$206K goes to local cancer research projects
Three grant winners of the 2011 Seeds4Hope research were announced on Monday at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre. Seeds4Hope is an organization that finances local medical pilot project that might not be funded by larger corporations, but are still on the forefront of examining how to detect, treat and prevent cancer.
“We are making progress and we are winning the fight against cancer one battle at a time. And while I can’t tell you when all the battles will be won, I can tell you that as long as research continues, it’s going to be a matter of time,” said Dr. Michael Dufresne, research grant administrator. Dufresne was a researcher himself at the University of Windsor from 1976 to 2003.
Since 2009, Seeds4Hope has give out over $700,000 to 11 beneficiaries. The grants are peer-reviewed by four experts in the field of study and are grated on 11 different criteria. The scores are then looked at by a research grant advisory committee who decides what project to sponsor. The recipients can receive up to $80,000 to be given over a period of two years. The funds and the research are monitored by the organization.
Dr. Andrew Swan is one of three recipients in the 2011 Seeds4Hope program.
Researchers from the University of Windsor, Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, Windsor Regional Hospital, and McGill University will share in this year’s $206,000 awarded for innovative local cancer research:
- Dr. James Green ($67,000)
Research Project: Synthesis and Evaluation of New Anticancer Allocolchinoids
Description: This research project will investigate new methods of preparing a colchicine derivative (an allocolchicine) that has shown, in preliminary work, to be able to kill cancer cells without damaging normal cells. These methods will then be used to prepare compounds similar to the first derivative. The new colchicine derivatives will be evaluated for their anticancer activity in a variety of cancer cells and for their toxicity to non-cancerous cells. The mechanism of cell death caused by these compounds will also be investigated.
- Dr. Andrew Swan ($63,000)
Research Project: Probing the tumour suppressive functions of a known oncogene: Skp2 interacts with cyclin dependent kinases to maintain diploidy.
Description: Most cancer-related genes fall into one of two categories: those that protect cells from cancer, or, those that contribute to cancer. Earlier research has found that Skp2, a cancer-causing gene, also has protective abilities. This new research will seek to understand how Skp2 provides this critical tumour suppressive function, and to determine the relationship between Skp2 and other key cellular proteins during tumour progression. Results from this research will lead to a better understanding of cancer and improved treatments in the long term.
- Dr. Panayiotis (Otis) Vacratsis ($76,000)
Research Project: Functional Characterization of hYVH1/DUSP12: A Putative Oncogene Overexpressed in Late Stage Cancers
Description: To maintain cellular balance, human cells have sophisticated molecular circuits to monitor cell size and nutrient availability. These circuits then provide this information to master regulators which control DNA replication and cell division. A disruption in this system is a hallmark of most cancers, which allow the tumor cells to grow and divide. This research project will focus on investigating a new cell survival enzyme (hYVH1), that has recently been implemented in both cell growth and division. Importantly, this gene has been found to be over productive in many aggressive, late stage cancers. The research predicts that overproduction of a cell survival factor such as hYVH1 that also encourages cell growth and division, provides a “triple threat”, allowing late stage tumour cells to survive and flourish in sub-optimal cellular conditions. The research aims to examine if the hYVH1 gene product represents a critical link between tumour growth and tumour survival.
The funds granted each year will go to new research or approaches and the amount given depends on what funds are available as well as the quality of the submissions.
Visit the Seeds4Hope website for information on ways to help.
www.flickr.com
|
