• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Case Western Reserve University and the National Foundation for Cancer Research Launch New Research Center for Molecular Imaging

Posted on: Thursday, 21 September 2006, 15:00 CDT

Case Western Reserve University and the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) announced today the establishment of a new NFCR Center for Molecular Imaging. This center, funded by a 5-year grant from the NFCR, will be led by James P. Basilion, Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at Case, and will be focused on assisting cancer scientists in identifying specific genes that are ideally suited for molecular imaging and diagnosis improvement that will lead to earlier-stage treatments for cancer patients.

Research has consistently shown that the earlier a physician can diagnose a tumor, the greater the chance of effectively treating the patient against cancer and increasing their chance of survival. "Molecular imaging is being recognized as the next revolution in cancer research and is paving the way for patient-specific imaging evaluation based on molecular and genetic markers," said Basilion.

By collaborating with over 40 additional cancer researchers at universities and hospitals worldwide, the NFCR Center for Molecular Imaging at Case will provide a new and vital imaging and diagnostic research platform for scientists in the early diagnosis and clinical development of novel anticancer drugs. The Case center joins other NFCR Centers established at Oxford, Yale, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of California-Berkeley, Dana Farber Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Freie Universitat Berlin, and the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology in Beijing to form a broader international collaborative network of top researchers.

"This new initiative marks one of the first research centers in the United States dedicated solely to cancer molecular imaging," said Sujan Ba, Ph.D., chief scientific officer for the NFCR. "We expect that the discoveries we make will hasten the development of safe, effective treatments for patients and allow researchers to more rapidly and thoroughly evaluate the benefits and limitations of new experimental therapies."

Research Being Conducted at the NFCR Center for Molecular Imaging at Case Western Reserve University

Current traditional cancer detection methods such as MRIs and Ultrasounds are not effective at detecting small, newly formed tumors in patients. This new center will work to improve these results by identifying cancer-specific genes that are ideally suited for molecular imaging and diagnosis. This method checks the production level of a group of cancer-related genes inside the patients' body and helps doctors to determine more accurately what therapy should be given to a patient.

Center research benefits from the expertise of Case researchers in the fields of biomedical engineering, chemistry, pharmacology, and radiology, among others. The center also benefits from Case's partnerships with nearby world-class medical institutions, such as University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic.

National Foundation for Cancer Research

Since it's founding in 1973, NFCR has spent more than $230 million funding basic science cancer research and prevention education focused on understanding how and why cells become cancerous. NFCR is dedicated to funding scientists who are discovering cancer's molecular mysteries and translating these discoveries into therapies that hold the hope for curing cancer. For more information, visit www.NFCR.org or call 1-800-321-CURE (2873).

Case Western Reserve University

Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category