|
|
|
|
Hollings Cancer Center wins $1.4M for breast
cancer research
|
Researchers
from the Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) won a $1.4 million grant from the
U.S. Department of Defense to enhance breast cancer research at MUSC.
The four-year grant, which partners HCC researchers with a team from
the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, establishes a breast
cancer research training program at MUSC called BRIDGE, or Breast
Cancer Research Initiative for Developing Growth and Education. The
program enables young investigators to be closely mentored by
scientists from MUSC and Baylor College of Medicine, which is
internationally-recognized for breast cancer research.
In South Carolina, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer—and also
the second leading cause of cancer death—in women. There also are
significant differences in how breast cancer affects African-American
and Caucasian women.
“This grant will allow us to work with some of the world’s most
experienced breast cancer researchers. We will learn as much as we can
so we can work on South Carolina’s breast cancer problems,” said BRIDGE
principal investigator Carola Neumann, M.D., assistant professor of
cell and molecular pharmacology at MUSC.
The HCC research team includes Victoria Findlay, Ph.D., and Erika
Brown, Ph.D., both assistant professors of pathology & laboratory
medicine; Steven Rosenzweig, Ph.D., assistant director of Shared
Resources at HCC; Dennis Watson, Ph.D., program leader of the cancer
genes and molecular regulation program at HCC; Rita Kramer, M.D.,
breast oncologist; Anthony Alberg, Ph.D., assistant director of cancer
prevention and control at HCC; Marvella Ford, Ph.D., associate director
for cancer disparities at HCC; and Michael Wyatt, Ph.D., of the
University of South Carolina.
The BRIDGE program was established to continue the development of
preliminary research efforts of BRIDGE scholars. Recognized milestones
will feature BRIDGE scholars obtaining peer-reviewed, extramural
funding to support breast cancer research initiatives. BRIDGE also will
meet initial concepts in Prdx1 in preventing breast cancer metastasis;
deregulation of DNA repair proteins in triple negative breast cancer;
and report on the role of microRNAs in pre-clinical models of breast
cancer progression and metastasis.
A secondary goal to the program is to bring collaboration between MUSC
faculty from all academic levels and disciplines to contribute to
breast cancer research. Participants can gain from a structured,
interactive training plan with involvement in the MUSC Breast
Cancer Tumor Boards.
Friday, Nov. 5, 2010
|
|
|
