Full Circle: ICRF Research Saved My Life

ICRF leader Jeffrey Kriezelman’s connection to the mission is deeply personal. His life was saved by a proteasome inhibitor — a targeted therapy made possible by ICRF-funded science.

Proteasome inhibitors are a class of drugs that include widely-used options such as Velcade®. These treatments were developed from research by ICRF-funded scientists Professors Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover. Their discovery of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway led to this new type of targeted therapy that revolutionized multiple myeloma treatment, changing it from a fatal disease into a survivable condition. It also earned them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004.

Read the story below.

ICRF-Supported Science Is Why He Gives Back

For attorney and ICRF leader Jeffrey Kriezelman, cancer came without warning. At 62, he was healthy and active, until he wasn’t.

It was his son, Dr. Justin Kriezelman, an emergency physician, who diagnosed him with multiple myeloma. Jeffrey then underwent chemotherapy, stem cell treatment, and took a proteasome inhibitor, which saved his life. His multiple myeloma became a manageable disease.

As a strong supporter of Israel and its people, Jeffrey was proud to benefit from treatment that got its start there. Today, he is in remission, retired from practicing law, and enjoying life with his wife, children, and grandchildren—all things he does not take for granted. He is grateful for cancer research because it saved his life and stands as proof of the power of Israel’s innovative science and ICRF’s game-changing impact.

Things came full circle for Jeffrey when he had the chance to meet Professors Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover — the Nobel laureates whose discovery ultimately led to the development of proteasome inhibitors including Velcade®. At an ICRF gala in 2014, he humbly presented an award to Prof. Ciechanover and publicly thanked him for saving his life. It was a moment he will never forget.

Jeffrey recently joined other ICRF leaders on the 50th Anniversary Mission to Israel, an incredibly moving and informative experience. He especially enjoyed meeting the scientists and learning from their presentations.

“It was amazing to see the young researchers devoting themselves to their dreams. They come up with ideas and concepts, and they make things happen. Their ability to think outside the box gives me increased hope for cures for various cancers in our lifetime. ICRF made this happen!” – Jeffrey Kriezelman, ICRF Chicago Board Member

Jeffrey represents the remarkable full-circle impact of ICRF. His story reminds us that every grant, every breakthrough, and every discovery in Israel can prolong and save lives around the world—including his own.