Seminar to Highlight Latest Cancer Research

November 17, 2006

Madeline Vann
mvann@tulane.edu

The search for a cancer cure begins in a lab, under a microscope. Recognition of the importance of cancer research is the driving force behind the third annual Mauvernay Research Excellence Seminar, a day-long series of posters and presentations exploring the latest in cancer research at Tulane.

The seminar, which is open to the local scientific community, takes place on Monday (Nov. 20) from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room and atrium of the J. Bennett Johnston Building, 1324 Tulane Ave.

As part of the seminar, a research excellence award will be presented to Tulane associate professor of biochemistry Frank Jones, and six other Tulane cancer researchers also will be recognized for their work.

"Taking time to acknowledge the hard work our cancer researchers do in the lab is an important contribution to the fight against cancer," says Roy Weiner, director of the Tulane Cancer Center. "It can take many years to bring discoveries from the bench to the bedside, so we appreciate the opportunity to honor our dedicated researchers."

The Mauvernay Research Excellence Seminar was established in 2003 by Tulane University with support from Debiopharm S.A., a Swiss drug development company. The Mauvernay Research Excellence Award is presented to a member of the Tulane faculty to recognize and honor outstanding and innovative research identifying targets for cancer drug discovery.

The research of this year's recipient, Jones, involves new treatment options for advanced metastatic breast cancer. Jones will deliver the Mauvernay Scholar Address after being presented with his award by Tulane President Scott Cowen and visiting representatives from Debiopharm.

"We are also honored to be able to welcome three distinguished speakers to our seminar this year," said Weiner. "Priscilla Furth from Georgetown University, Brian Druker from the Oregon Health and Science University Cancer Institute, and Paul Marks from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are scientists of the highest caliber, and we urge our colleagues in the local scientific community to attend the seminar and to enjoy their presentations along with us."

Both Druker and Marks are members of the prestigious National Academies of Science. In addition to Jones, six other Tulane cancer researchers will be recognized as honorees and will present posters at this year's Mauvernay Seminar:

• Krishna Agrawal, chair and Regents Professor of Pharmacology; 
• Michael Brumlik, assistant professor of medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology; 
• Matthew Burrow, assistant professor of medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology; 
• Srikanta Dash, associate professor of pathology, and director, Hepatitis Research Laboratory 
• Cindy Morris, associate professor of microbiology and immunology; and 
• Brian Rowan, associate professor of structural and cellular biology.

More seminar information about the Mauvernay speakers, honorees, their research and the day's agenda, is available online or by contacting Melanie Cross at 504-988-6592.