UConn Health news and information is also available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.