News Release

Oncology basic research director at John Theurer Cancer Center continues transplantation research

Renewed RO1 grant provides funding for innovative research which could roll into a clinical trial in 2011

Grant and Award Announcement

John Theurer Cancer Center

HACKENSACK, N.J. (December XX, 2010) – Thea Friedman, M.D., associate scientist and director of oncology basic research at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center was recently awarded a National Cancer Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) RO1 research grant to improve allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma patients. The grant provides $2 million in funding over the next five years.

As part of the John Theurer Cancer Center's continued efforts to improve outcomes of blood and marrow transplantation, Dr. Friedman and her colleagues have been using a molecular technique called T cell receptor Vβ CDR3 spectratype analysis to look at T-cell repertoires for the purpose of separating the donor cells responsible for graft-versus-host disease from those mediating graft-versus-tumor responses. Once separated, Dr. Friedman and her team will come closer to "personalized" transplantation, a huge milestone for the multiple myeloma community.

"This significant funding provided by the NIH is instrumental to further our blood and marrow transplant research," said Dr. Friedman. "We look forward to the possibility of using personalized transplantation to better the lives of cancer patients in our community and around the world."

The ROI research is the original and oldest grant mechanism used by NIH. The RO1 applications are peer reviewed and only those scoring above the 15th percentile are awarded. Last year, only 25 percent of the 50,000 applications were awarded a grant.

"The John Theurer Cancer Center constantly strives to provide the medical community with the latest advancements and innovations in oncology," said Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E., chief innovations officer and professor and vice president of cancer services, the John Theurer Cancer Center. "Dr. Friedman and her colleagues' research is just one example of our commitment to advance innovative and treatment options in this fight against cancer."

Dr. Friedman first began this body of research in 2000 when she received a grant award from the National Marrow Donor Program. She applied for her first RO1 grant, which she was awarded in July 2003.

Dr. Friedman and her team plan to move their transplant research into a Phase I clinical trial in late 2011. Collaborators from the John Theurer Cancer Center include Robert Korngold, Ph.D., chief of oncology basic research; Scott Rowley, M.D., co-chief of blood and bone marrow stem cell & transplantation; David Siegel, M.D., Ph.D., chief of multiple myeloma and Michele Donato, M.D., collection facility medical director, blood & marrow transplantation.

In January 2011, the John Theurer Cancer Center's team of expert physicians, researchers and staff will begin transitioning into a new, $130-million comprehensive care facility. The new facility is equipped with a dedicated Phase 1 unit, tumor banking, new modalities of delivery of radiation and future molecular imaging technology to further support the development of innovative therapies and approaches to improve patient outcomes.

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About the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center

The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, and preventive care as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancer. The 14 specialized divisions covering the complete spectrum of cancer care have developed a close-knit team of medical, research, nursing, and support staff with specialized expertise that translates into more advanced, focused care for all patients. Each year, more people in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area turn to the John Theurer Cancer Center for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey. Housed within a 775-bed not-for-profit teaching, tertiary care, and research hospital, the John Theurer Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art technological advances, compassionate care, research innovations, medical expertise, and a full range of after care services that distinguish the John Theurer Cancer Center from other facilities. For more information please go to jtcancercenter.org.

Media Contact:
Amy Leahing
646.213.7245
amy.leahing@widmeyer.com


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