Yale School of Medicine Receives $1 Million Gift Toward Breast Cancer Research

The Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Department of Surgery has received a $1 million gift from Raj and Indra Nooyi to establish the Raj and Indra Nooyi Cancer Research Fund. Under the direction of Mehra Golshan, MD, MBA, professor of surgery (oncology), and in collaboration with Parisa Lotfi, MD, assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, this fund will support groundbreaking and life-giving research aimed at reducing the toxicity and burden of cancer treatment. This initiative also reflects the strength of YSM’s multidisciplinary approach, which fosters collaboration across the medical and surgical fields.

Indra Nooyi, ’80 MPPM, the former chair and CEO of PepsiCo, and her husband, Raj Nooyi, a former supply chain management executive, have continued to expand their philanthropic endeavors with Yale. In addition to YSM, they support Yale’s Schools of Management and Public Health.

The establishment of the Raj and Indra Nooyi Cancer Research Fund stems from the Nooyis' visionary and philanthropic mindset. Aware of the critical need for innovative research in oncology, the Nooyis chose to make this impactful gift to foster groundbreaking research at YSM’s Department of Surgery in the realm of oncology. “We have spent time together on numerous occasions discussing the challenges of conducting cutting-edge research when funding is limited through traditional grant mechanisms,” said Golshan. “Their desire to support both cancer research and surgery at YSM sparked this initiative.”

The Raj and Indra Nooyi Cancer Research Fund will have a profound impact on the work of Golshan, enabling his team to further their research in reducing the burden of breast cancer through early detection, advanced treatment strategies, and de-escalating the toxicity of cancer treatments. Golshan highlights the significance of the Nooyis’ philanthropic support, stating, “They are providing groundbreaking research funding that will allow for the most optimal, patient-centered care and decrease the burden of breast cancer treatment.”

In particular, this collaborative research effort has focused on reducing the toxicity of breast cancer treatments by employing novel image-guided and molecular-based imaging techniques. These methods aim to minimize the need for re-operations in breast cancer. In addition, the team’s work focuses on de-escalating the amount of treatment for low-risk conditions such as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) and reducing the incidence while improving outcomes for women who develop lymphedema (arm swelling) associated with breast cancer surgery.

This generous gift by the Nooyis underscores their belief in Golshan’s pioneering research. He emphasizes the collective contributions of his team and collaborators, sharing, “Our team has spent more than two decades reducing the extent of breast cancer treatment by using innovative techniques. Our goal is to identify a subset of patients who may not need surgery and improve overall treatment strategies with a patient-tailored approach to a new cancer diagnosis.”

Golshan finds the collaborative nature of their work to be most gratifying, particularly the opportunity to work with talented colleagues across various disciplines of the oncology and surgery field. This dynamic environment continuously fosters new ideas and solutions, always with the patient’s best interest at the forefront.

He acknowledges the challenges, especially when funding is limited, but remains optimistic about the future with support like the Nooyis’. “It’s important to listen to the patient and understand their goals,” he said. “We offer treatment options that tailor to their cancer and improve their quality of life. Each year, 2.5 million people worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. We must strive to do better—and sooner.”

Reflecting on this cornerstone gift, Golshan expresses deep gratitude: “Raj and Indra Nooyi are a remarkable couple, always looking to advance and support those who are on the cutting edge of advancing the sciences. Parisa and I are grateful and humbled by their support and generosity.”