Athens, Ga.
- Four cancer researchers at the University
of Georgia are among the
18 selected as Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists by the Georgia
Cancer Coalition for 2009-10. UGA’s new Distinguished Cancer Scholars are:
- Kevin Dobbin, Ph.D., assistant
professor of biostatistics, College
of Public Health;
- Natarajan Kannan, Ph.D., assistant
professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Franklin College of Arts
and Sciences and Institute of Bioinformatics;
- Mandi Murph, Ph.D., assistant
professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, College of Pharmacy;
and
- Jia-Sheng Wang, M.D., Ph.D.,
professor and department head of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health.
The
Coalition selects scientists engaged in the most promising areas of cancer
research. The four new UGA scholars will receive a total of $1.5 million over
the next five years. UGA now has a total of 18active
Distinguished Cancer Scholars.
“The
support of the Georgia Cancer Coalition has helped the UGA
Cancer Center
grow significantly since its founding in 2004,” said Michael Pierce, Mudter
Professor of Cancer Research and director of the UGA Cancer Center. “Having four new GCC scholars
named in a single year certainly reflects well on the quality of the research
in which our faculty members are engaged.”
Dobbin
comes to UGA from the National Cancer Institute. His research focuses on
modifying traditional statistical study design and analysis methods to
accelerate the rate at which laboratory findings are translated into clinical
tools that can be used to improve patient outcomes.
Kannan’s
research focuses on mutations that are associated with the abnormal functioning
of protein kinases, a large family of proteins that switch the “on” and “off”
signals required for cell growth and differentiation. These mutations are involved
in several human cancers, and a better understanding of them has the potential
to lead to new treatments.
Murph
is working to better understand a cellular signaling pathway known as the
lysophosphatidic acid pathway that is involved in the progression of specific
types of cancer. Drugs are under development targeting this pathway, and her research
also aims to reveal their mechanisms of action to determine potential side
effects before clinical trials and to maximize the likelihood of safe
development.
Dr. Wang’s
research focuses on the impact of environmental toxins on the formation of
liver and esophageal cancers. He’s also a world leader in exploring the role
natural products and dietary supplements may play in preventing cancer in
high-risk populations.
Begun
in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and
Scientists program is an investment in Georgia’s future as a national
leader in cancer control. The Scholars’ history of grants, publications and
patents as well as their potential for attracting future funding is considered.
In fiscal year 2008, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were
responsible for securing $47 million in
privately and federally funded research grants for the state of Georgia; over
the program’s 8-year history, scholars have generated more than $200 million in
funding.
Scholar
selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the
Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute and the
strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Applications are reviewed by a
scientific review committee and an advisory review committee appointed by the
Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s
research universities. Members rank candidates according to predetermined scientific
and technical criteria.
“The
National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise
for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer
Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer
Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention,
treatment, causes and cures of cancer. These scientists and clinicians play an
important role in positioning Georgia
as a national leader in cancer research,” said Bill Todd, president and chief executive
officer.
The
Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that
unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations
and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer
prevention, research and treatment in Georgia,
with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier
states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related
deaths in Georgia.
The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a
national model. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
To
learn more about the UGA
Cancer Center,
see www.uga.edu/cancercenter.
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Note to editors: Photos are available
for download at the links below.
Dobbin: http://www.uga.edu/news/photos/UGA_Dobbin_071509.JPG
Kannan: http://photo.alumni.uga.edu/pickup/25945/25945-015.jpg
Murph:http://photo.alumni.uga.edu/pickup/25960/25960-003.jpg
Wang: http://photo.alumni.uga.edu/pickup/25946/25946-008.jpg
Pierce: http://www.uga.edu/news/photos/UGA_pierce_071509.JPG
