2009-2010 FY Highlights

Our mission is to put ourselves out of business,
not necessarily curing cancer but to control it.”

Dr. Andrew Thorburn
Vice Chairman-Department of Pharmacology, Associate Director for Basic Science

Here are some highlights of programs supported in 2009 and 2010.

• Dr. Paul Bunn, M.D., founder of UCCC, was awarded a $5.2 million Grand Opportunities ARRA grant that will build a multi-center consortium to test 1,000 newly-diagnosed lung adenocarcinomas for a wide variety of genetic mutations, free of charge to patients.

• Dr. Ross Camidge recently announced that a new oral drug called an “ALK inhibitor” is bringing one form of non-small cell lung cancer to a standstill. This type of cancer kills 20,000 Americans every year. The significant results of the research raises the prospect that similar drugs for other forms of lung cancer may also be found.

• Dr. Pepper Schedin recently received two grants totaling $750,000 to continue her work on pregnancy-related breast cancer. As a young scientist, Dr. Schedin’s research was supported by AMC and she is quickly growing an international reputation for her leading work in pregnancy-related breast cancer, a devastating form of cancer that is more virulent than other types of breast cancer. About 50% of all breast cancer among young women occurs within five years of pregnancy.

• In May of 2010, AMC hosted the fourth annual “Gift of Life and Breath” a 5k Run to raise awareness and funds for research into the early detection of lung cancer. Through community support, corporate sponsorships and participant fundraising efforts, the event raised $89,000…more than enough to fund the next year of research conducted by University of Colorado Cancer Center member, Dr. Michael Weyant in collaboration with Dr. Kim O’Neil at Brigham Young University.

• AMC introduced the first annual women's event; Women, Wine and Wisdom, hosting the talented Jonna Tamases in her riotously entertaining, profoundly moving hour-long show "Jonna's Body, Please Hold" as well as the dynamic Dr. Virginia Borges' friendly and highly informative "Girl Talk" session, all you want and need to know about the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Translational Program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. After hearing the powerful messages of Dr. Borges and Jonna, guests Walter and Laura Dear were inspired to commit to a matching challenge grant. This means every donation made to the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Program will be matched dollar for dollar. What a dramatic extension of the philanthropic impact the evening prompted!

• The Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the UCCC receives funding from AMC to support its programs in cancer prevention research and early detection, as well as supporting cancer survivors through the Livestrong Center for Excellence and the Cancer Information and Counseling Line. The significance of the prevention of cancer, not to mention the importance of early detection, is seen throughout the research and clinical trials taking place at UCCC in all cancer types. Statistics show that 750,000 lives could be saved through cancer prevention and control. Our work is paying off - there are more than 11 million cancer survivors in the United States today.