tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740521893882667442024-03-13T20:44:49.204-07:00Pediatric Cancer Biology ProgramOur mission is to understand refractory childhood cancers and develop better treatmentsCharles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-19689265595655022532012-10-17T09:38:00.001-07:002012-10-17T09:38:19.498-07:00OHSU and NSWF welcomes Dr. Jeff Toretsky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jeffrey A. Toretsky,
M.D.,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Professor of Oncology
and Pediatrics</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lombardi
Comprehensive Cancer Center -</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Georgetown University</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Drugging the
Undruggable:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Targeting
Transcription in Ewings Sarcoma"</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tuesday, October 23,
2012</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">OHSU Main Hospital,
8th Floor Conference Room</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">To View Presentation
Via Live Stream -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001-qu4R3YbouM_cw0NxOav6H6ZFWY1vDpZ7tSnrxY6eQ-_pQtn7bT49X7hnhAljT7wHP0ZborsYENy65GVAK7Tnna7dx5c919UARkqEP3MlLHfiWW6CFBTz31cK5Nel6n9DlbO0EOc7Hr1CILrwShNfKeZbRhSA72B2wkg05AVQqS3xVLFUCmX3QvIuHZicuVZYgMlaOrPAyAH2qCCU8JCSGVctO5moIo0vW-wUnWo-Ks3hV3B7B8ER5qsqPJvjLnDGQ17PzO8CqA3Lv1jxxO9Ol0MfnRPA1ptzk60U41Ymh4eRXcy53CSedF4RdhHnr2iZV5P2yVOv2Bt3U2PBrFiwg3hmonpKODR6Y1AS7aQ-L4=" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sponsored by
Northwest Sarcoma Foundation Lectureship</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosted by Charles
Keller, MD, Leader Pediatric Cancer Biology Program - OHSU</span></span></strong><br />
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Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-26001092351703401552012-10-17T09:34:00.000-07:002012-10-17T09:34:07.862-07:00Our thanks to Paul Meltzer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CkXON0hFKm0/UH7d7IOGGZI/AAAAAAAAAG0/899VgOO2EbA/s1600/Paul-Lara.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CkXON0hFKm0/UH7d7IOGGZI/AAAAAAAAAG0/899VgOO2EbA/s200/Paul-Lara.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our thanks to Dr. Paul Meltzer, NCI, who gave a talk at OHSU on oncogenomics Tuesday October 9th as part of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Seminar Series. Paul is an expert on osteosarcoma (and pediatric sarcomas in general), and we were grateful for his visit and insight. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[picture, right: OHSU AYA fellow Lara Davis with Paul]</span></div>
Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-4713466304230104762012-09-14T16:39:00.002-07:002012-09-14T16:39:32.921-07:00Lara Davis is recipient of Umpqua Innovation Award<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Knight Cancer Institute and Pediatric Cancer Biology Program are grateful to Umpqua Bank for their ongoing commitment to innovation in the field of childhood cancer research. This year's recipient is AYA Oncology fellow, Dr. Lara Davis, who will use this $10,000 award to explore a novel culture technique for growing and expanding primary human sarcoma cells. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[ pictured (left to right): Brian Druker, Lara Davis, Ray Davis (CEO, Umpqua Bank) and Charles Keller]</span></div>
Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-11273837795010672722012-08-16T22:48:00.002-07:002012-08-16T22:48:47.531-07:00Now Open: OHSU Personalized Leukemia Trial<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For details of this intriguing trial, see Clinical Trials.gov #<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01620216?term=leukemia+AND+portland&state1=NA%3AUS%3AOR&phase=1&fund=0&rank=29">NCT01620216</a>. An approach where functional testing directs therapy. </span><br />
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Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-61076154301135156702012-06-01T09:23:00.001-07:002012-06-01T12:13:03.336-07:00Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation sponsors Hepatoblastoma Lectureship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(reposted from the Macy Eason Cancer Research Foundation release; This Knight Cancer Institute Seminar Series lecture by Dr. Stefano Cairo is Tuesday June 4 in the OHSU Main Hospital Conference room at 4pm. Public Welcome!)</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9A9pXTj_o5g/T8jsdgaW9-I/AAAAAAAAAGI/HemN-03V1NQ/s1600/Macy_Easom_Fdtn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9A9pXTj_o5g/T8jsdgaW9-I/AAAAAAAAAGI/HemN-03V1NQ/s320/Macy_Easom_Fdtn.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Perry, GA.) - The
Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation, a nonprofit pediatric cancer foundation
headquartered in Perry, Ga., is catalyzing pediatric cancer research this week
by bring together world-renowned cancer and stem cell doctors and scientists
for the Macy Easom Memorial Lectureship at Oregon Health & Science
University in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday,
June 5. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Macy Easom
Cancer Research Foundation was established in memory of Macy Easom, a 4-year-old
girl diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare form of pediatric liver cancer, who
passed away at the age of 5. The foundation’s mission is to provide funding to
enable research devoted to finding a cure and treatment for hepatoblastoma and
other pediatric cancers while promoting public awareness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To help reach its
mission, the foundation has partnered with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stefano
Cairo, Ph.D.,</b> a human geneticist at XenTech in Paris, France, as well as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Charles Keller, M.D.</b>, a nationally
accomplished childhood cancer physician-scientist, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Markus Grompe, M.D.,</b> an internationally recognized liver biology
expert -- both from Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Papé
Family Pediatric Research Institute, and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in
Portland, Ore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hepatoblastoma is
a neglected rare cancer in children, but this liver tumor is among the top
eight causes of childhood cancer deaths,” says Dr. Keller. “Scientists studying
other pediatric and adult cancers (including hepatocellular carcinomas) are
building a foundation of knowledge about potential signaling pathways that may
be related to how hepatoblastoma tumors start and progress, but the amount of
focused research on hepatoblastoma is limited and a clear plan to tackle this
disease is lacking.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Keller says
the scientific exchange afforded by the lectureship will bring together experts
on hepatoblastoma biology, and those with internationally recognized expertise
in liver stem cells from which this tumor likely arises. “The Macy Easom Cancer
Research Foundation, and its commitment to establishing a basic science
laboratory for the study of hepatoblastoma is of vital importance if we are to
reverse the trend of mortality in this childhood liver cancer.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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For more
information on the Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation, visit
PrincessMacy.org. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
lecture, which begins at 4 p.m. in the OHSU Hospital eighth-floor auditorium, is
free and open to the public. For more information, please send an email to <b>collier@ohsu.edu.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">For the Tuesday June 5 4pm PST LIVE Internet feed for Dr. Cairo's seminar, <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/edcomm/flash/flash_player.php?params=4%60/kciseminar.flv%60live&width=640&height=480&title=Knight%20Cancer%20Institute%20Seminar%20Series&stream_type=live" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>About Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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The Macy Easom
Cancer Research Foundation in Perry, GA was formed to help find a cure for
hepatoblastoma, a form of pediatric liver cancer, as well as other pediatric
cancers. Macy Easom was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma at the age of four and
passed away at the age of five. Her family has formed the foundation in hopes
of partnering with doctors for pediatric cancer research and to eventually
bring a pediatric cancer research center to the Southeast. PrincessMacy.org.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #225b95; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ABOUT OHSU
DOERNBECHER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/index.cfm"><span style="color: #a65c2f;">OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ranks among the top children's
hospitals in the United States in eight clinical specialties.* It ranks 36th
nationally for NIH-awarded pediatric research funding among children's
hospitals affiliated with an academic medical center**, and is one of only 22
NIH-designated Child Health Research Centers in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">OHSU
Doernbecher cares for tens of thousands of children each year from Oregon, southwest
Washington and around the nation, resulting in more than 175,000 discharges,
surgeries, transports and outpatient visits annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Nationally
recognized OHSU Doernbecher physicians and nurses provide a full range of
pediatric care in the most patient- and family-centered environment. These
highly trained clinicians also travel throughout Oregon and southwest
Washington, providing specialty care to more than 3,000 children at more than
150 outreach clinics in 15 locations. In addition, OHSU Doernbecher delivers
neonatal and pediatric critical care consultation to community hospitals
statewide through its state-of-the-art telemedicine network.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #333333;">* U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals 2011-12</span></em><i><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<em>** National Association of
Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions</em></span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-2084722160765056602012-05-31T15:54:00.002-07:002012-05-31T16:08:00.459-07:00Lyla Nsouli Foundation funds academic – pharma pilot study<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tga6gVTQeY0/T8f2Ux3QULI/AAAAAAAAAF4/UuAvYMR1edE/s1600/Gultekin_Hume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tga6gVTQeY0/T8f2Ux3QULI/AAAAAAAAAF4/UuAvYMR1edE/s1600/Gultekin_Hume.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_32vxzg="6" height="76" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RvvS0x2BzA8/TvZTy2K3lSI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/QDHXiJTGGgE/s200/LNF.jpg" width="200" /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lyla
Nsouli Foundation is proud to announce the award of a 67,000 USD pilot grant to
Dr. Sakir ‘Hume’ Gultekin, Neuropathologist and Associate Professor of
Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University. In this pilot study, Dr. Gultekin will
examine a new set of cell surface receptors in <i>diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma </i>(DIPG) to determine whether their
co-expression matches a profile consistent with novel therapeutic targets.
While at the earliest stage of preclinical development, it is hoped that novel
targets and unique therapeutic approaches might lead to a clinical trial for
children with DIPG in the foreseeable future. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-73394285231813558382012-05-10T09:06:00.000-07:002012-05-10T09:06:00.085-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(re-posted from the <a href="http://ayavoice.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/calling-all-aya-cancer-survivors-just-out-of-treatment" target="_blank">AYA Voice</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://ozone.ohsu.edu/blogs/knightnews/files/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-04-27-at-2.11.04-PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6647" height="200" src="http://ozone.ohsu.edu/blogs/knightnews/files/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-04-27-at-2.11.04-PM-231x300.png" title="Cancer Transitions Flyer Image" width="154" /></a>In a joint effort with our community partners, <a href="http://www.familiasenaccion.org/" target="_blank" title="Familias en Accion">Familias en Accion</a> and <a href="http://www.oncologyyouthconnection.org/#585" target="_blank" title="Oncology Youth Connection">Oncology Youth Connection</a>, the <a href="http://ohsuhealth.com/aya" target="_blank" title="AYA Program Home">Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program </a>will begin our Cancer Transitions sessions. The program aims to help young adult patients (aged 18-39 at time of session start) with cancer, who are transitioning from active treatment to survivorship. Participants need to have completed treatment in the last two years.
Beginning Thursday, May 24, 2012, the six-week program will focus on a new area of survivorship each week, providing information on things like tips for healthy eating, how to keep exercise in a busy schedule, and how to take control of survivorship. We’ll also provide tools for working through the emotional and social hurdles faced during the transition period after treatment, as well as give AYAs a chance to connect with others and learn they are not alone.
So if you are a survivor, or you know someone who could benefit from this <strong>FREE </strong>program, please <a href="mailto:buchanmi@ohsu.edu">email</a> Mindy or call 503-494-0446 to get more information or to register. Space is limited.
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<blockquote>
Adolescents and young adults with cancer have different needs from other patients. The Knight Cancer Institute is proud to offer Oregon's only program designed exclusively for people ages 15-39. Our internationally-recognized, award-winning <strong><a href="http://ohsuhealth.com/aya" target="_blank" title="AYA Program Home">Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program</a> </strong>is dedicated to ensuring all AYAs with cancer have access to services tailored to their specific needs.</blockquote>
</div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-24257146199379690842012-05-02T08:53:00.000-07:002012-05-08T13:28:38.550-07:00Dr. Langenau gives Scott Michael Carter Memorial Lectureship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nokH1_pD2ZQ/T6FX-jV8llI/AAAAAAAAAFo/pIyjdJPURgo/s1600/Dave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nokH1_pD2ZQ/T6FX-jV8llI/AAAAAAAAAFo/pIyjdJPURgo/s200/Dave.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are excited to welcome MGH cancer researcher, Dr. David Langenau, <b>4pm</b> on <b>Tuesday May 6</b> to present the second annual <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scott Michael Carter Memorial Lectureship, </i><i>“Self-renewal mechanisms in T-cell Leukemia and Rhabdomyosarcoma”. </i>The Knight Cancer Institute seminar series lecture will be held in the <b>OHSU Main Hospital auditorium, room 8B60</b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on the Scott Carter Foundation, and Scott's selfless legacy, <a href="http://www.scottcarterfoundation.org/" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live stream 4pm PST: <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/edcomm/flash/flash_player.php?params=4%60/kciseminar.flv%60live&width=640&height=480&title=Knight%20Cancer%20Institute%20Seminar%20Series&stream_type=live" target="_blank">click here</a>. </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-56870135175969820632012-04-25T10:57:00.000-07:002012-04-25T12:13:06.218-07:00Miles Alpern Levin Memorial Lectureship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are grateful to Dr. Thomas Rando, Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford University, for having presented the second annual Miles Alpern Levin Memorial Lectureship with his seminar entitled, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Molecular Regulation of Stem Cell
Quiescence". </i>This topic, activation vs quiescence of muscle stem cells and progenitors, is very much relevant to the study of childhood muscle cancers, such as the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma that affected Miles. Below is the video that introduced Miles' life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzWixVLczstlVcmoJC7RkQsFaCAhLxq_eW4ExsdJIsVyGvkFdSjK8YiHdpF7-OKrVllYY8hW_d6RD2HAMTTUA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-56112913680720367912012-04-05T13:05:00.000-07:002012-04-05T13:05:17.767-07:00Test Your Knowledge on Adolescents & Young Adults with Cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<h1 class="entry-title"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">[ re-posted </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="by-author"><span class="sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://ayavoice.wordpress.com/author/ayavoice/" rel="author" title="View all posts by ayavoice">ayavoice</a> ]</span></span></span></span></h1><!-- .entry-meta --><div class="entry-content"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/0001po.jpeg?w=368&h=266" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignright wp-image-297" height="266" src="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/0001po.jpeg?w=368&h=266" title="Cancer Doesn't Care #2" width="368" /></a>April 2-8th is <a href="http://thegrouproom.tv/national-young-adult-cancer-awareness-week/2012/03/12/" target="_blank" title="NYACAW home">National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week</a> (NYACAW). What better way to celebrate than to share some facts about this special population of 15 to 39 year olds affected by cancer?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you know?</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year 70,000 people between the ages of 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That makes AYAs more likely to have cancer than their childhood counterparts.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Survival rates for adolescent and young adults have lagged behind the steady improvement for children and older adults.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AYAs have special needs such as fertility preservation consultations, and unique psychosocial concerns.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/cancer/index.cfm" target="_blank" title="Knight Cancer Institute Home">OHSU Knight Cancer Institute</a> has the only <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/cancer/getting-treatment/services/aya-program/index.cfm" target="_blank" title="AYA Program Home">AYA Oncology Program</a> in the state of Oregon.</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that you’ve got some facts, test your knowledge against the <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/" target="_blank" title="NCI Home">National Cancer Institute’s (NCI)</a> Adolescent and Young Adults with Cancer <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya/types/quiz" target="_blank" title="NCI AYA Quiz">Quiz</a>. Don’t forget to check out the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute AYA Oncology Program <a href="http://ohsuhealth.com/aya" target="_blank" title="AYA Program Home">website</a> to find out what we do and how we can help you or someone you love.</span></div></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-71218593146621199902012-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:002012-01-26T09:40:01.464-08:00Patient Groups and Researchers Join Forces to Speed Treatments for Rare Pediatric Brain Tumor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(reposted from <a href="http://www.abc2.org/article/patient-groups-and-researchers-join-forces-speed-treatments-rare-pediatric-brain-tumor" target="_blank">here</a>) </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Four Organizations Fund International Research Consortium to Improve Lives of Children Suffering From Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>January 23, 2012 (Washington, DC, and Bethesda, MD)</b> – Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, The Cure Starts Now Foundation and The Lyla Nsouli Foundation for Children’s Brain Cancer Research today announced their collaborative funding to support groundbreaking research aimed at dramatically improving the lives of children suffering from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – one of the most devastating pediatric cancers. Together, the four organizations have committed $229,000 to support the work of the DIPG Preclinical Consortium, the only international scientific group focused on preclinical development of targeted therapy combinations for DIPG. The goal of the research is to test and then move the most effective therapy forward to early phase clinical trials in the next 18 – 24 months. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children with DIPG have a uniformly dismal prognosis with a median survival of 9 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A DIPG tumor grows amidst the nerves in the pons (middle) of the brain stem, and therefore cannot be surgically removed. Radiotherapy provides only temporary improvement of symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No chemotherapy has ever proven effective. Novel therapies are desperately needed. “The scientific community has truly rallied around this cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mandate for a novel therapeutic approach was born in the Children’s Oncology Group brain tumor committee under the bold leadership of Dr. Amar Gajjar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the consortium co-leadership of clinical trialist Maryam Fouladi and the accountability to DIPG patients and their family, this program is moving unexpectedly quickly towards its goal,” says Charles Keller, MD, Associate Professor and leader of the Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Pape' Family Pediatric Research Institute in the Department of Pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“If we succeed, it will be because families that have donated their children’s tumor gave us this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded every day that the cultures we study are parent-directed Legacy Gifts of the most selfless kind from children who current therapy could not save (the brain stem being vital to life; therefore, tumor donation can only occur at autopsy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ABC2 , CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, the Lyla Nsouli Foundation, and The Cure Starts Now have done to make our consortium possible, and so quickly, is unprecedented – and greatly appreciated,” adds Dr. Keller.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The research project entitled, "Rapid Preclinical Development of a Targeted Therapy Combination for DIPG" was launched with initial support from The Cure Starts Now Foundation. Two additional European labs were added to the project with funding from The Lyla Nsouli Foundation for Children’s Brain Cancer Research (based in London, UK). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The funding from ABC2 and CureSearch for Children’s Cancer added a cutting-edge functional genomics component that will prioritize potential new drug targets. “We are proud to support this multi-national team of researchers in their efforts to rapidly develop effective drugs to treat children suffering from DIPG,” said Max Wallace, CEO of ABC2. “By combining forces with our non-profit partners, ABC2 looks forward to leveraging the resources and expertise of all the organizations to improve the lives of children with cancer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Lehr, president and CEO of CureSearch for Children’s Cancer echoed Wallace’s comments saying that “developing new drug targets is an integral step to providing children with DIPG a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>better prognosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CureSearch is committed to funding research in rare cancer types so that one day, all children will be guaranteed a cure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the DIPG Preclinical Consortium<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The multi-national consortium is identifying potentially important biological pathways in DIPGs that are readily targetable with currently available molecularly-targeted agents. In addition, the consortium has successfully grown human DIPG tumors from autopsy materials in the petri dish and has developed mouse models of DIPG – a key resource to functionally testing potential therapies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the number of children with this unfortunate disease is limited, and the number of available targeted agents is quite large, the consortium hypothesizes that it can identify a promising combination of molecularly-targeted agents using functional genomics to prioritize targets. The ultimate goal is to move the most effective single agent or combination therapy forward to early phase clinical trials in the next 18-24 months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The DIPG Preclinical Consortium team includes: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles Keller MD, Kellie Nazemi MD and Nate Selden MD, PhD at Oregon Health & Science University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oren Becher MD, Duke University Medical Center<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michelle Monje MD, PhD, Stanford University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maryam Fouladi MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cynthia Hawkins, MD, PhD, University of Toronto<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Xiao-Nan Li MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dannis G. van Vuurden MD, MSc, & Esther Hulleman, VU Cancer Center Amsterdam<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jacques Grill, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For More Information about the Research Funding Partners:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure: www.abc2.org<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CureSearch for Children’s Cancer: www.curesearch.org<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cure Starts Now Foundation: www.curestartsnow.org<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lyla Nsouli Foundation for Children’s Brain Cancer Research: www.lylansoulifoundation.org</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"></div></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-69728967544525955002012-01-08T13:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:16:33.091-08:00Knight Cancer Institute Seminar Series speaker, Dr. Robin Jones (Seattle)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-ZWYchhzKA/TwoIU3t6DuI/AAAAAAAAAFY/N705b6WMMLw/s1600/Jones_Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-ZWYchhzKA/TwoIU3t6DuI/AAAAAAAAAFY/N705b6WMMLw/s200/Jones_Robin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are pleased to have <a href="http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/online/2010/08/robin_jones_intro.html" target="_blank">Dr. Robin Jones</a>, Director of the Bob & Eileen Gilman Family Sarcoma Research Program of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, with colleague physician-scientist Dr. Seth Pollack giving the their joint seminar, "Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Sarcoma" on Tuesday January 17 at 4pm in the OHSU Main Hospital 8th Floor Conference Room 8B60. The public is welcome, and after the seminar a stream of the lecture will be available <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/edcomm/flash/flash_player.php?params=4%60/res/kci/seminar011712.flv%60vod&width=640&height=480&title=Knight%20Cancer%20Institute%20Seminar%20Series%2C%20Jan.%2017%2C%202012" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-4425353642823762002011-12-10T22:36:00.000-08:002011-12-10T22:36:03.362-08:00Remembering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8d5nWb-aeQ/TuRPM9fznrI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/q_KPra_Rl7s/s1600/remembering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8d5nWb-aeQ/TuRPM9fznrI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/q_KPra_Rl7s/s200/remembering.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>A worldwide candlelighting for families that have lost children will be held Sunday at 7pm in every time zone. For more information,click <a href="http://www.compassionatefriends.org/News_Events/Special-Events/Worldwide_Candle_Lighting.aspx">here</a>. <br />
</div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-78811691343922124172011-12-03T08:15:00.000-08:002011-12-04T17:21:21.347-08:00Citizen Scientists<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AWErQgaXnk/TtwchZ59WVI/AAAAAAAAAFI/VvC_1zprBPQ/s1600/citizen-scientists.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AWErQgaXnk/TtwchZ59WVI/AAAAAAAAAFI/VvC_1zprBPQ/s200/citizen-scientists.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"that's my data"? an <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904577014330551132036.html">update</a> of this topic appeared in today's <em>Wall Street Journal</em>.The trend? To give patients access to their own research data. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-45728027571818871392011-11-09T08:33:00.000-08:002011-11-09T08:33:27.385-08:00Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Creates Some Buzz on the International Stage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="entry-meta"><a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/logo-2011.gif?w=213&h=188" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-363" height="176" src="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/logo-2011.gif?w=213&h=188" title="SIOP 2011" width="200" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">re-posted from the</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://ayavoice.wordpress.com/author/ayavoice/" title="View all posts by ayavoice">ayavoice</a></span></span></i></div><div class="entry-meta"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><!-- .entry-meta --><div class="entry-content"><a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/logo-2011.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set against Auckland, New Zealand’s backdrop of black sand beaches and ocean for as far as the eyes can see, the <a href="http://www.siop2011.com/" target="_blank" title="SIOP home page">43rd Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology </a>(SIOP) provided experts from 93 countries an opportunity to come together. We’re proud to announce that two of our Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology team members, <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/providers/lindemul.cfm" target="_blank" title="Sue Lindemulder">Sue Lindemulder, MD</a> and Amy Frohnmayer, were in attendance.</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The attention devoted to the AYA-specific concerns at this conference was an indication of the growing interest this field is cultivating. There is a lot of work to do, and it’s energizing to know that the mission of our program is shared by a larger network of providers, researchers, and advocates worldwide.” <em>- Amy Frohnmayer, Research Assistant, AYA Oncology Program</em></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were multiple and varied sessions dedicated to AYA including five symposia, and the final keynote address. Ms. Frohnmayer presented on the fertility preservation decision-making process of adolescent and young adult women with cancer. Other topics ranged from long-term survivorship and care to the transition from pediatric to adult care, and AYA-specific disease physiology.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn’t all serious business though. The exuberant atmosphere that AYA survivors bring to everything they do undoubtedly livened up the conference as many from <a href="http://www.canteen.org.nz/" target="_blank" title="CanTeen">Canteen New Zealand </a>were in attendance as volunteers. The fun also included movie night and a screening of <a href="http://www.wrongwaytohope.com/" target="_blank" title="Wrong Way to Hope">Wrong Way to Hope</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They AYA Program also had three posters presented at the conference.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/siop-poster-aya-fellowship-1.pdf">AYA Fellowship</a><br />
<a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/siop-poster-ernesto-1.pdf">AYA Case Study</a><br />
<a href="http://ayavoice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/sues-poster-siop.pdf">AYA Treatment & Survivorship Cohort</a></span><br />
<blockquote><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adolescents and young adults with cancer have different needs from other patients. The Knight Cancer Institute is proud to offer Oregon’s only program designed exclusively for people ages 15-39. Our internationally-recognized, award-winning <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/aya" target="_blank" title="AYA Program">Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program</a> is dedicated to ensuring all AYAs with cancer have access to services tailored to their specific needs.</span></em></blockquote></div></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-34893896855472515332011-10-27T14:44:00.000-07:002011-11-10T10:40:19.785-08:00Pediatric Grand Rounds: COG Chair, Dr. Peter Adamson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sizz9d5RNQ/TqnQm1sdYFI/AAAAAAAAAEw/tsRaBGZdBjo/s1600/pa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sizz9d5RNQ/TqnQm1sdYFI/AAAAAAAAAEw/tsRaBGZdBjo/s1600/pa.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Adamson will be giving the Robert C. Neerhout MD lecture on Thursday Nov 3 at 8am in the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Vey Auditorium (11th floor). His lecture will be entitled, "<i>Childhood Cancer Research: 21st Century Science, 20th Century Clinical Trials</i>."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for a stream of the archived lecture, <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/edcomm/flash/flash_player.php?params=1`/peds/gr110311-2.flv`vod&width=640&height=360&title=PEDS%20Grand%20Rounda%2C%2011/03/11">click here</a>. </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-16563627070628277662011-10-18T11:48:00.001-07:002012-03-22T22:14:58.189-07:00Patient access to their own research data?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>" Key objectives: Enable patients to obtain their own data back from samples they donate to trials "</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more about the <b>Portable Legal Consent Project </b>at Sage Bionetworks, <a href="http://sagebase.org/WP/com/">click here</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">update 3/22/2012: "<i>DNA donor rights affirmed</i>"... see what an NIH working group now says about <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/dna-donor-rights-affirmed-1.10275" target="_blank">patients' right to know on incidental findings</a>. </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-35309002195110315792011-10-10T12:30:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:31:59.862-07:00Dr. Abraham presents at DIPG Conference (NIH)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxQMPjPzeTk/TpNHn9DHAzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/pYmPJUYUmns/s1600/oct6-7-conf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxQMPjPzeTk/TpNHn9DHAzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/pYmPJUYUmns/s200/oct6-7-conf.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week PCB senior scientist, Dr. Jinu Abraham, presented his invited talk entitled, <i>"Rapid Preclinical development of targeted therapy combination for DIPG"</i> at the <a href="http://web.ncifcrf.gov/events/DIPG/default.asp">DIPG Consensus Conference</a>, which was held October 6-7<sup>th</sup> at NIH's Bethesda campus. A subject of the conference was determining the role of biopsy in the standard of care for this form of brainstem high grade glioma. Noted to be equally important, however, is the search for a combination of targeted agents that makes this tumor a uniformly survivable condition. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2tTaDGqdCs/ToylPX-t7DI/AAAAAAAAAEo/JgtiEZaXUmA/s1600/HPF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #1f497d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2tTaDGqdCs/ToylPX-t7DI/AAAAAAAAAEo/JgtiEZaXUmA/s320/HPF.jpg" width="262" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This fundraising event is in cooperation with the Hemophilia Foundation of Oregon and all proceeds are shared. Funds generated from this event are typically used for program <b>research efforts</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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Please join us on October 16<sup>th</sup>. Admission is $150 per person. Please also share this invitation with anyone you think might be interested in attending and supporting the Hemophilia Center and the Hemophilia Foundation of Oregon. RSVP to 503-209-7539 or <a href="mailto:marita@hemophiliaoregon.org">marita@hemophiliaoregon.org</a>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-1076033251662095092011-10-04T22:50:00.000-07:002011-10-04T22:50:56.766-07:00Pediatric Cancer Teleconferencing to Anchorage & Medford<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xf4loWvRS08/TovvvtFzYMI/AAAAAAAAAEk/-3nxZApQXIw/s1600/PHO-TuBoard-VC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xf4loWvRS08/TovvvtFzYMI/AAAAAAAAAEk/-3nxZApQXIw/s200/PHO-TuBoard-VC2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008 (3R01CA133229-4S1), the National Cancer Institute has funded purchase and installation of Video Teleconferencing equipment at two community-based pediatric practices that refer the greatest number of pediatric sarcoma and other childhood cancer patients to OHSU. These practices are Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage, AK) and Medford MD (Medford, OR). The new equipment allows two way video conferencing but has also camera capability to use for face to face patient consultation as well. The Alaska site routinely participates in tumor board and a bi-weekly teleconference to review shared patients, and the Medford site uses this resource for general education as well as participating in tumor board and care conferences. Since the implementation of videoconferencing this year, twelve new pediatric cancer patients from Alaska have been referred for coordinated care or consultation by the OHSU multi-disciplinary physician team.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This study and workshop was funded by NCI in response to the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3R01CA133229-4S1) in partnership with the <a href="http://www.nwsarcoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380&Itemid=152">Northwest Sarcoma Foundation</a>. This project's inspiration was the efforts of Nancy Goodman and <a href="http://KidsvCancer.org/">KidsvCancer.org</a> . </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information, visit <a href="http://ccurefast.org/">ccurefast.org</a> or email Jen, alabran (at) ohsu.edu. </span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-60374886446437525662011-09-11T21:32:00.000-07:002011-09-11T21:32:48.495-07:00COG Workshop: Overcoming Autopsy Barriers in Pediatric Cancer Research<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Providing Hope For Tomorrow's Cures</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jg4Ll6kWXA/Tm2KzKNQm9I/AAAAAAAAAEc/GVZG5zRyjEc/s1600/AtlantaCOG-LegacyGift-Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jg4Ll6kWXA/Tm2KzKNQm9I/AAAAAAAAAEc/GVZG5zRyjEc/s320/AtlantaCOG-LegacyGift-Conference.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 pm WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2011</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roswell Room, Atlanta Conference Level, Hyatt Regency Hotel</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(runs concurrently with the Children's Oncology Group Meeting)</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tumor samples obtained by an autopsy offer a potentially important scientific impact and creates a positive outlet to a grieving family. This workshop addresses the current barriers to obtaining an autopsy consent and provides guidelines on how to overcome these barriers at your institution.</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refreshments will be provided.</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rsvp to Jen Alabran, alabran (at) ohsu.edu</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A joint venture of OHSU PCB and the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation. For details, <a href="http://www.nwsarcoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380&Itemid=152">click here</a>. </i></span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-39891775617041422202011-08-31T11:41:00.000-07:002011-08-31T11:41:12.731-07:00Stories from the Vineyard - Portland 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Vineyard" border="0" height="144" id="_x0000_i1025" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.26" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs056/1102056363483/img/26.jpg" width="200" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stories from the Vineyard is an annual fundraising event held in Portland to support patients and families living in the Pacific Northwest who are diagnosed with sarcoma. This event is held by the <a href="http://www.nwsarcoma.org/">Northwest Sarcoma Foundation</a> and sponsored by NW Natural. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, September 17</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 - 10 pm</span><br />
<a href="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs056/1102056363483/img/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img alt="Northwest Sarcoma Foundation" border="0" height="77" hspace="5" id="_x0000_i1025" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.25" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs056/1102056363483/img/25.jpg" vspace="5" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NW Natural Headquarters</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Downtown Portland</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more details, <a href="https://www.nwsarcoma.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/register&reset=1&id=21">click here</a>. </span><br />
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</span></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-40849673404623241652011-08-30T14:18:00.001-07:002011-08-30T14:20:43.412-07:00Dr. Keller leads team that focuses on the incurable 20 percent in pediatric cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[ re-posted from the story in OHSU <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-medicine/about/school-of-medicine-news/research-news/keller-82911.cfm">School of Medicine News</a> by Jennifer Smith ]</span><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">08/29/11 Portland, Ore.</span></strong><br />
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<img align="left" alt="Keller_PCB_team" border="0" height="200" hspace="8" id="||CPIMAGE:1975170|" src="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-medicine/about/school-of-medicine-news/research-news/images/Keller_PCB_team.jpg" title="Keller_PCB_team" vspace="4" width="300" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles Keller, MD, FAAP, knows what he wants. Or rather, he knows what the children and families of those with rare, incurable pediatric cancers want – effective, personalized treatment. The cure rate for childhood cancers as a group is approaching 80 percent. The Pediatric Cancer Biology (PCB) Program in the Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute at OHSU addresses the causes of mortality in the remaining 20 percent of children. Their work is getting noticed – just a year after joining OHSU, research by Dr. Keller and the PCB team have published 16 papers in high-impact scientific journals.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We’re looking for the quantum leap for the diseases that can’t be cured,” said Dr. Keller, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Sada and Rebecca Tarshis Professor in Pediatric Hematology Oncology.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hepatoblastoma is one of four diseases of priority for the PCB Program, which Dr. Keller leads; the others include sarcomas, brain stem gliomas and neuroblastoma.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“With the leading researchers we already have and the right recruiting focus, we can create the first-ever U.S. lab to study liver stem cell biology in a focused, results-driven way,” said Dr. Keller.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A number of factors led to Dr. Keller’s vision for a program with a focus on Hepatoblastoma when he joined OHSU in August 2010. He recognized the rich environment for liver stem cell research at OHSU in the Oregon Stem Cell Center, led by Center Director Markus Grompe, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Keller also recognized the paucity of U.S. labs dedicated to such focused research. Perhaps the best known work on Hepatoblastoma, he said, is found in the lab of Dr. Marie Annick Buendia at the Pasteur Institute in Paris; other notable research is being done in Germany, Thailand, Japan and Australia.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OHSU’s growing focus on molecular-targeted therapy, in particular at the OHSU Knight Cancer Instiute, also attracted Dr. Keller. Conventional treatments – chemotherapy, surgery and radiation – are not generally effective for the most devastating childhood cancers.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The research necessary for personalized therapy requires coordinated efforts on several fronts. The Pediatric Preclinical Testing Initiative (PPTI), a part of the PCB Program, investigates new drugs for treating childhood cancers. The PCB Program launched the Knight-affiliated Childhood Cancer Registry for Familial and Sporadic Tumors (CCuRe-FAST), a tumor bank and registry, in May which will inform the creation of pediatric personalized cancer therapy. CCuRe-FAST is open to all pediatric cancer patients at Doernbecher and OHSU, and has successfully established 34 primary cell cultures as of mid-August.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Keller is wasting no time in assembling a team of researchers whose expertise can contribute to a productive understanding of rare childhood cancers in order to create a plan to tackle the diseases. His team comes from all types of backgrounds – he enlists biochemists, biomedical engineers, molecular biologists and electrical engineers – and focuses as much on creativity as on science. For example, they are the first National Cancer Institute affiliate to use genetically-engineered mouse models to study tumor growth and to explore treatment options.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he’s not stopping yet. “It’s my goal to recruit two additional high caliber investigators in the next five years,” said Dr. Keller. “Two additional labs – one focusing on glioma and one on neuroblastoma biology – would move us significantly closer to finding innovative treatments for pediatric cancers.”</span><br />
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<img align="right" alt="Abraham_Keller_Huang" border="0" height="169" hspace="8" id="||CPIMAGE:1975171|" src="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-medicine/about/school-of-medicine-news/research-news/images/Abraham_Keller_Huang.jpg" title="Abraham_Keller_Huang" vspace="4" width="250" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February, <em>Cancer Cell</em> published a landmark study, in which Dr. Keller and the PCB team <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2011/02-14-scientists-discover-cell.cfm?WT_rank=6" id="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2011/02-14-scientists-discover-cell.cfm?WT_rank=6|">discovered</a> the cell of origin for childhood muscle cancer. In March, PCB researchers, led by Jinu Abraham, PhD, <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2011/03-30-ohsu-doernbecher-scienti.cfm?WT_rank=2" id="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2011/03-30-ohsu-doernbecher-scienti.cfm?WT_rank=2|">identified</a> a promising new approach to overcoming drug resistance in children with an extremely aggressive childhood muscle cancer known as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. This study was first published online and graced the April cover of <em>Molecular Cancer Therapeutics</em>. And as an unexpected result, their laboratory published in June in the <em>Journal of Biological Chemistry</em> that an antibiotic that inactivates a gene responsible for preventing eye cancer in children can actually improve muscle stem cell generation, with implications for muscular dystrophy, but not apparently putting those patients at risk for rhabdomyosarcoma. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the PCB team’s research takes multi-disciplinary science to a new level – a new species, to be exact. The characteristics of osteosarcoma in canines are remarkably similar to the disease’s pattern in humans, although it is naturally occurring and 10 times more frequent in the four-legged species. Teaming up with Oregon State University veterinarian Bernard Seguin, Dr. Keller and colleagues study drug response in dogs and hope to find treatments that translate to human patients.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a member of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Dr. Keller works closely with other Knight researchers and supports Knight programs, such as the Knight Seminar Series, which brings experts from across the country to OHSU, with a focus on translational research.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Keller’s lab, the PCB Program and the PPTI have active blogs, which you can find on the <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/research-education/research/research-labs/charles-keller-lab.cfm?WT_rank=2" id="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/research-education/research/research-labs/charles-keller-lab.cfm?WT_rank=2|">Charles Keller Lab website</a>. The passion and vision Dr. Keller has for his work is evident in person and online. One of his first posts after joining OHSU ended with these words: “Where there is a will, there is a way. Change can be tangible. And we are accountable.”</span><br />
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<em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pictured above: (top) Dr. Keller and the PCB team, (bottom) Dr. Abraham, Dr. Keller and Elaine Huang, MS, in the lab</span></em></div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474052189388266744.post-21530152025815481722011-08-27T22:15:00.000-07:002011-08-31T22:21:48.826-07:00Dept of Radiation Medicine - An Essential Partner in Research<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fiTLK13yEc/Tl8Vo275BXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/fscIB03cCBA/s1600/CRT_July2010_OHSU-prof-photo_sm_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fiTLK13yEc/Tl8Vo275BXI/AAAAAAAAAEY/fscIB03cCBA/s200/CRT_July2010_OHSU-prof-photo_sm_2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>The OHSU <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/radmedicine/index.cfm">Department of Radiation Medicine</a> is led by Chairman <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/radmedicine/chairmanwelcome.cfm">Dr. Charles Thomas</a> and encumbers a strong heritage in basic and clinical cancer research. For a list of recent visiting speakers click <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/radmedicine/guest-lectures/guestlect_august262011.cfm">here</a> or <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/radmedicine/guest-lectures/index.cfm">here</a>. </div>Charles Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08905009322878017760noreply@blogger.com0