Rebels With a Cause Gala to Honor Tech Titan Larry Ellison

LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Stars of movies, music, medicine and technology will join at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood on March 20 for the second annual Rebels With a Cause gala honoring titan of technology and powerhouse philanthropist, Larry J. Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation.  Last year's event raised $3.6 million for the revolutionary and life-saving research of David B. Agus, M.D., director of the USC Westside Cancer Center and the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine (CAMM).

Honorary co-chairs are Cassandra and Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, and Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Keck School of Medicine. Co-presenting sponsors are Lynne and Marc Benioff, founder, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com.  The gala will feature special performances by music superstar Barry Manilow and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-record producer Pharrell Williams with Grammy Award-winner David Foster serving as musical director.  Internationally acclaimed director and producer Don Mischer will produce and Jimmy Kimmel will host.

"Larry has been a champion of our Center's work from day one when his foundation announced funding for the initiation of our cancer research at the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine," said David Agus, M.D., director for CAMM. "His generous support through the years is allowing us to explore unique approaches to medical oncology that will help us better control a disease which impacts millions worldwide."

Co-chair Brad Grey said, "Cassandra and I are honored to be co-hosting this event. Dr. Agus and his team's tireless and most innovative efforts towards fighting cancer is what propelled us to support this incredibly worthy cause. Like Dr. Agus and Larry Ellison, the night's distinguished honoree, we are committed to the profound advancements taking place in the fields of genomics, proteomics and gene sequencing. "

The USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine was founded at the Keck School of Medicine in 2009 by David Agus, M.D., to develop new cross-disciplinary approaches to treating and preventing cancer. The Center includes team members with expertise spanning oncology, cancer biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, computer science, electrical engineering, bioorganic chemistry, physics and applied mathematics.  The CAMM program includes the clinical care of cancer patients at the USC Norris Westside Cancer Center in Beverly Hills.  http://camm.usc.edu/.

SOURCE USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine

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http://camm.usc.edu