/EINPresswire.com/ -- CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - October 22, 2015) - Eric Lefkofsky, CEO and Co-founder of Groupon, and his wife Liz have pledged $500,000 to support research into pancreatic, stomach, and other malignant cancers through Duke Medical Center's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. The donation will be funded through the Lefkofsky Family Foundation. The research will be overseen by Dr. Darell Bigner and Dr. Matthias Gromeier who invented the genetically modified polio virus which is the subject of the research. If successful, this study could bring to market new options for fighting cancers of the pancreas, stomach, and have implications for additional cancer investigations.

Liz and Eric Lefkofsky are proud to be part of these medical gifts and donations. Through their giving to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, research into a method of using polio vaccinations to help prevent certain types of pancreatic and stomach cancers will be able to continue. Donating directly to research facilities such as this one gives scientists an opportunity to work more quickly and efficiently toward their goals, bringing beneficial medical solutions to market much more rapidly. According to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, having "trusted partnerships in funding...leads to accelerated results in terms of research objectives." This gift honors the Lefkofsky Family Foundation's commitment to contribute to innovation and advanced medical research of chronic and terminal illnesses.

The Lefkofsky Family Foundation is a charitable trust that was formed in 2006. Its purpose is to support charitable, civic, scientific, and educational causes and organizations around the world. The trust particularly focuses on the needs of women and children and works to meet its mission by ensuring access to quality education, improving fundamental human rights, propelling innovative medical research, and expanding cultural initiatives. In the past, the Foundation has worked to support cancer research in a variety of locations, such as the Mayo Clinic, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

About Lefkofsky Family Foundation

The Lefkofsky Family Foundation is a private charitable foundation that was established in 2006 by Liz and Eric Lefkofsky. The purpose of the Lefkofsky Family Foundation is to advance high-impact programs, initiatives and research that enhance the quality of human life in the communities we serve. To achieve this mission, the Foundation strives to: ensure access to quality education; improve fundamental human rights; propel innovative medical research; and expand cultural initiatives. For more information on the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, visit: http://lefkofskyfoundation.com

About Eric Lefkofsky

Eric Lefkofsky is CEO and Co-founder of Groupon. He is also a Co-founder of Lightbank, InnerWorkings, Echo Global Logistics, Mediaocean, and Uptake. Eric Lefkofsky is a Trustee of Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theater, The Museum of Science and Industry and World Business Chicago. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago. Eric Lefkofsky graduated from the University of Michigan and received his Juris Doctor at University of Michigan Law School. For more information on Eric Lefkofsky, visit: http://www.lefkofsky.com

Lefkofsky Family Foundation: http://lefkofskyfoundation.com

Eric Lefkofsky - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eplefkofsky

Eric Lefkofsky - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlefkofsky

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