Dr. Axel-Rainer Hanauske
Co-chair

Axel-Rainer Hanauske, MD, PhD, MBA is a medical oncologist whose scientific work focuses on drug development, translational research, and treatment individualization. In 1996 when he was the deputy Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Technical University in Munich, Dr. Hanauske and his group discovered the activity of Alimta/Cisplatin in mesothelioma as part of a Phase I study of the drug. He personally treated the first mesothelioma patient in the world with the combination of Alimta and Cisplatin, and the patient had a dramatic response. Dr. Hanauske and his group worked out the treatment regimen for Alimta/Cisplatin that is now currently used world wide. In 2000, Lilly invited him to continue to pursue development of his regimen by joining Lilly for the large Phase III clinical study (led by former Meso Foundation's Board of Director Chair Nicholas J. Vogelzang, MD), which led to the FDA’s approval of Alimta for treatment of mesothelioma, the first drug ever approved for the disease, which until then was considered hopelessly unresponsive to chemotherapy.

Dr. Hanauske is currently Vice President of Lilly Oncology Medical Europe, Australia, and Professor of Medicine at the Technical University in Munich. He has given dozens of presentations on mesothelioma and how to treat it, with an emphasis on the ongoing dangers of asbestos. Dr. Hanauske will utilize his extensive experience with mesothelioma drug development to help the Board of Directors guide the Foundation’s research program closer to a cure.

Global Brand Development Leader
Lilly Corporate Center
Indianapolis, IN

Hanne Mintz
Co-chair

Hanne Mintz is President of Paragon Language Services, Inc., a professional translation and interpreting agency providing services in over 90 languages, catering to all industries and disciplines. Hanne was born in Sweden and educated in Sweden, England and the United States.

The Mintz family was pulled into what to them was the previously unknown world of meso when Hanne’s 30 year-old son, Adam, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. Adam was a chef, an outdoorsman, a skier and hiker, a prankster, and a kind and generous young man. No one really knows how Adam was exposed to asbestos; however, every school he attended was contaminated, and the house where the family lived for 32 years was found to have transite, a common building material made from asbestos and cement. Adam’s sister, Marina, helped care for Adam while the family watched his steady, painful decline, wasting away from a 190lb young man to a 125lb shadow, 2½ years after his diagnosis.

Hanne is passionate about finding treatment and a cure. She began her quest when Adam was first diagnosed, and spent days and nights on the internet looking for any glimmer of hope, calling researchers, begging for Adam to be included in any treatment, however experimental. She knows the answers are out there, she is determined to make a difference and has pledged all her energy to support the Meso Foundation in its quest to save lives.

Paragon Language Services, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA

Donald A. Bendix
Director

Don Bendix is a retired CFO having served in that position for Ellison Machinery Company during his 40 year employment with the firm. Ellison Machinery is a distributor of machine tools and operates with branch offices throughout most of the United States. Don sold his interest in the company and retired in 2007. During his years in the machine tool industry, he served in various capacities for the American Machine Tool Distributors Association which culminated in the Chairmanship during 2002-2003. Don graduated from U.C.L.A. in 1959.

The Bendix family was introduced to the world of mesothelioma when their son, Ken, was diagnosed with peritoneal meso in early 2007 after several months of inconclusive tests for an undetermined origin of cancer and ascites in the abdomen. He died on September 29, 2009, at the age of 47, and had been President of an American subsidiary of a French software company specializing in “data mining”.

Ken had been helped measurably by the Foundation as he searched for information and resources to assist in his quest for effective treatment. He started a fund raising effort through the Foundation a year before his death with the intent to provide money for research. It culminated in the establishment of the Ken Bendix Memorial Grant shortly after his death. He attended the Meso Symposium in June 2009, and served on a panel to solicit funding from the Department of Defense for meso research during that same trip to Washington.

Northridge, CA

Dr. David S. Ettinger
Director

David S. Ettinger, MD, is the Alex Grass Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.  He also holds four additional professorships – professor of medicine, professor of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery, professor of gynecology and obstetrics, and professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences.

Dr. Ettinger received his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.  He completed his training in medical oncology at Johns Hopkins in 1975, and since then has been on the faculty of the School of Medicine.  He was chairman of the Thoracic Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (1980 to1982) and since 1990, has been chairman of the Medical Oncology Lung Subcommittee of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. 

Dr. Ettinger is a member of the board of directors of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) as well as a member of the NCCN Guidelines Steering Committee. From 1982 through 1990, he was principal investigator of the phase I studies of new anticancer agents, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Ettinger’s research interests are in new drug development and innovative multidisciplinary cancer treatment strategies.  He is also interested in improving supportive care measures associated with cancer and its treatment.  Dr. Ettinger has authored or co-authored over 190 articles and serves as an editor for Current Treatment Options in Oncology. He has been very involved with the American Cancer Society Maryland Division, including serving as its president from 1994 to 1996.

Dr. Ettinger is a true pioneer in cancer clinical care as well as a driving force in many of the national and international organizations that direct the future of cancer research and clinical care issues.  He is a global figure and will be instrumental in forging alliances with many of the countries around the globe who are just beginning to see the surge in mesothelioma cases.  He has history behind him and the future in his sights.  He has a reputation for “getting things done” and bringing everyone to the table.  We expect that he will become a driving force in the mesothelioma community as well as help set the direction for the future of the organization

Alex Grass Professor of Oncology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland

Lee Krug, MD
Director

Latanyta Manuel
Director

Latanyta Manuel’s fight against meso began when Andrew Manuel, her husband of 23 years, was diagnosed. Andrew lost his battle to meso on January 23, 2004 but Latanyta continues honoring his memory by helping raise awareness about this devastating disease. In Detroit and urban communities throughout the nation, meso is underdiagnosed, and those patients who are diagnosed do not receive adequate information on their treatment options. Latanyta wants to change this. In addition to her newly added responsibilities as a member of the Meso Foundation’s Board of Directors, Latanyta juggles motherhood and extensive involvement with her local community organizations. Latanyta is also a dedicated supporter of education. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Urban Lutheran School and she teaches Sunday school at her church.

Canton, MI

Erica Leigh Ruble
Director

Erica Leigh Ruble, is an estate planning lawyer from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Erica, received her JD from Nova Southeastern University Law School and her MA and BA in Communication from the University of Central Florida.

Erica’s life was forever changed when her dad, Lance, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma on August 7, 2007. Lance owned a successful construction company, coached collegiate roller hockey, and gave back to the community. But the greatest talent he shared was making his family feel loved and safe. Determined to get well, he had chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation in 10 months. He passed away shortly after treatment, on August 16, 2008.

Watching her dad lose his life to such a painful disease ignited a fire inside of her to search for better treatments for mesothelioma patients. Though her dad was gone, he embodied the meaning of LIFE. It is his spirit that lives on in her to help others. Erica is committed to a life-long contribution to fighting mesothelioma. She and her family fund the Lance S. Ruble Memorial Grant which contributes donations yearly to mesothelioma research. By promoting advocacy, awareness, and research, Erica has found a way to channel her pain to help others. It is her life’s mission to eradicate the vicious effects of this orphan disease.

In Memoriam

Rep. Bruce F. Vento Beginning in 1977, Congressman Vento served the people of Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives, as a strong advocate for the environment, working people and the disadvantaged. In January, 2000, he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. He joined the Foundation's Board of Directors, and began to speak out on the need for greater mesothelioma research funding. Congressman Vento died on October 10, 2000. For more about Congressman Vento, and his personal fight as well as his public fight against mesothelioma, please follow the links on the right.

Minnesota Rep. Bruce Vento Dies. October 10, 2000 Congressman Bruce Vento's Cause of Death Clarified. October 13, 2000 PRESS RELEASE: Congressman Bruce Vento Joins Nonprofit Foundation Dedicated to Eradicating Mesothelioma. September 11, 2000 Please click here for Rep. Vento's biography. September 8, 2000 Please click here to read Rep. Vento's inspiring speech endorsing MARF. May 10, 2000 A Salute to Bruce Vento and Call to Arms: Mesothelioma Will Not Be Overcome by Will, Passion and Spirit Alone. June 29, 2000