Jose Russo brought more than just a medical career to the table when he began his career in cancer research at the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina. There he met a woman whose passion for science matched his own.
Irma Russo (Alvarez at the time) was also studying medicine, but their paths crossed and they began a journey of scientific discovery that spanned decades as well as a life of love and companionship. More than 30 of those years were spent at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Jose and Irma married in 1971 and immigrated to the United States to pursue research as part of a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, a research organization dedicated to solving global challenges in medicine and public health.
Soon after, they moved to the Michigan Cancer Foundation, now Karmanos Cancer Institute, in Detroit.
The couple’s work at the center will be the foundation of their lifelong mission to research breast cancer, its causes, and potential means of prevention.
As a team, they were pioneers in understanding how pregnancy affects breast cancer prevention.
Research results using human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy hormone, in the prevention of breast cancer have led to clinical trials currently underway internationally.
“I’m glad the trial is moving forward. I know that’s something my father really wanted to see, so I’m really happy to see it,” said Jose and Irma’s daughter, also said Patricia Russo, who pursued a career in medicine.
