Attacking
Blood-Related
Cancers
Gets
Big
Boost
August
2000
--
To
accelerate
the
discovery
of
breakthrough
therapies
to
cure
or
control
leukemia,
lymphoma,
and
myeloma,
The
Leukemia
&
Lymphoma
Society
is
announcing
the
Specialized
Center
of
Research
(SCOR)
program
--
one
of
the
most
ambitious
research
initiatives
ever
undertaken
in
the
attack
on
blood-related
cancers.
For
the
first
time
ever,
a
non-profit
voluntary
cancer
organization
is
earmarking
the
same
level
of
research
dollars
for
the
study
of
blood-related
cancers
--
$67.5
million
-
that
until
now
have
only
been
available
through
the
federal
government.
The
Society
is
committed
to
funding
a
minimum
of
nine
SCOR
grants
over
the
next
three
years.
Prominent
Researchers
Each
Awarded
$7.5
Million
In
the
SCOR
program's
first
year,
The
Leukemia
&
Lymphoma
Society
has
awarded
three
prominent
cancer
researchers
$7.5
million
each
in
grants
covering
breakthrough
research
to
be
conducted
over
the
next
five
years.
Specifically,
the
researchers
will
attempt
to
map
the
genes
and
develop
novel
treatments
for
leukemia
and
myeloma,
two
of
the
most
devastating
blood-related
cancers.
The
Leukemia
&
Lymphoma
Society
hosted
the
event,
including
live
interviews
via
webcast
of
the
three
research
scientists
who
have
received
the
first
SCOR
grants:
·
Brian
J.
Druker,
M.D.
of
the
Oregon
Health
Sciences
Center:
Dr.
Druker
will
lead
his
team
to
explore
new
ways
to
cure
patients
with
chronic
myelogenous
leukemia
(CML)
with
either
STI571
alone
or
in
combination
with
other
forms
of
treatment.
The
team
hopes
to
be
able
to
answer
some
vital
questions
about
STI571
such
as,
how
does
it
work?
Why
do
relapses
occur
in
some
patients
with
more
advanced
disease?
Can
STI571
be
improved?
·
James
Griffin,
M.D.
of
the
Dana-Farber
Cancer
Institute:
Dr.
Griffin
and
his
team
will
attempt
to
identify
and
understand
the
genes
that
cause
acute
myeloid
leukemia
(AML)
and
chronic
myeloid
leukemia
(CML),
with
the
goal
of
translating
these
findings
into
new
therapies,
especially
vaccine
options.
·
Selina
Chen-Kiang,
Ph.D.
of
the
Weill
Medical
College
of
Cornell
University:
Dr.
Chen-Kiang
and
her
team
will
be
using
the
most
advanced
genetic
and
molecular
advances
to
map
the
genes
that
cause
multiple
myeloma
(an
incurable
cancer
of
the
antibody-producing
plasma
cells
which
results
in
the
destruction
of
normal
bone
tissue).
This
understanding
will
lead
to
new
treatments
for
this
cancer
and
could
also
result
in
better
treatments
for
such
bone-related
diseases
as
osteoporosis.
*
Dr.
Peter
Quesenberry,
M.D.
of
the
University
of
Massachusetts
Memorial
Medical
Center
and
vice
chairman
of
The
Leukemia
&
Lymphoma
Society's
National
Board
of
Trustees.
Dr.
Quesenberry
was
involved
in
the
creation
of
the
SCOR
program
and
can
speak
about
its
significance
in
advancing
cancer
research.
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