In the News
Check out our latest media coverage below.
February 2012
Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, Discusses Targeted Drug Delivery on KNME’s “Connect”
February 16, 2012
Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, and colleagues were interviewed by Augusta Meyers on the powerful and versatile nanoparticle drug-delivery technologies they have developed. These nanoparticles promise to attack cancer cells with unprecedented selectivity and minimal side effects. The interview will re-air on Sunday, February 19, at 5:00 p.m. on KNMD Channel 9.1. “Connect” is a new KNME program that introduces audiences with great ideas in science, medicine, the arts and history at the University of New Mexico.
2012 “Hoops 4 Hope” Game Raises over $26,000 for UNM Cancer Center
February 10, 2012
The annual charity basketball match-up between the New Mexico House and Senate raised a record-breaking $26,350 for the University of New Mexico Cancer Center, topping last year’s proceeds of $20,000. The House “Aggies” just edged out the Senate “Lobos” by a score of 26-25, despite an attempted last-second shot by Senator Howie Morales, D-Silver City. This is the ninth year the game has benefitted the UNM Cancer Center. The game was covered by news outlets statewide, including the Albuquerque Journal and KKOB Channel 4.
New Study Finds Inherited Risk Factors for ALL Are More Common in Hispanic Children
February 3, 2012
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology pinpoints specific genetic variations that contribute to higher rates and poorer outcomes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Hispanic children (defined as having greater than 10% Native American ancestry). These variations, in a gene known as ARID5B, help explain why Hispanic children are both more susceptible to ALL and are more likely to have higher-risk forms of the disease that resist treatment. The study was co-authored by Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and Director of the UNM Cancer Center, and colleagues from the Children’s Oncology Group. The findings lay the groundwork for the development of new therapies that target these variations and improve treatment outcomes for Hispanic children. Read the abstract.
Association of American Cancer Institutes Recognizes UNM Cancer Center Researchers’ Achievements
February 1, 2012
Two University of New Mexico Cancer Center members were highlighted in the February issue of the AACI Update. Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD, was acknowledged for her new appointment to the advisory council of the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an institution that seeks to better understand life processes in an effort to lay the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD and his colleagues were mentioned for their recent paper in Drug Discovery Today: Therapeutic Strategies which details 11 drug repurposing projects—many of which relate to cancer treatment—currently taking place at UNM. Read the February issue.
January 2012
UNM Physician Discusses Advances and Challenges in Treating High-Risk Childhood Leukemia
January 10, 2012
Stuart Winter, MD, of the UNM Cancer Center recently presented at the 2011 American Society of Hematology conference on new progress in identifying the molecular markers of high-risk childhood leukemias. Despite successes in treating pediatric leukemias overall, certain high-risk forms of the disease remain resistant to conventional treatments. Dr. Winter spoke about recent advances in pinpointing biomarkers of high-risk disease, articulating his hope that, within the next 10-20 years, targeted therapies now being developed for high-risk patient populations (as identified by reliable biomarkers) would improve patient outcomes and entail fewer long-term side effects. Watch the entire interview.
December 2011
UNM Cancer Center Researchers Named “Top Newsmakers” of 2011
December 23, 2011
New Mexico Business Weekly named Cheryl Willman, MD, Jeff Brinker, PhD, and Yubin Miao, PhD, among its “top newsmakers” in the health field in 2011. The Business Weekly described the groundbreaking nanoparticle technology developed by Drs. Brinker, Willman and colleagues – a technology that could improve chemotherapy effectiveness and decrease side effects – and Dr. Miao’s innovative research exploring the use of radiolabeled isotopes to diagnose and treat melanoma. Read the story here.
Santa Fe New Mexican Spotlights Community Outreach at the UNM Cancer Center
December 19, 2011
A feature story in the “La Voz” section of the Santa Fe New Mexican described the UNM Cancer Center’s community outreach efforts, focusing on its Mobile Mammography Program – which has served nearly 1,000 New Mexican women in two years – and Ventanilla de Salud, a collaboration with the Mexican Consulate that has benefitted 30,000 New Mexican Hispanics since its launch in 2008. María Otero, director of Hispanic outreach, and Barbara Damron, PhD, RN, director of community partnerships, were interviewed for the story. Read the piece (in Spanish only) here.
CNNMoney Spotlights Technology Developed by UNM Cancer Center Researchers
December 19, 2011
CNNMoney highlighted work by Edward Flynn, PhD, on a system aimed at detecting breast cancer cells much earlier than current mammography methods. Dr. Flynn’s research, done in association with Helen Hathaway, PhD, Natalie Adolphi, PhD, and others was recently published in Breast Cancer Research. Their system uses targeted magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic field sensors to pinpoint the location and extent of cancer cells. While mammograms can currently detect masses of 100 million cells, Dr. Flynn hopes to eventually be able to detect tumors with as few as 12,000 cells, which would mean detecting breast cancer even before it registers as a stage-one tumor. Read more here.
New Mexico Business Weekly Features Therapeutic Possibility of Turmeric-derived Compound
December 16, 2011
New Mexico Business Weekly featured new research that explores the cancer-fighting potential of curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric. Marco Bisoffi, PhD, postdoctoral candidate Alexandra Fajardo and their colleagues first identified useful synthetic versions of curcumin, then tested the effects of ca27, one promising version, on prostate cancer cells in the lab. Their studies show that ca27 effectively stops the growth of prostate cancer cells, offering an exciting new direction for prostate cancer treatment. Read the article here.
KLUZ-TV Covers New Mexico Community Health Workers Association Conference
December 9, 2011
KLUZ-TV aired a segment on the 16th annual New Mexico Community Health Workers Association conference, held this year at the UNM Cancer Center. The meeting allows community health workers (CHWs) in New Mexico to share best practices and new ideas. Keynote speaker Barbara Damron, PhD, RN, director of the UNM Cancer Center’s Office of Community Partnerships & Cancer Health Disparities, addressed several issues in the field, including the unique role of CHWs in cancer care. Please view the segment here (in Spanish).
AACI Update Highlights UNM Cancer Center Research
December 1, 2011
The December issue of AACI Update highlighted recent research published by Diane Lidke, PhD and colleagues and Helen Hathaway, PhD; Natalie Adolphi, PhD; Ed Flynn, PhD and colleagues. Dr. Lidke’s work describes previously unobserved specifics of epidermal growth factor receptor dynamics – crucial to cellular signaling – in living cell membranes; Dr. Hathaway et al.’s work demonstrates the promise of a new “nanomagnetic” approach to breast cancer detection that utilizes magnetic nanoparticles and highly sensitive magnetic field coils to pinpoint breast cancer cells. Read the December issue of AACI Update here.
November
KOAT-TV Spotlights “Nanomagnetic” Technology for Detecting Breast Cancer
On November 27, KOAT-TV reported on promising new “nanomagnetic” technology for breast cancer detection developed and tested by Helen Hathaway, PhD; Natalie Adolphi, PhD; Ed Flynn, PhD and colleagues at the UNM Cancer Center, UNM Health Sciences Center, Sandia National Labs, and Senior Scientific. The technology has the potential to detect breast cancer with greater sensitivity and accuracy than conventional x-ray mammography and could be especially useful for screening women with dense, scarred or augmented breasts. Please watch the segment here.
Impact of Turmeric-Derived Compound on Prostate Cancer Explored
Recent articles in the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Daily Lobo each explored new research by Marco Bisoffi, PhD; Alexandra Fajardo, post doctoral candidate and colleagues that identified a particular synthetic analog to curcumin, a turmeric-derived compound known to inhibit the expression of androgen receptor proteins, and tested it on prostate cancer cells in the lab. The team found that their synthetic curcumin effectively blocked the activity of the androgen receptor, halting the growth of prostate cancer cells. Their findings open up an exciting new avenue for attacking prostate cancer. Read the New Mexican article here, and the story in the Daily Lobo here.
Tough Enough to Wear Pink Campaign Raises More Than $500,000 for Cancer Research
On November 23 the Las Cruses Sun News reported that the NMSU Aggies Are Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign generated $570,581 in cash and in-kind donations, an 8.6% increase over last year’s total, for Cowboys for Cancer Research. The Las Cruces-based nonprofit will direct the funds to cancer research endowments at NMSU and the UNM Cancer Center. Please read more about this year’s event and the history of the campaign here.
Critiquing New York Times Column on “Watch-and-Wait”
On November 19, Health News Review, a blog offering independent expert reviews of news stories, posted a critique by Richard Hoffman, MD, a UNM Cancer Center member, on a New York Times column on alternatives to prostate cancer treatment. Dr. Hoffman pointed out several misconceptions related to the watch-and-wait approach for men with slow-growing prostate cancers, affirmed the existence of clear treatment guidelines and underscored the still-unknown benefits and consequences of cryosurgery. The bottom line, he says, is that patients need to be educated about the pros and cons of both screening and treatment. Read Dr. Hoffman’s post here.
Nursing Journal Spotlights “Nanomagnetic” Approach to Breast Cancer Detection
On November 15, Oncology Nurse Advisor spotlighted research by Helen Hathaway, PhD; Natalie Adolphi, PhD; Edward Flynn, PhD; and colleagues demonstrating the efficacy of magnetic nanoparticles and sensitive magnetic field coils to detect breast cancer cells. This novel approach, in development by researchers at UNM, Sandia Labs and Senior Scientific, has several potential advantages over mammography and could eventually improve breast cancer screening, as well as provide a tool for monitoring treatment. The team recently published their findings in Breast Cancer Research. Please read the full story here.
Daily Lobo Reports on “Crucial Centimeter” Around Breast Tumors
On November 10, the Daily Lobo featured new breast cancer research conducted by UNM Cancer Center researchers and colleagues, which was recently published in Molecular Cancer Research. The study, by Kristina Trujillo, PhD; Marco Bisoffi, PhD; Nancy Joste, PhD; Jeffrey Griffith, PhD, and others indicates that a “crucial centimeter” of seemingly normal tissue around breast tumors in fact shares key characteristics in common with the tumors themselves. This research may eventually allow surgeons to more precisely calibrate the margin of tissue that needs to be removed during surgery to lessen the chances of recurrence. Read the entire article here.
NCI Cancer Bulletin Recognizes Julie Bauman, MD, MPH, of the UNM Cancer Center
The November 1 issue of the NCI Cancer Bulletin recognized Julie Bauman, MD, MPH and 10 other “exceptional clinical investigators” around the nation who received the Nation Cancer Institute’s 2011 Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Awards. The award comes with $50,000 per year for two years. Read the story here.
UNM Cancer Center Members’ Achievements Recognized in AACI Update
The November issue of the AACI Update highlighted the recent accomplishments of two members of the UNM Cancer Center. Julie Bauman, MD, MPH, a head and neck cancer specialist, was honored with the National Cancer Institute’s 2011 Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, recognizing her as one of the top clinical researchers in the nation. Barbara Damron, PhD, RN, director of the Office of Community Partnerships & Cancer Health Disparities, was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing, one of just two 2011 Fellows from New Mexico. Read the entire issue here.
October
Senior Affairs Broadcasts Information on Breast Cancer in New Mexico
Senior Affairs, a local public access television show hosted by Ed Nunez, recently interviewed Barbara Damron, PhD, RN, and director of the Office of Community Partnerships & Cancer Health Disparities about the effects of breast cancer in New Mexico. Dr. Damron discussed the breast cancer challenges specific to New Mexico, as well as advances in treatment taking place in the state. Please watch the entire clip here.
Albuquerque Journal Highlights “Lung Cancer Awareness Month”
On October 30, a column in the Albuquerque Journal sought to build awareness around cancers that come in “colors other than pink” – especially lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. “Lung cancer has a very low survival rate,” noted Julie Bauman, MD, of the UNM Cancer Center, who was quoted in the article, together with a UNM Cancer Center patient being treated for the illness. Read the full article here.
Albuquerque Journal Editorial Lauds UNM for “Innovative Research”
On October 28, the Albuquerque Journal ran an editorial lauding New Mexico’s universities for their research innovations. “Cutting-edge research is putting New Mexico on the innovation map,” the paper’s editorial board members wrote. The piece highlighted the virus-like particle research currently being done by David Peabody, PhD, and a groundbreaking synthetic nanocarrier, the “protocell,” likewise developed by UNM and Sandia scientists. Read the full article here.
Chicago Public Radio Reports on Michele Baldwin’s Daring Fundraising Journey
UNM Cancer Center patient Michele Baldwin embarked on a 700-mile paddleboard journey down India’s Ganga (Ganges) River on October 17. Her trip aims to raise research funds to fight cervical cancer and promote HPV vaccination. Chicago public radio recently reported on the start of her journey. See the segment here.
Dr. Richard Hoffman’s PSA Testing Analysis Cited by National Public Radio
A recent post at NPR.org offers advice to men confused over the new draft recommendations on PSA testing, referring readers to analysis of the recommendations by Richard Hoffman, MD, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Hoffman “nicely lays out the issues,” says the author of the post, which appears on NPR’s health blog. Read Dr. Hoffman’s NEJM piece here and the NPR post here.
AARP Bulletin Publishes UNM Cancer Center Researcher’s Opinion on New Melanoma Study
Marianne Berwick, PhD, an international expert on melanoma, was quoted in the October 25 AARP Bulletin responding to a new study which suggests that people’s underlying health, even more than their age, influences their outcomes after a diagnosis of advanced skin cancer. “This interesting and provocative paper has the potential to lead to a new understanding of how to treat patients not only for melanoma, but for other cancers as well,” said Dr. Berwick, who was not involved in the study. See the article here.
New Video Introduces Potential Patients to Robotic Prostate Surgery and UNM Cancer Center
A video produced by HSC TV and posted October 24 on YouTube introduces viewers to robotic prostate surgery and the services of the UNM Cancer Center. Satyan Shah, MD, director of robotic surgery, provides a step-by-step explanation of the procedure and an overview of UNM’s facilities. View the video here.
Albuquerque Journal Features Promise of Virus-like Particles for Cancer Treatment
On October 23, 2011 the Albuquerque Journal published a story highlighting the cancer-fighting potential of virus-like particles. These particles, developed by researchers from the UNM Cancer Center and Sandia National Labs, consist of the non-infectious outer shell of a virus, a cargo of either therapeutic drugs or imaging particles and peptides that have an affinity for the receptors on the surface of cancer cells. These peptides cause the virus-like particles to bind with cancer cells rather than healthy cells, allowing the cargo to be delivered far more efficiently and without the damaging effects of conventional chemotherapy. Both David Peabody, PhD, a co-author of the study, and Cheryl Willman, MD, director and CEO of the Cancer Center, were interviewed for the Journal article. Please see the full article here.
Southeastern NM Media Covers “Advocacy for Cancer Patients Seminar” in Carlsbad
An October 15 article in the Carlsbad Current-Argus previewed the Advocacy for Cancer Patients Seminar, held October 21 in Carlsbad. Created by Evy and Jeff Diamond in honor of their late son, Shannon J. Shaw, the program offered free public talks and professional continuing education sessions on cutting-edge developments in cancer treatment and relevant health care law. All funds raised by the continuing education portion of the program went to the Shannon J. Shaw Memorial Fund at the UNM Cancer Center. Cheryl Willman, MD, Monte Shaheen, MD, and Melanie Royce, MD, PhD, spoke at the seminar. Radio interviews on the seminar and the Shannon Shaw Fund ran on KATK-FM (Carlsbad) and KEND-FM (Artesia). Please see the feature story in the Current-Argus here.
UNM Cancer Center Wins Architectural Award
The New Mexico chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently announced its 2011 AIA New Mexico Design Award Winners. Rohde May Keller McNamara Architecture, P.C. received a “Merit Award” for its design of the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center. See details and all 2011 winners here.
Cowboys for Cancer Research Fundraisers Garner Extensive Coverage
The 29th annual Cowboys for Cancer Research dinner/dance and team roping fundraisers, held October 7-8, garnered extensive TV, radio and print coverage. Please read and watch sample coverage from the Las Cruces Sun-News. The Sun-News also covered the related Tough Enough to Wear Pink fundraiser in articles including this one. Both sets of events raise money for collaborative research at the UNM Cancer Center and NMSU.
UNM Cancer Center Experts React to Draft Recommendations against PSA Testing
The October 6 announcement of new draft recommendations advising against PSA testing from the US Preventive Services Task Force sparked public responses from two UNM Cancer Center experts. Satyan Shah, MD, interviewed for an October 8 story in the Albuquerque Journal, said he strongly believes the PSA test remains an “important tool for diagnosing prostate cancer” and emphasized that treatment decisions, if any, made on the basis of test results are a “conversation that a cancer doctor needs to have with a patient.” In an article published online at Medpage Today, Richard Hoffman,MD, called the draft recommendations “troubling” and pointed out that new strategies like active surveillance can help mitigate the harms of overdiagnosis, one potential downside of PSA testing. Currently, PSA testing is used to screen men for prostate cancer, often as part of a routine physical exam.
American Physical Society Reports on UNM Cancer Center Researcher’s Entrepreneurship
The October issue of APS News, a publication of the American Physical Society, featured UNM Cancer Center researcher Edward Flynn, PhD in a piece spotlighting physicists-turned-entrepreneurs. Flynn, a former Los Alamos physicist, has developed a new method, using antibody-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, for detecting breast cancer tumors up to three years earlier than conventional mammography. The firm he created to refine and market this technology was recently purchased by Manhattan Scientifics, a move that may speed the technology’s clinical application. Please read more about the technology here, and view the entire APS article here.
UNM Foundation Highlights Donation to the UNM Cancer Center for Melanoma Research
Early this month, the UNM Foundation published a story on Jim and Ellen King’s support of melanoma research at the UNM Cancer Center. Ellen King, a melanoma survivor, seeks to advance melanoma prevention and treatment through funding research at the Center. Her gift has helped build a bank of tumor tissue and DNA samples that provides the crucial “raw material” for melanoma research. Please read the full story here.
September
Scientific American Names Sandia-UNM “Protocell” a “Nanomedicine Breakthrough”
The “protocell” is back in the news. In a blog feature on five “nanomedicine breakthroughs” published September 30, Scientific American highlighted this new drug delivery particle developed by the UNM Cancer Center and Sandia National Laboratories. The protocell has several advantages over existing nanocarriers, including more precise targeting of cancer cells and greater capacity to safely carry high concentrations of chemotherapy and other anti-cancer agents. Protocell collaborator Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, UNM Distinguished and Regents’ Professor and a Sandia Fellow, was quoted in the article. Please find the full article here.
Ventanilla de Salud Grant Draws Widespread Media Coverage
On September 20 KOAT-TV reported on the $35,000 grant given to the UNM Cancer Center by the Mexican Consulate in support of Ventanilla de Salud, a collaborative effort to improve health education and access among New Mexican Hispanics. Santa Fe public radio station KSFR-FM also interviewed Barbara Damron, PhD, RN, director of the Cancer Center’s Office of Community Partnerships and Cancer Health Disparities, about the partnership. The Santa Fe New Mexican published a news brief (in English) and a feature article (in Spanish). In addition, the Associated Press picked up the story, and numerous regional and online news outlets ran the AP article, including MSNBC.com. Please see the KOAT-TV clip, the KSFR-FM radio segment and the Santa Fe New Mexican feature.
KOAT-TV Notes UNM Cancer Center’s Use of New Cancer Drug
On September 20 KOAT-TV reported on the UNM Cancer Center’s use of a newly FDA-approved targeted therapy for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The drug, Adcetris, uses antibodies, which attach specifically to lymphoma cells, to guide the chemotherapy component of the drug directly to those cells. In clinical trials, 70 percent of patients’ tumors shrunk after six months of treatment. Adcetris is being used to treat liver cancers at the UNM Cancer Center. Please see the full report here.
UNM Dedicates New Combined Nanotechnology/Nanomedicine Lab
The Daily Lobo, among other new outlets, recently reported on the opening of a new 5,000 square foot lab built on the third floor of UNM’s Centennial Engineering Center to further research in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. The creation of the lab, led by UNM Cancer Center member, UNM Regents’ Professor and Sandia fellow Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, should help generate more innovations like the “protocell”, a minuscule particle researchers are developing to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells. Founders are also hopeful that the lab will allow the testing and production of nanotechnology innovations to stay in New Mexico. UNM Cancer Center CEO and director, Cheryl Willman, MD, was also in attendance at the dedication. Please read the article here.
NM Business Weekly Spotlights UNM Cancer Center Member’s Melanoma Research
The September 9 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly featured the recent efforts of Yubin Miao, PhD, a researcher at the UNM Cancer Center whose work focuses on the detection and eventual treatment of melanoma and other cancers. Dr. Miao has developed a unique peptide sequence tagged with a radioisotope to target and then image melanoma cells. In the future, the hope is to use this same radiolabeled peptide to deliver therapeutic drugs to cancer cells. Chuck Wiggins, PhD, director of the New Mexico Tumor Registry, and Marianne Berwick, PhD, both of the UNM Cancer Center, were also quoted about melanoma rates and prevention in New Mexico. Please see the full article here.
Albuquerque Journal Publishes Editorial on Childhood Cancer by UNM Cancer Center Physicians
On September 21 the Albuquerque Journal published an editorial written by UNM Cancer Center physicians Stuart Winter, MD, and Koh Boayue, MD, which details UNM’s continued participation in the Children’s Oncology Group leukemia clinical trials. Drs. Winter and Boayue described the benefits of the clinical trials, including being able to provide the latest treatments available for leukemia, which accounts for about a quarter of the childhood cancer diagnoses in New Mexico. The doctors also mentioned September’s designation as Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and paid tribute to all of the patients and families whose participation in clinical trials has helped improve the outcomes of others. Please read the full story here.
Renal & Urology News Publishes UNM Cancer Center Researcher’s Expert Opinion on Prostate Cancer
On September 21 Richard Hoffman, MD, was quoted extensively in a web-exclusive article published by Renal & Urology News describing the differences in prostate cancer awareness, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and early intervention in the US versus Europe. American authorities recommend prostate screening for men over 40; European authorities do not. The benefits and costs of screening remain controversial. Read the entire article here.
NCI Cancer Bulletin Publishes UNM Cancer Center Director’s Opinion on Funding for MDS Research
In the September 20 issue of the NCI Cancer Bulletin Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and director of the UNM Cancer Center, underscored the importance of funding tissue banks that collect high-quality specimens for use in genetic and epigenetic studies of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a set of diseases that can be precursors to certain types of leukemia. Dr. Willman advocated for the creation of tissue banks while speaking at a “state of the science” symposium sponsored by the NCI and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). She and other symposium speakers identified priority research areas in MDS that, with funding, promise to improve understanding of the diseases and lead to better treatment options for patients. Read the full article here.
Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board Praises UNM Cancer Center’s Work in R&D
On September 6, 2011, the Albuquerque Journal published an editorial commending the UNM Cancer Center, UNM as a whole, Sandia National Labs and Los Alamos National Lab for laying the groundwork for New Mexico’s economic growth through technology research, development and commercialization. Please see the editorial as well as a more detailed article about the technology innovation and commercialization taking place in New Mexico.
Blood Publishes UNM Cancer Center Researcher’s Response to JAK2 Study
In the September issue of Blood, a journal published by the American Society of Hematology, researchers including Bridget Wilson, PhD, leader of UNM Cancer Center’s Hematologic Malignancies Research Program, addressed a controversial study published late last year regarding the cellular location of the protein JAK2. The JAK2 gene, and its mutations, are often studied in relation to leukemia. Read the letter, and learn more about the research here.
AACI Update Reports on National Appointments for Two UNM Cancer Center Physicians
The September issue of the Update, published by the Association of American Cancer Institutes, covered news of the national positions garnered by Richard Lauer, MD, and Carolyn Muller, MD, both of the UNM Cancer Center. Dr. Lauer, executive medical director of the UNM Cancer Center, will serve on the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Provider-Payer Workgroup, a committee working towards advances in the quality, safety, and affordability of cancer care. Dr. Muller, director of gynecologic oncology, will work as a peer reviewer for the National Institutes of Health. Please read the full Update here.
August
Albuquerque Journal Highlights Newly Installed Sculpture at UNM Cancer Center
On August 28, 2011, the Albuquerque Journal covered the dedication of the UNM Cancer Center’s newest addition to its art collection, a bronze sculpture created by Star Liana York of Abiquiu, NM, and donated by collectors Paul and Lucy Roth. The sculpture, Distant Thunder, which depicts a determined Apache woman carrying her child, is one of the many pieces of art on display in and around the Center. Read the full article here.
UNM Cancer Center CEO and Director Offers Opinion on Cancer Drug Shortages
On August 27, 2011, UNM Cancer Center CEO and director, Cheryl Willman, MD, was quoted in the Las Cruses Sun-News as well as on talk radio station 770 KKOB-AMabout recent shortages of critical generic cancer treatment drugs. Dr. Willman noted both the need for federal intervention to end the shortage, and the negative effect the low supply of drugs is having on local patients. Executive Medical Director of the Cancer Center, Richard Lauer, MD, was also interviewed by local television station KOAT-7 about how the shortage was specifically affecting the Cancer Center. Please see the Las Cruses Sun-News article, a partial transcript of the 770 KKOB-AM interview, or the KOAT-7 television clip.
Albuquerque Journal Reports on Turning Patents into Profitable Businesses for NM
On August 22, 2011, the Business Outlook section of the Albuquerque Journal featured a story on the process of turning high-tech patents, such as those awarded to UNM Cancer Center researchers, into commercial businesses. Larry Sklar, PhD, Associate Director for Basic Research at Cancer Center, gave insights into the business and science “ecosystem” necessary to support such commercialization, and discussed his own experiences in turning patents into successful business ventures. Read the full article here.
UNM Cancer Center Researcher Interviewed Widely About Melanoma Prevention
On August 21, 2011, Marianne Berwick, PhD, of the UNM Cancer Center was interviewed by Terrie Q. Sayre of 770 KKOB-AM talk radio about melanoma and tips for skin cancer prevention. Later that week Dr. Berwick also appeared on Good Day New Mexico and New Mexico Style to discuss the prevalence of melanoma in New Mexico and to give more advice on protection. Dr. Berwick is an internationally known melanoma researcher who has studied the genetic and environmental elements of melanoma risk as well as methods for risk reduction. Please view a clip of the New Mexico Style interview here.
July
NCI Cancer Bulletin Publishes Special Issue on Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers
The July 26 issue of the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Bulletin was dedicated to news about adolescent and young adult cancers, and included a feature on research geared towards uncovering the biology of cancers that affect this specific group. Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and director of the UNM Cancer Center, was quoted regarding gene mutations and possible new therapies related to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. Read the feature here.
UNM Today Highlights Innovative Process for Finding Potential Anti-cancer Drugs
A new method for discovering certain molecules that could serve as the basis for new anti-cancer drugs was featured in the July 15 issue of UNM Today. The method, created by UNM Cancer Center researchers Larry Sklar, PhD, and Bruce Edwards, PhD, uses a powerful flow cytometry device invented here at UNM to quickly scan vast numbers of molecules for those that interact with six specific proteins that help regulate cancer cell life and death. Read the entire feature here.
Widespread National Coverage of Study on Family Cancer History
Over 100 media outlets nationwide have reported on a new paper in the July 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association underscoring the importance of keeping current on one’s family history of cancer, especially for people 30 to 50 years old. UNM Cancer Center member Deirdre Hill, PhD was one of the paper’s co-authors. She and colleagues in the 14-institution Cancer Genetics Network analyzed data from 27,000 patients and discovered that a significant percentage had changes in their family history of cancer that would trigger earlier or more intense screening, as per existing ACS screening recommendations. An editorial in the same issue of JAMA explored the study’s implication for cancer prevention. See sample coverage from the LA Times, the Boston Globe, Reuters and US News & World Report.
LA Times Reports on Connection between Celebrex and Lung Cancer Prevention
Research on lung cancer prevention done by Jenny Mao, PhD, a UNM Cancer Center member, was highlighted on July 6 in the LA Times. Dr. Mao’s study, conducted among former heavy smokers, strengthens previous research that points to Celebrex, a common anti-inflammatory drug, as a possible chemopreventive, or compound that helps prevent or slow cancer. The study was also featured in UNM Today on July 11 and on the July 9 evening news broadcast of KOAT-7. Read the LA Times article here.
UNM Cancer Center Physician Offers Expert Opinion on New Prostate Cancer Test
UNM Cancer Center member Anthony Smith, MD, Professor and Chief of Urology, was quoted in a recent article in Renal and Urology News about a potential new test for patients with low-volume and insignificant prostate cancer. The test, which measures PCA3 cells in the urine, could be used to monitor patients who are currently subjected to serial biopsies. Dr. Smith noted that such a test could help physicians cost effectively reduce both undertreatment and overtreatment of prostate cancer. Read the story here.
June
UNM Today Highlights National Service by Two UNM Cancer Center Physicians
Richard Lauer, MD, and Carolyn Muller, MD, are the focus of two stories published online in UNM Today on June 14. Dr. Lauer, executive medical director of the UNM Cancer Center, was recently invited to serve on the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Provider-Payer Workgroup, a committee dedicated to improving the quality, safety and affordability of cancer care. Dr. Muller, director of gynecologic oncology, has been tapped as a peer reviewer for the National Institutes of Health; her three-year term on the Clinical Oncology Study Section begins in July. Click to read the full story on Dr. Lauer’s new ASCO appointment and on Dr. Muller’s upcoming NIH service.
UNM-Sandia “Protocell” Makes Cover of New Mexico Business Weekly
In conjunction with the nanotechnology symposium held at the UNM Cancer Center June 2-3 an article featuring the protocell was published in the June 10 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly. The article briefly explained the new protocell, a targeted drug delivery system that has been shown to be 1 million times more effective than existing nanoparticles in delivering chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells. Furthermore, the article featured Cheryl Willman MD, CEO and Director of the UNM Cancer Center, and Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, discussing the implications of the protocell as well as their hope to keep production of the protocells local. Read the full article here.
UNM Cancer Center and Members Recognized in New Mexico Business Weekly
Recent awards received by the UNM Cancer Center and two of its members were spotlighted in the June 10 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly. UNM Regents’ and Distinguished professor Larry Sklar, PhD, was honored by STC.UNM with the Innovation Fellow award while Melanie Royce, MD, PhD, was presented with the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Woman. The Cancer Center itself was recognized by the Engineering News-Record and Healthcare Design for its “exquisite use of materials, wonderful integration of nature and views, and clear sense of regionality.” Read about all of the awards and their recipients here.
UNM-Sandia Symposium and “Protocell” Spotlighted on KRQE
KRQE News 13 covered the June 2-3 Nanotechnology Symposium, interviewing Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and director of the UNM Cancer Center, about pioneering new drug delivery technology developed by UNM and Sandia. The segment aired on June 2 at noon, 4pm and 5:30pm. View the clip here.
May
Albuquerque Journal Recognizes the Work of UNM Cancer Center Researcher
On May 16, the Editorial Board of the Albuquerque Journal highlighted Jeremy Edwards, PhD, and his work on sequencing the human genome. Dr. Edwards’ research will help significantly reduce the cost of genomic mapping. The Journal editors also point out that his work is helping to put UNM on the map as a high level research university. Read the full editorial here.
“Cheap DNA Mapping” Featured in the Albuquerque Journal
On May 9, the Albuquerque Journal reported on Jeremy Edwards, PhD, and his work to develop DNA mapping tools that will bring the cost of sequencing the human genome—now a prohibitive $20,000—to less than $1,000. Dr. Edwards and team believe that such tools will make genome sequencing routine for patients coming to the UNM Cancer Center. Read the full story here.
New Mexico Business Weekly Covers News of Surface Family Trust Gift
The May 6 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly reports on the recently announced $9.5 million gift from the Surface Family Trust. The gift will be used to create up to eight new endowed research positions at the UNM Cancer Center. Read the full story here.
UNM Cancer Center in the AACI Update
The May issue of the AACI Update features two stories on the UNM Cancer Center: a report on the new drug-delivery “protocell” developed by Carlee Ashley, Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, and team, and news of Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD, Distinguished Scientist Award from the Harvard Foundation. Read the May issue here.
Ovarian Cancer Course in the Daily Lobo
The Daily Lobo reported May 3 on the success of the April 9 Ovarian Cancer Course held at the UNM Cancer Center, organized and introduced by Carolyn Muller, MD. Around 145 ovarian cancer survivors and their families, as well as health professionals attended the event. Read the full story.
April
‘Protocell’ Technology Featured on Cover of Albuquerque Journal
A groundbreaking drug-delivery nanoparticle designed by Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, Carlee Ashley and collaborators made the front page of the April 29 Albuquerque Journal following the publication of the team’s research paper in the May issue of Nature Materials. Cheryl Willman, MD, director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center and co-author of the paper, is quoted in the Journal as likening the new nanoparticle to a “little nuclear bomb” that specifically targets cancer cells. Dubbed a “protocell,” this new technology could lead to human drug trials within five years. Read the full story here.
UNM Cancer Center in The Cancer Letter
The April 22 issue of The Cancer Letter highlighted three stories from the UNM Cancer Center: the transformational gift from the Surface Family Trust that is fueling recruitment of top research faculty; the hiring of leading physical oncologist Vittorio Cristini, PhD, as a Surface-endowed professor; and the bestowing of a 2011 Distinguished Scientist Award on Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD by the Harvard Foundation.
Santa Fe New Mexican Publishes Praise for UNM Cancer Center from Artist and Patient
Artist Rebecca Tobey praises the care she received from the UNM Cancer Center in the April 23 issue of the Santa Fe New Mexican: “I went to The University of New Mexico for treatment and had a fabulous team of doctors who did chemotherapy and radiation. Now I’m completely cancer-free.” Tobey donated a piece of her work, a striking bronze bear fountain entitled The Gift, to the Cancer Center. Read the full story.
Research by Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, and Team Published in Nature Materials
A team led by Jeffrey Brinker, PhD, UNM Regents’ and Distinguished Professor, UNM Cancer Center member and Sandia Fellow, has pioneered a new drug-delivery nanoparticle that significantly improves the targeting and potency of existing nanocarrier systems. Dr. Brinker et al. report on this innovation in a paper that appears on the cover of the May issue of Nature Materials and is the focus of an accompanying “News & Views” piece. The new research is receiving attention across the web, including at Science Daily, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Daily Tech, MedGadget and other outlets. Read the full Nature Materials article here.
Larry Sklar, PhD, Wins STC.UNM Innovation Fellow Award
Larry Sklar, PhD, UNM Regents’ and Distinguished Professor and Director of Basic Research at the UNM Cancer Center, is the winner of the 2011 Innovation Fellow Award from STC, UNM’s nonprofit corporation that transfers faculty inventions to the commercial marketplace. The Innovation Fellow Award is given annually to a top UNM innovator whose technologies have made a significant social and economic impact. This year alone, three patents were issued to Dr. Sklar, who has disclosed 50 technologies and received a total of 17 patents. See the April 18 issue of UNM Today (scroll to page 3) for the full story.
Two UNM Cancer Center Researchers Selected for “Who’s Who in Technology”
The April 29 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly announced its 2011 “Who’s Who in Technology” awardees including UNM Cancer Center researchers Edward Flynn, PhD and Richard Larson, MD, PhD. Dr. Flynn works with magnetic nanoparticles which bind to cancer cells making them easier to find and treat, while Dr. Larson’s innovations include a sensor which quickly scans blood or saliva samples for various diseases.
American Association of Cancer Research Honors Two UNM Cancer Center Researchers
Two scientists affiliated with the UNM Cancer Center have been recognized by the American Association of Cancer Research, the nation’s oldest cancer research organization. Kristina Flores, PhD, and Alexandra Fajardo, PhD student, received Minority Faculty Scholar and Minority Scholar Awards, respectively, for their excellence in cancer research. Read the full AACI Update article here or the UNM Today article here.
UNM Biophysicist Honored with Prestigious Award from Biophysical Society
Diane Lidke, PhD, received the 2011 Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award for her exceptional work in the field of biophysics. The award is given each year to a junior woman scientist who has high promise or achieved prominence in the early stages of her career. Read the full story in the AACI Update.
March
Cowboys for Cancer Research Helps Fund Joint NMSU-UNM Women’s Cancer Research
The Las Cruses Bulletin reported on March 28 that $60,000 would be donated by Cowboys for Cancer Research to fund collaborative research between NMSU and UNM research scientists. UNM Cancer Center researchers benefitted by the donation include Eric Prossnitz, PhD, Angela Wandinger-Ness, PhD, and Laurie Grace Hudson, PhD, while NMSU researchers include Joe Song, PhD, and Jeffrey Arterburn, PhD. The Associated Press also picked up the story, and media outlets across the country reported on the funding.
Nancy Floyd Haworth Foundation Grant Funds UNM Cancer Center Mammography Program
The March 21 issue of the Albuquerque Journal reports that the Mobile Mammography program, run by UNM Cancer Center researchers Barbara Damron, PhD and Melanie Royce, MD, PhD, received a grant from the Nancy Floyd Haworth Foundation, an entity dedicated to breast cancer education and support. The $10,000 grant will allow the program to continue providing mammograms to New Mexico women in areas without certified mammography facilities.
Arts-in-Medicine Featured in New Mexico Magazine
The March issue of New Mexico Magazine reports on UNM’s Arts-in-Medicine program, which brings art, music, writing and massage to patients and their families at the Cancer Center and UNM Hospitals.
Statewide Coverage of “Hoops 4 Hope” Legislative Basketball Game
The Albuquerque Journal, Santa Fe New Mexican, Journal Santa Fe, and Clovis News Journal all covered the 2011 “Hoops 4 Hope” Legislative Basketball Game which raised $20,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The event was also featured on the front page of the Roswell Daily Record and mentioned on KNML-AM and KQTM-FM.
KKOB-AM Airs Interview with Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and Director of the UNM Cancer Center
On March 4, Cheryl Willman, MD, CEO and Director of the UNM Cancer Center, made a guest appearance on the Morning Show with Bob Clark. Dr. Willman was interviewed and took questions from listeners.
Daily Lobo Covers NCI Grant for Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
A March 1 article published in the Daily Lobo describes the collaborative work and goals of the Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center, run by Abhaya Datye, PhD, UNM Cancer Center member. The training center is funded by a National Cancer Center grant for studying nanotechnology, one of two such grants held by the UNM Cancer Center. Read the full story here.
The Albuquerque Journal Features ALL and Native Ancestry Study
A cover story in the March 1 issue of the Albuquerque Journal, “Children and Cancer,” reported on important research by Cheryl Willman, MD, Director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center, and colleagues at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Children’s Oncology Group linking Native ancestry and acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse risk. Read the full article.
AACI Update Features ALL and Native Ancestry Study
The March issue of AACI Update, the newsletter of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, highlighted a study by Cheryl Willman, MD, Director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center, and colleagues at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Children’s Oncology Group that links Native ancestry with an increased relapse risk among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Read the March issue here.
February
The Cancer Letter Highlights the UNM Cancer Center
The February 18 issue of The Cancer Letter featured two stories about the UNM Cancer Center. News of the NCI-supported Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center, directed by Abhaya Datye, PhD and Janet Oliver, PhD, made the first page. The Cancer Letter also reported on the appointment of Larry Sklar, PhD, to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.
Radio and Television Outlets Help New Mexico “Think Pink”
Raising breast cancer awareness and honoring survivors were the main goals of UNM’s “Think Pink” basketball game, played against Utah on February 19. In the lead-up to the game, KKOB-AM and KQTM-FM aired interviews with Barbara Damron, PhD of the UNM Cancer Center on breast cancer’s impact in New Mexico. Day-of coverage included a KOB-TV News Channel 4 interview with Richard Lauer, MD also of the Cancer Center.
USA Today Covers Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center Grant
USA Today, The Washington Examiner, The New Mexico Business Weekly and many other news outlets reported on the $1.8 million grant awarded to the UNM Cancer Center to launch a Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center, one of only six in the country. The grant helps cross-train scientists in health, chemical and physical sciences in an effort to discover novel ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. The center will be co-directed by UNM Cancer Center researchers Abhaya Datye, PhD, and Janet Oliver, PhD.
Nature Genetics Publishes Study on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Native Ancestry
A study by Cheryl Willman, MD, Director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center, and colleagues at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Children’s Oncology Group, “Ancestry and pharmacogenomics of relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” appeared in Nature Genetics in February. The study links Native American ancestry to a greater relapse risk for young leukemia patients. Read more about the study here.
Albuquerque Journal Spotlights Community Health Worker of the Year
Monica Toquinto, was recently awarded the honor of Community Health Worker of the Year by the New Mexico Community Health Workers Association. Toquinto is a part of the Ventanilla de Salud Program, a partnership between the UNM Cancer Center and the Mexican Consulate which works to provide culturally relevant health information to New Mexican Hispanics.
January
Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research Publishes Study on Possible Earlier Detection of Melanoma
A study published online this month by Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, and conducted in part by UNM Cancer Center Researcher Marianne Berwick, PhD, suggests new methods of testing for abnormal levels of methylation, often an indicator of cancer, at specific sites on 22 genes may help physicians better and more quickly distinguish between benign skin lesions and melanomas.
New Mexico Business Weekly Reports on Fundraiser for UNM Cancer Center
The January 14 issue of the New Mexico Business Weekly highlighted Destination Glamour, a fashion show hosted by Santa Fe clothing shop Queen’s Ransom, to raise money for the UNM Cancer Center. The event raised over $4,300 for the Cancer Center.
Albuquerque Journal Reviews “The Emperor of All Maladies – A Biography of Cancer”
On January 9 the Albuquerque Journal published a review of “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee written by Fa-Chyi Lee, MD, of the UNM Cancer Center. The book review preceded a visit by Mukherjee to the UNM Cancer Center to discuss his work and writing with the public.
Albuquerque Journal Features UNM Cancer Center Researcher’s Study of Sunscreen
The Albuquerque Journal published an article on the front page of the January 4 issue highlighting the work of UNM Cancer Center Researcher Marianne Berwick, PhD. Some of Dr. Berwick’s recent work has focused on addressing possible misconceptions surrounding sunscreen use and melanoma prevention.