President Obama named Rudolf Jaenisch, MD (Fellowship Sponsor) of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, one of seven recipients of the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor.  Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering.  

Click here for The White House press release. 

Scott A. Armstrong, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘03-‘08) of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston, and Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD (Clinical Investigator Award Committee Member) of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, are two of this year’s recipients of the Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research.  The awards recognize three young investigators under the age of forty-six for their exceptionally innovative work that has helped to advance the field of cancer research.  Dr. Armstrong is recognized for notable achievements in the fields of cancer stem cell research and genomics that have led to landmark findings pointing to potential new therapies for leukemia.  Dr. Polyak is recognized for her pioneering genomic discoveries in normal and cancerous breast tissue and for her efforts to translate those findings into improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Click here for more. 

James E. Bradner, MD (Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator ‘11-‘13) of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and colleagues, identified the protein Brd4 as a critical requirement for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) disease maintenance.  Brd4 functions to control expression of Myc, a protein frequently disrupted in many cancers.  Blocking Brd4, using either RNA interference or a drug called JQ1, led to anti-leukemic effects such as cancer cell death and a delay in disease progression.  These findings were published in the journal Nature.   In a second paper published in the journal Cell, Bradner and colleagues reported the additional success of JQ1 in stopping the growth of multiple myeloma cells, which are dependent on Myc.  These studies establish inhibition of Brd4 as a promising therapeutic strategy in multiple cancers. 

Click here and here for more. 

Ramesh A. Shivdasani, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Scholar ‘98-‘99) of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and colleagues discovered a mechanism for how cancer cells become resistant to cetuximab/Erbitux, which is used to treat colorectal cancer or squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. They reported that a protein called ERBB2 allows cells to remain unresponsive to the drug. The study suggests that combining cetuximab with ERBB2-inhibiting drugs could be an effective therapy to both heighten and/or restore the drug’s potency. These findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. 

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Runyon 5K elite runners took the first lap on the warning track at Yankee Stadium	Participants and press watched as the crowd was addressed by Runyon 5K special guests
One group celebrated their teammate’s birthday at the Runyon 5K with party hats, birthday crown and all	13 members of Team Phys Ed made the trip from New Milford, CT, for the Runyon 5K
Alan Leventhal, Lorraine Egan, Michael Gargiulo, Roy White, and Tom Werner addressed participants	Runyon 5K volunteers kept runners and walkers motivated with catchy cheers
This Runyon 5K team did a locker room breakout before starting their run	Dozens of spectators posted notes in honor/memory of a loved one on the Runyon 5K Tribute Wall
Team Big Bob eagerly awaited their heat to be called to the start line	Runyon 5K Starter Roy White and NBC4’s Michael Gargiulo blasted the fog horn for the first heat
Like their favorite baseball players, many Runyon 5K participants found time to play to the camera	Everybody’s favorite part of the Runyon 5K: the warning track
Runners and walkers could see themselves on the center field video board as they rounded the field	4,000 participants were able to see the Stadium from a player’s point of view
Sean Norberg and Mike Galonski tied for first place with a time of 19:12:00	Even those trying to beat the heat found ways to honor loved ones affected by cancer

> View videos from the 2011 Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium

> View more photos on our Facebook page

Former Yankees Left Fielder, Red Sox Chairman Lead Event Kickoff

Update: As of October 18, the Runyon 5K has raised $720,000! New York, NY, August 8, 2011 — On August 7, 2011 thousands of avid runners, passionate baseball fans, cancer survivors, and supporters of cancer research took part in the third annual Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium, the only charitable run/walk that uses the legendy ballpark as its course.  The event sold out two weeks in advance, with 4,000 participants raising $615,000 for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative cancer research.
	On a warm and muggy summer day, fans – from 5 to 76 years old and traveling from 30 states – ran their own victory laps around the famous field in support of cancer research.  Cancer survivors and patients were joined by exhuberant baseball fans and the Foundation’s own scientists. Former New York Yankees left fielder Roy White, who helped the team win two World Series Championships in 1977-78, kicked off the 5K along with special guests Michael Gargiulo, co-anchor of NBC4’s “Today in New York,” and Thomas Werner, Chairman of the Boston Red Sox.
Werner came at the request of Damon Runyon Board Chairman Alan Leventhal, a personal friend. “He is here because even one of the oldest rivalries in baseball can be set aside to support the fight against cancer,” Leventhal said. While official results will be released later in the week, this year’s fastest time is estimated to have been nineteen minutes and twelve seconds.  Most runners and walkers, however, opted for a slower pace to enjoy the scenery and take photos in the Great Hall and on the warning track that surrounds the field.
Carl Ressa, a cancer survivor and three-time Runyon 5K top fundraiser from Rockville, Maryland, won the event’s MVP Prize Package for raising $10,000 by July 29.  He and his wife Jennifer won a private flight to Boston with Leventhal and Werner, two premium tickets to the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park that evening, and a night at the Boston Harbor Hotel.  The Ressas know what it means to bat a thousand, having used tickets they won as part of last year’s top fundraising prize to attend the July game during which Derek Jeter his his historic 3,000th hit. More details can be found at www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium. SPONSORS In addition to the generous support of the New York Yankees, other event sponsors included MetLife Foundation, Unilever, White Rose, C9 by Champion, NYSID, 24 Hour Fitness, NBC4 New York, New York Daily News, SiriusXM Radio, Poland Spring, and Utz. > View photos from the event. > Watch Runyon 5K videos on Youtube. > View NY1 coverage. > Read NY Daily News coverage.

DAMON RUNYON 5K AT YANKEE STADIUM

The Runyon 5K is a unique charity run/walk that uses Yankee Stadium as its course.  The 2011 event began at 9:30 am and ended around 2 pm.  Participants explored the Stadium from the basement level to the upper concourses and ran their own victory laps around the warning track that circles the field.  Friends and family of participants cheered on from the Delta Sky360 Suite overlooking home plate.  Videos, photos, and more details can be found at www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium.

DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative research.  Eleven scientsits supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, seven have received National Medals of Science, and 61 have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.  Damon Runyon is currently funding more than 100 scientists at leading medical centers and research institutions.

Since its founding in 1946, Damon Runyon has invested more than $240 million and funded more than 3,300 young scientists.  This year, it will commit approximately $10.6 million in new awards to brilliant young investigators.  100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support cutting-edge scientific research.  Its administrative and fundraising cossts are paid from Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets and an endowment.

CONTACT

Todd Brogan
Communications Coordinator
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
212.455.0552
todd.brogan@damonrunyon.org

Researchers from the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including Joseph A. Califano, III, MD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘01-‘06), Matthew L. Meyerson, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘95-‘98), Kenneth W. Kinzler, PhD (Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award Committee Member), and Todd R. Golub, MD (Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award Committee Member, Board Member), collaborated to identify genetic mutations present in tumor DNA from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.  They found defects in the tumor suppressor gene p53, as well as in the Notch signaling genes.  In the future, scientists hope to be able to use these genetic alterations to predict a patient’s prognosis and define personalized treatment strategies.  These studies were published in two papers in the journal Science.

Click here for more. 

Hai Yan, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Scholar ‘05-‘07) of Duke University, Durham, Kenneth W. Kinzler, PhD (Innovation Award Committee Member) of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues identified two genes that may regulate telomere length in cancer cells.  Telomeres are “DNA caps” that protect the ends of chromosomes; telomerase is the enzyme that is normally used to maintain telomeres.  These researchers found that rapidly dividing cancer cells can use an alternative means of maintaining telomere length, through the genes ATRX and DAXX.  Mutations in these genes have been found in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and in several brain cancer types, including pediatric and adult glioblastoma; preliminary studies indicate that patients with these mutations in their tumors had better survival than those without the mutations.  The results could have important implications in the future for determining patient prognosis and developing new treatments.  The study was published in the journal Science.

Click here for more. 

Jeremy N. Rich, MD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘04-‘09) of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, and colleagues, reported new findings about brain cancer stem cells.  Malignant gliomas, aggressive brain tumors with limited treatment options, contain highly tumorigenic subpopulations of cancer stem cells.  The researchers identified an enzyme, nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2), required for these stem cells to grow and seed tumors. High NOS2 levels correlate with decreased survival in patients with glioma.  Drugs that block NOS2 slow brain tumor growth in mice.  Scientists hope these findings will enable glioma stem cells to be targeted in humans, providing an effective new treatment option.  This study was published in the scientific journal Cell. 

Click here for more. 

Grants totaling $2.8M give early career investigators independence to pursue novel ideas

New York, NY (July 5, 2011) – The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting innovative early career researchers, named 18 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its spring Fellowship Award Committee review.  The recipients of this prestigious, three-year award are outstanding postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators across the country. The Fellowship encourages the nation’s most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($156,000 each) to work on innovative projects.

May 2011 Damon Runyon Fellows:

Pedro J. Batista, PhD [Kenneth G. and Elaine A. Langone Fellow] with his sponsor Howard Y. Chang, MD, PhD, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, is investigating the molecular mechanism by which long noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression. Long noncoding RNAs form a vital link between the information encoded in the genome and the instructions recorded at the structural chromatin level, thus maintaining cell identity. Understanding how long noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression will allow the development of powerful tools for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

David K. Breslow, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow] with his sponsor Maxence V. Nachury, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford, California, is studying the primary cilium, a cellular structure that enables cells to sense and respond to specific external cues. While disruptions to primary cilia are known to promote tumor formation and cause developmental defects, how cilia orchestrate these processes remains poorly understood. He is using a combination of genetic, biochemical and imaging approaches to investigate how lipid molecules contribute to the unique functions of cilia.

Leon Y. Chan, PhD [HHMI Fellow] with his sponsor Karsten Weis, PhD, at the University of California, Berkeley, California, is focusing on how cells slow their growth rate in response to stress. He aims to understand how stress signals are relayed to the cellular machinery that directs cell growth. Because tumor cells are constantly under stress yet display unregulated growth, it is critical to understand how stress signaling and growth control are coordinated. This research may lead to new understanding of how a broad range of cancers can be therapeutically targeted.

Adam de la Zerda, PhD, with his sponsor Carolyn R. Bertozzi, PhD, at the University of California, Berkeley, California, is developing imaging technology to visualize and monitor changes in living cells. Cancer cells display unique sugar patterns on their surface, which contain tremendous diagnostic information about tumor aggressiveness and responsiveness to therapy. The initial goal is to use this imaging technology to monitor tumor sugar patterns, as a method to stratify patients with prostate cancer and determine which patients may benefit from treatment vs. “active surveillance.” In the future, this technology may be applied to other cancer types and may also shed light on the role of sugars in cancer development.

Sarah E. Ewald, PhD [Dennis and Marsha Dammerman Fellow] with her sponsor John C. Boothroyd, PhD, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, studies the relationship between the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and the host cell. Nearly every cell in the body is equipped with sensors to survey itself for evidence of infection. Once triggered, these sensors often lead to cell suicide and the recruitment of immune cells to control the infection. She hopes to identify novel pathogen sensors that can be exploited to develop selective anti-tumor therapies.

Xi Huang, PhD, with his sponsor Lily Y. Jan, PhD, at the University of California, San Francisco, California, is investigating the mechanism of how an ion channel protein promotes brain tumor growth. He hypothesizes that medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain cancer, utilizes a specific ion channel for its uncontrolled growth and metastasis. By exploring the functional roles of the ion channel in medulloblastoma, his goal is to identify new prognostic markers for tumor diagnosis and potentially develop novel cancer therapies.

Calvin H. Jan, PhD [Rebecca Ridley Kry Fellow] with his sponsor Jonathan S. Weissman, PhD, at the University of California, San Francisco, California, is developing novel methods to examine the spatial control of gene expression within the cell. During gene expression, mRNAs are translated into proteins at different locations in the cell, which determines cell shape and behavior. Spatially localized mRNA translation influences cell adhesion and migration, both of which are disrupted in cancer—particularly during metastasis.

Hua Lu, PhD [The Jake Wetchler Foundation Fellow for Pediatric Innovation] with his sponsor Peter G. Schultz, PhD, at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, aims to develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that can specifically recognize and kill acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cancer cells. His goal is to generate highly specific ADCs that will attack tumor cells without having harmful effects on normal cells. This work may identify new clinical candidate drugs with optimized efficacy.

Wan-Jin Lu, PhD [Merck Fellow] with her sponsor Philip A. Beachy, PhD, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, is investigating the process of how cells interact with their surrounding microenvironment, specifically in the context of the regenerative response triggered by injury. She aims to better understand the underlying mechanisms of regeneration and how they influence the initiation and growth of malignant tumors.

Maurizio Righini, PhD [Merck Fellow] with his sponsor Carlos Bustamante, PhD, at the University of California, Berkeley, California, aims to characterize the dynamics of protein synthesis (translation). His research will permit a deeper understanding of this process and will provide insight on how it can be controlled. He will build a detailed model of translation, which may suggest new strategies for cancer therapy.

Sumeet Sarin, PhD [Marion Abbe Fellow] with his sponsor Joshua R. Sanes, PhD, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is studying how neurons use unique molecules on their cell surface to recognize one another during development. Such recognition is critical in ensuring appropriate spatial patterning and normal organ formation. A hallmark of cancerous cells is the inappropriate reactivation of cell migration, and the disruption of these patterns.

Daniel Schmidt, PhD [Norman B. Leventhal Fellow] with his sponsor Edward S. Boyden, PhD, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, focuses on the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most malignant, invasive and difficult-to-treat brain tumors. He aims to develop innovative research tools (bioengineered molecules) to investigate the role of critical proteins, ion channels, in glioblastoma growth and metastasis. These findings will lead to a better understanding of how ion channel disorders contribute to cancer development. Ion channels may represent new targets for cancer therapy.

Yoko Shibata, PhD [HHMI Fellow] with her sponsor Richard I. Morimoto, PhD, at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, focuses on specialized protein quality control (QC) mechanisms in the cell, which ensure the proper folding of new proteins and the disposal of mature ones that no longer perform their duties adequately. Protein QC in the cell nucleus likely plays a pivotal role in protecting the integrity of the genome, but very little is known about this pathway.  She aims to identify the network of components that make up the nuclear protein QC system. Cancer cells rely on protein QC pathways to proliferate uncontrollably, and the identification of the QC components may provide new therapeutic targets against cancer.

Deniz Simsek, PhD [Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., MD Fellow] with her sponsor David P. Toczyski, PhD, at the University of California, San Francisco, California, is studying the role of ubiquitin protein signals in the maintenance of genome integrity. Since components of the ubiquitin system are often highly conserved from yeast to humans, yeast is ideally suited for the study of this complex process using a combination of functional genomics and biochemistry. The insights gained from the proposed studies may identify additional targets to combat cancer.

Cole Trapnell, PhD, with his sponsor John L. Rinn, PhD, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, studies the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer. When tissue is damaged (e.g. by radiation or carcinogens), this class of genes may cause cancer or make it more difficult to treat. Using software and mathematics that he has developed for the analysis of massive-scale sequencing data, he aims to discover which genes are misregulated by lncRNA in tumor cells. This research may lead to the discovery of lncRNAs that could be targeted to halt cancer progression.

Scott J. Valastyan, PhD, with his sponsor Joan S. Brugge, PhD, at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, seeks to uncover novel regulators of breast cancer metastasis. He has devised a novel experimental system that is capable of defining and exploiting the phenotypic heterogeneity and genetic diversity that exists within tumor cell populations. He anticipates that these studies will provide insights that further our comprehension of metastatic progression and suggest novel targets for the diagnosis and/or treatment of human breast cancer.

Alexander Ward, PhD [HHMI Fellow] with his sponsor Liqun Luo, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford, California, is studying key genetic pathways that may play a role in development of neurons in the Drosophila olfactory system. Many of the genes in these pathways are also involved in cancer. Correct neuronal wiring in this system requires precise targeting of neuronal outgrowths (axons and dendrites); this targeting depends largely on cell-cell interactions mediated by cell surface molecules. The ultimate goal of this research is to identify the upstream cell surface effectors of these pathways, thus providing further insight into cancer signaling.

Hyun Youk, PhD [HHMI Fellow] with his sponsor Wendell A. Lim, PhD, at the University of California, San Francisco, California, aims to use quantitative models and experiments in yeast to unravel the central principles that enable cells to adhere to and communicate with each other in multicellular clusters. He is also investigating general strategies that these cells use to collectively process information and respond to biochemical signals that are present outside the cluster. These studies will lead to a better understanding of how multicellular clusters, such as tumors, develop and are maintained.

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DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative research.  The Foundation has gained worldwide prominence in cancer research by identifying outstanding researchers and physician-scientists.  Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, and others are heads of cancer centers and leaders of renowned research programs.  Each of its award programs is extremely competitive, with less than 10% of applications funded.  Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has invested over $235 million and funded more than 3,250 young scientists.  This year, it will commit approximately $10.5 million in new awards to brilliant young investigators.

100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support scientific research.  Its administrative and fundraising costs are paid from its Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets Service and endowment.

For more information visit www.damonrunyon.org

CONTACT
Yung S. Lie, PhD
Scientific Director
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
yung.lie@damonrunyon.org 
212.455.0521

Jean Y. Tang, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator ‘11-‘14) of Stanford University, Stanford, and colleagues, reported analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative.  They found that women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, such as basal cell or squamous cell cancers, who took a calcium-vitamin D combination developed 57 percent fewer melanomas than women with similar histories who were not given the supplements.  In the future, researchers plan to further examine the potential relationship between vitamin D and cancer prevention.  The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Click here for more. 

• Pharma/biotech companies join together to fund Accelerating Cancer Cures, a new model of collaboration in cancer research led by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• $25 million fund to support 50 clinical investigators over next five years
• Newest clinical investigator award winners announced today

New York, NY (June 21, 2011) – The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation today announced the formation of Accelerating Cancer Cures, a historic collaboration of the biopharmaceutical industry and academia with a strong commitment to achieving key breakthroughs in cancer treatments.  A five-year, $25 million program will be established to rebuild the ranks of young clinical investigators by funding and training more than 50 physician-scientists. The project will help advance a translational research model whereby industry and academia work together in a new effort to discover tomorrow’s cancer cures.

“We risk losing tremendous ground in our effort to find cures for cancer if we cannot attract new talent and new ideas to clinical research,” said Lorraine W. Egan, Executive Director, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. “Accelerating Cancer Cures will accelerate our mission to identify and fund the best young scientists working on innovative cancer research. It will bring industry and academia together to collaborate on new research. Our best hope for crucial breakthroughs to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer lies with the committed young scientists who will be able to pursue critical research, thanks to this effort.”

Accelerating Cancer Cures is supported by some of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies working to find cures for cancer. Charter participants include Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, Merck, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Pfizer, and The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Although these companies are competitors in the marketplace, they have a shared belief that funding young physician-scientists with a commitment to innovation in cancer research will have a profound impact on the next generation of cancer breakthroughs. Together, they have already pledged over $5 million.

The program builds on the success of the prestigious Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award program, which has made possible some of the most critical breakthroughs in oncology research of the last decade. Yervoy, a newly approved drug featured at the most recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the first treatment that improves overall survival in melanoma skin cancer patients, resulted from the clinical research of Dr. Jedd Wolchok, a previous Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Awardee.  Since 2000, 58 outstanding physician-scientists have received these Damon Runyon awards; all of those scientists remain in clinical cancer research today. At least 17 of these scientists presented their work at ASCO 2011.

Future cancer breakthroughs require more support. Accelerating Cancer Cures will:

• Fund the work of early career physician-scientists to meet the critical shortage of young scientists entering the clinical oncology research field.
• Provide the investigators with access to the expertise of senior oncology executives and leaders in academic cancer research to help translate discoveries into therapeutic treatments.
• Create opportunities for the investigators to collaborate with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and learn about industry science as visiting scientists.
• Foster collaboration between researchers by hosting an annual translational research summit that connects young scientists and leaders from industry and academia.

“The biopharmaceutical industry is committed to developing cancer cures fueled by partnerships with leading researchers in academia. Key oncology breakthroughs of the coming decade will arise from this type of collaborative scientific research,” said Richard Gaynor, MD, Vice President of Product Development and Medical Affairs at Lilly Oncology. “Damon Runyon’s prestigious track record of identifying and supporting talent makes them the natural leader for this effort. Accelerating Cancer Cures is critical to enabling those future breakthroughs.”

Newest Clinical Investigator Award Winners Announced

The new funding from Accelerating Cancer Cures will increase the number of Clinical Investigator Awards up to 10 per year. Award selections are made by the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award Committee, comprised of leading cancer researchers nationwide. The five newest investigators were announced today.  Those scientists are:

• Marie Bleakley, MD, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle.  Dr. Bleakley is working on new approaches to separate the graft versus host leukemia (GVL) effect from graft versus host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation.
• Ralph J. DeBerardinis, MD, PhD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Dr. DeBerardinis is working to understand the role of metabolism in tumor growth and use those findings to improve cancer treatment.
• Joshua D. Schiffman, MD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Dr. Schiffman is working to understand the underlying molecular genetics of pediatric sarcoma.
• Zsofia K. Stadler, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Dr. Stadler is working to determine the genetic basis of sporadic cancers in young adults.
• Jean Y. Tang, MD, PhD, Stanford University, Stanford. Dr. Tang is working to characterize mechanisms of drug resistance in treatment of skin cancer.

“Accelerating Cancer Cures is an opportunity to build a new generation of leaders in clinical cancer research that not only produce exceptional science, but can work with industry to bring new treatments to patients,” said John J. Castellani, President and CEO, PhRMA. “At a time of tremendous financial challenge for industry and academia, this novel collaboration demonstrates industry-wide commitment to progress against cancer. It’s a win-win for biomedicine, our economy and millions of patients worldwide.”

“We recognize the importance of partnerships that help accelerate drug discovery and development and improve the outlook of cancer patients worldwide,” said Mikael Dolsten, President, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development. “We are excited to be collaborating with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation through the Accelerating Cancer Cures initiative, as engaging and motivating young researchers to pursue clinical cancer research today is critical to achieving tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs.”

About Accelerating Cancer Cures

Accelerating Cancer Cures addresses the critical shortage of new clinical researchers working on breakthroughs in cancer treatments and cures. Under the leadership of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and with the support of industry and academia, the efforts to help identify breakthrough treatments in the fight against cancer will be accelerated. Accelerating Cancer Cures is supported by some of the world’s leading companies including: Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, Merck, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Pfizer, and The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). For more information, visit www.damonrunyon.org/accelerate.

About the Foundation

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative cancer research. The Foundation supports emerging leaders who have great potential to achieve breakthroughs in how we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer. Since its founding in 1946, Damon Runyon has invested over $235 million and funded more than 3,250 early career scientists.

100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support scientific research. Its administrative and fundraising costs are paid from its Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets Service and endowment.

For more information visit http://www.damonrunyon.org.
 
CONTACT
Todd Brogan
Communications Coordinator
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
todd.brogan@damonrunyon.org
212.455.0552

Bryant Hilton
Media Contact
The Herald Group
bhilton@theheraldgroup.com
202.347.7947

Public release date: 21-Jun-2011

New York, NY, June 21, 2011 — The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named five new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators at its spring 2011 Clinical Investigator Award Committee review.  The recipients of this prestigious three-year award are outstanding early career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research at major research centers under the mentorship of the nation’s leading scientists and clinicians.  Each will receive $450,000 to support the development of his/her cancer research program.

The Foundation also awarded Continuation Grants to four Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators.  Each award will provide an additional two years of funding totaling $300,000.  The Continuation Grant is designed to support Clinical Investigators who are approaching the end of their original awards and need extra time and funding to complete a promising avenue of research or initiate/continue a clinical trial.  This program is possible through the generous support of the William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation, and Connie and Robert Lurie.

The Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to help address the shortage of physicians capable of translating scientific discovery into new breakthroughs for cancer patients.  In partnerships with industry sponsors and through its new Accelerating Cancer Cures initiative, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has committed more than $38 million to support the careers of 58 physician-scientists across the United States since 2000.

2011 Clinical Investigator Awardees

Marie Bleakley, MD, PhD [Richard Lumsden Foundation Investigator]
Bone marrow transplantation, or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT), is the only curative therapy for many patients with leukemia.  Certain immune cells, called T cells, contained in the donor HCT graft can cause a “graft versus leukemia” (GVL) effect which eliminates leukemic cells.  Unfortunately, there are also donor T cells in the HCT graft that can cause a condition called “graft versus host disease” (GVHD).  GVHD is a life-threatening immune response that remains the major barrier to the success of transplantation. 

Dr. Bleakley focuses on developing new approaches to separate the beneficial GVL effect from detrimental GVHD after bone marrow transplantation.  Her goal is to identify specific subsets of immune cells that promote GVHD; these cells can then be eliminated to reduce the frequency or severity of GVHD, while at the same time maintaining and improving the GVL effect.  In addition, she aims to discover novel leukemia-associated proteins that could be potential targets for therapeutics.  

Dr. Bleakley works under the mentorship of Stanley R. Riddell, MD, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.

Ralph J. DeBerardinis, MD, PhD
Cancer cells use specific metabolic pathways to fuel their growth into tumors.  A great deal of work has already defined some of these pathways that allow cancer cells to grow in the laboratory, but very little is known about which pathways drive the growth of actual tumors in cancer patients. 

Dr. DeBerardinis aims to understand the role of metabolism in tumor growth and to use these findings to improve treatment of cancer.  He plans to use novel, highly sensitive methods to study metabolic activity in vivo in primary human glioma brain tumors, and to image these activities in growing tumors.  This approach should also be applicable to other cancer types and will be important for disease imaging and therapy.

Dr. DeBerardinis works under the mentorship of Helen H. Hobbs, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Joshua D. Schiffman, MD
Ewing’s sarcoma is the second most common bone tumor in children and adolescents.  Patients have a poor prognosis, yet the causes of the disease are not understood.  Certain genetic changes have been linked to Ewing’s sarcoma: a specific translocation (joining of two different chromosome parts) and microsatellites (series of repeating DNA sequences).  Another reported observation is increased development of hernias in patients with this disease. 

Dr. Schiffman, a pediatric oncologist, is interested in understanding the underlying molecular genetics of Ewing’s sarcoma.  He will take a genetic epidemiologic approach to studying the disease, by examining the genes of parent-child trios: patients with Ewing’s sarcoma and their parents.  He will examine inheritance of DNA microsatellites and genetic changes associated with hernia development.  This study will identify novel genetic risk factors for Ewing’s sarcoma, which can be used for future preventative and therapeutic strategies. 

Dr. Schiffman works under the mentorship of Stephen L. Lessnick, MD, PhD, at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Zsofia K. Stadler, MD
Heritable factors are an important determinant of cancer risk.  At present, a large portion of the genetic basis of cancer predisposition remains unexplained. 

Dr. Stadler is a clinical geneticist whose research goal is to determine the genetic basis of “sporadic” cancers in young adults.  She will be testing the hypothesis that de novo (spontaneous) chromosomal changes in the genome are associated with testicular germline cancer.  High-resolution sequencing technology will be used to compare the whole genomes of patients to those of their parents, with the goal of identifying rare genetic variants associated with cancer susceptibility.  This approach represents a new paradigm in cancer genetics, which could have broad applications in terms of cancer risk stratification and cancer prevention.

Dr. Stadler works under the mentorship of Kenneth Offit, MD, MPH, and Michael H. Wigler, PhD, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

Jean Y. Tang, MD, PhD
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer.  Mutations in the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway are frequently found in these cancers.  Early-stage clinical studies of a HH pathway inhibitor drug have been successful, with 55% of patients reported to respond.  However, most tumors change during the course of therapy and drug resistance eventually develops. 

Dr. Tang, a dermatologist, will characterize mechanisms of drug resistance and identify new drug combinations that are effective in treatment of BCC.  The ultimate goal of her research is to prevent or delay drug resistance.  Her studies have the potential to benefit patients with BCC as well as those with other HH-dependent cancers, such as medulloblastoma.  

Dr. Tang works under the mentorship of Philip A. Beachy, PhD, and Ervin H. Epstein, MD, at Stanford University, Stanford, California. 

2011 Clinical Investigator Continuation Grants

Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH
Dr. Chan is developing molecular “smart” probes and novel imaging techniques for earlier and improved detection of colorectal cancer.  The Continuation Grant will be used to complete a clinical trial testing an innovative high-definition non-fiberoptic imaging system for both colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.  This work also has the potential to accelerate the discovery and development process for therapeutic and chemopreventative agents in colorectal cancer.

Dr. Chan works under the mentorship of Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, and Ralph Weissleder, MD, PhD, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Rachael A. Clark, MD, PhD
Dr. Clark has made important findings on the role of immune T cells in skin cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinomas and cutaneous T cell lymphoma.  The Continuation Grant will allow her to expand her research to Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly malignant skin cancer associated with a novel polyoma virus.  She plans to characterize T cells present in MCC.  The goal is to use this information to better identify patients at risk for this cancer and to develop novel effective tumor vaccines. 

Dr. Clark works under the mentorship of Thomas S. Kupper, MD, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Vassiliki Karantza, MD, PhD
Dr. Karantza is examining the role of autophagy in tumor cell survival and responsiveness to chemotherapy.  Autophagy is a process of “cellular self-digestion” that is used by both normal cells and tumor cells as a survival mechanism in times of metabolic stress, such as nutrient and oxygen deprivation.  She will use the Continuation Grant to pursue novel studies examining the role of autophagy in pregnancy-associated breast cancer.  She also plans to conduct a clinical trial combining autophagy inhibition with other existing therapies for treatment of certain types of pancreatic cancer, for which there is a need for more effective treatment options. 
Dr. Karantza works under the mentorship of Robert S. DiPaola, MD, at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

Elahe A. Mostaghel, MD, PhD [Genentech Investigator]
Dr. Mostaghel is defining key mechanisms underlying resistance of prostate cancer to hormone treatment.  Suppression of the hormone testosterone is currently the most effective treatment for advanced prostate cancer; however, tumors frequently develop resistance to this therapy.  The Continuation Grant will enable her to continue developing novel treatments for prostate cancer that can be rapidly moved into the clinic.

Dr. Mostaghel works under the mentorship of Peter S. Nelson, MD, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.

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DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative research.  The Foundation has gained worldwide prominence in cancer research by identifying outstanding researchers and physician-scientists.  Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, and others are heads of cancer centers and leaders of renowned research programs.  Each of its award programs is extremely competitive, with less than 10% of applications funded.  Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has invested over $235 million and funded more than 3,250 young scientists.  This year, it will commit approximately $10.5 million in new awards to brilliant young investigators.

100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support scientific research.  Its administrative and fundraising costs are paid from its Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets Service and endowment.

For more information visit www.damonrunyon.org 
 
CONTACT
Yung S. Lie, PhD
Scientific Director
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
yung.lie@damonrunyon.org
212.455.0521

Amanda Paulovich, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘02-‘03), Peter S. Nelson, MD (Damon Runyon Scholar ‘02-‘04, Clinical Investigator Mentor), and colleagues at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, used a highly sensitive and targeted analytical technology, selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, to test candidate protein biomarkers.  This technology allows highly specific and sensitive measurement of many proteins from a small drop of blood.  The researchers identified those proteins that were elevated in the blood of mice with breast cancer as compared to healthy mice.  A subset of these proteins were found to be elevated before tumors could be seen, suggesting that they could be used for early detection of the cancer.  The goal is to apply this strategy to determine the most promising protein biomarkers associated with early breast cancer development in humans.  The study was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

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Nathanael S. Gray, PhD (Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator ‘08-‘10), Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘95-‘98) and colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, reported that the gene FGFR1 is amplified in 21% of squamous cell lung cancers.  In cell lines, inhibition of FGFR blocked cell growth.  These findings suggest that FGFR may be a promising therapeutic target for these lung cancers.  The report was published in the journal PLoS ONE.

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New York, NY (June 1, 2011) — On Wednesday morning, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation held its Annual Breakfast at the Metropolitan Club, raising $1.16 million to support the most brilliant young minds in cancer research. Opening remarks were delivered by Alan M. Leventhal, the Foundation’s Chairman of the Board, and Lorraine W. Egan, its Executive Director.  The morning’s program featured a panel discussion with Memorial Sloan-Kettering President Craig B. Thompson, MD, Elaine V. Fuchs, PhD, of The Rockefeller University, and Ken Cadwell, PhD, one of the first recipients of the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists.
	The panelists agreed that cancer research is at a “tipping point” in finding radical new approaches to curing cancer, and that Damon Runyon scientists are at the forefront of this effort. “Damon Runyon’s young scientists become passionate about curing cancer,” noted Dr. Fuchs, a former Damon Runyon Fellow and National Medal of Science recipient.  “That’s what makes them so special.  Damon Runyon has made the difference, and we’re now reaping the benefits.”
Board member David M. Beirne also introduced the Cancer Breakthrough Fund, which aims to raise $50 million to fund 100 of the top young cancer researchers as rapidly as possible.  Its goal is to invest in the most innovative young scientists capable of novel discoveries that will accelerate the pace of therapeutic innovation. The breakfast honored Norman B. Leventhal for his visionary civic leadership as the founder of The Beacon Companies and one of Boston’s leading philanthropists.
A strong supporter of Damon Runyon, he has been committed to higher education and the pursuit of scientific knowledge for more than half a century. Mr. Leventhal was introduced by friend and former Foundation Chairman Dale F. Frey.  “A while back,” Frey said, “Tom Brokaw wrote a book about the ‘Greatest Generation.’  Today we honor someone who is certainly one of that generation’s brightest stars.”  Mr. Frey also informed the crowd that Damon Runyon researcher Daniel Schmidt, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, would be named the Norman B. Leventhal Fellow.   The breakfast’s 250 guests included some of New York’s and Boston’s leading philanthropists. > View photos from the event.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

To accelerate breakthroughs, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides today’s best young scientists with funding to pursue innovative research. The Foundation has gained worldwide prominence in cancer research by identifying outstanding researchers and physician-scientists. Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, seven others have received National Medals of Science, and 61 have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The Foundation currently is funding more than 100 scientists at leading medical centers and research institutions.  Since its founding in 1946, Damon Runyon has invested more than $235 million and funded more than 3,250 young scientists.  This year, it will commit approximately $10.6 million in new awards to brilliant young investigators.

100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support cutting-edge scientific research. Its administrative and fundraising costs are paid from its Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets and endowment. For more information visit www.damonrunyon.org.

CONTACT
Todd Brogan
Communications Coordinator
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
212.455.0552
todd.brogan@damonrunyon.org

William C. Hahn, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘98-‘99), Serena J. Silver, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘05-‘06), Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD (Clinical Investigator Award Committee Member), and colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, reported new findings about stem cells in triple-negative breast cancers, which tend to be aggressive and highly resistant to current therapies.  The researchers discovered that these cells have elevated activity of genes in the Jak2/Stat3 pathway.  Blocking this pathway halted tumor growth in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer.   These findings may lead to more specific and effective breast cancer therapies.  The report was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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Election to the National Academy of Sciences is one of the highest honors that can be earned by a U.S. scientist.  In recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original biomedical research, 13 members of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation circle were inducted this May:

DAMON RUNYON FELLOWS
Alexander D. Johnson, PhD (Fellow ‘81-‘83 and Former Sponsor), Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco
Luis F. Parada, PhD (Fellow ‘85-‘86 and Fellowship Award Committee ‘99-‘03), Professor and Diana K. and Richard C. Strauss Distinguished Chair in Developmental Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas

DAMON RUNYON COMMITTEE MEMBERS
David P. Bartel, PhD (Current Fellowship Award Committee), HHMI Investigator, Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Daniel E. Gottschling, PhD (Current Fellowship Award Committee), Member, Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle
Michel C. Nussenzweig, PhD (Fellowship Award Committee ‘00-‘02), HHMI Investigator, Sherman Fairchild Professor and Senior Physician, Department of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York

DAMON RUNYON FELLOWSHIP SPONSORS and CLINICAL INVESTIGATOR MENTORS
George M. Church, PhD, Director, Lipper Center for Computational Genetics, and Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston
R. Scott Hawley, PhD, Investigator, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City
Steven E. Jacobsen, PhD, HHMI investigator, Professor, Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
James L. Manley, PhD, Julian Clarence Levi Professor of Life Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York
J. Andrew McCammon, PhD, HHMI Investigator, Joseph E. Mayer Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
Susan K. McConnell, PhD, Susan B. Ford Professor, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford
Ira S. Mellman, PhD, Vice President of Research Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco
X. Sunney Xie, PhD, Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge

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