On December 4th, 2019, The University of Iowa Center for Advancement announced that J.D. and Jill Thoreson of Mason Ciy, Iowa, had pledged $1 million for the J.D. and Jill Thoreson Breast Cancer Research Fund. J.D. Thoreson, M.D., is a retired gastroenterology physician who has served Mason City for a number of years. J.D. and Jill Thoreson admire the work of Dr. Ron Weigel, EA Crowell Jr. Professor and Chair of Surgery, and his team to improve the lives of breast cancer patients. To show their gratitude, the Thoresons created the J.D. and Jill Thoreson Breast Cancer Research Fund and made this gift as a commitment to help further advance Dr. Weigel and his team with their research efforts. Dr. Weigel's laboratory has worked for some time on determining the mechanisms of hormone response in breast cancer.