Dr. Nicholas J. Vogelzang
Chairman

Ann Abbe
Secretary

Dr. J. Ulf Jungnelius
Treasurer

Dr. Jarl Ulf Jungnelius is the Vice President of Oncology, Solid Tumors at Celgene. Prior to this position he was responsible for late stage oncology programs at Pfizer Inc and Eli Lilly & Company. He brings to the Foundation his expertise as a medical and radiation oncologist, his experience in pharmaceutical drug development and cancer research, and his great contacts within the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. As an executive of one the key oncology discovery and clinical development companies in the world, he adds a key piece to the Foundation's effort to engage America's corporations in the mission to eradicate mesothelioma.

Celgene
86 Morris Ave
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-673-9000
Fax: 908-673-9001
jarljungnelius@aol.com

Robert A. Cosentino
Director

After Mary Cosentino was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in January 2003, she and her husband Bob, side by side, became devoted Meso Foundation volunteers, financial supporters and political advocates.

In 2007, Mary joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Together, Mary and Bob brought to the Foundation and the entire meso community their first-hand knowledge and thorough understanding of the challenges that patients and their loved ones encounter when faced with mesothelioma. They also brought their positive, optimistic attitude that a cure for meso will be found, and meso patients and families truly can make a difference. As one example of this, Mary and Bob were the first financial supporters of the Foundation’s new grant program providing financial assistance to patients for meso expert consultation.

After a five-year battle with peritoneal mesothelioma, Mary succumbed to the disease on January 26, 2008. The Board of Directors and Staff of the Meso Foundation mourn the passing of our dear friend Mary Cosentino. Bob has agreed to join the Board of Directors and continue her work. Bob’s compassion, his personal understanding of the road meso patients and families walk, and his wisdom and experience from his years as an estate planning attorney will greatly benefit the community as we work toward a cure.

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.

Hanne Mintz
Director

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.
5657 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 310
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone 323.966.4655
hanne@paragonls.com 

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