Newswise — Nanodrug Targeting Breast Cancer Cells from the Inside Adds Weapon: Immune System AttackA unique nanoscale drug that can carry a variety of weapons and sneak into cancer cells to break them down from the inside has a new component: a protein that stimulates the immune system to attack HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The research team developing the drug – led by scientists at the Nanomedicine Research Center, part of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – conducted the study in laboratory mice with implanted human breast cancer cells. Mice receiving the drug lived significantly longer than untreated counterparts and those receiving only certain components of the drug. CONTACT: Sandy Van, 526-1708; Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @CedarsSinaiSvan
Kara DioGuardi Joins the Inaugural New York Run for Her® Friendship Walk to Raise Support for Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness A charitable Los Angeles tradition is coming to New York City with the Run for Her® New York Friendship Walk on Oct. 27 to support ovarian cancer research and awareness. Kara DioGuardi, GRAMMY nominated songwriter, Warner Bros. executive, Arthouse Entertainment music publisher and former “American Idol” judge, will serve as spokeswoman for the inaugural New York Run for Her. DioGuardi, whose mother died of ovarian cancer, underwent genetic testing after hearing a news report about ovarian cancer and genetics. Run for Her supports the Women’s Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai’s Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Los Angeles.CONTACT: Michael Miller, 323-866-7784; Email: [email protected]
Patient Trial of Immunization to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease Begins at Cedars-SinaiCedars-Sinai Medical Center has launched a Phase I clinical trial to study the safety and tolerability of an experimental immunization to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment is based on Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate), a drug often prescribed to reduce the frequency of multiple sclerosis relapses. CONTACT: Sandy Van, 526-1708; Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @CedarsSinaiSvan
Changing Minds — and Treatment Plans — One Prostate Cancer Patient at a Time Charles Trevino is part of a growing trend in prostate cancer. When he learned that he had low-grade, organ-confined prostate cancer, he did not run to get surgical or other therapeutic interventions. Instead, Trevino decided to actively monitor his disease and adjust his lifestyle habits with guidance from a team of specialists at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. In the past five years, advances in prostate cancer have shown that many forms of the disease are slow-growing and not life-threatening. As a result, doctors often encourage that patients not rush to surgery. This is in contrast to traditional medical advice, which often had cancer patients heading to surgery or radiation therapy immediately after diagnosis. CONTACT: Cara Lasala, 310-423-7798; Email [email protected]; Twitter @CedarsSinaiCara
Physician-Scientist Kenneth Bernstein, MD, Receives Distinguished Scientist Designation from American Heart Association Kenneth Bernstein, MD, a Cedars-Sinai pathologist and scientific researcher known for expanding the understanding of a collection of proteins important in controlling blood pressure as well as heart and renal diseases, has been named a 2013 Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association. It is the third time Bernstein has been honored by the AHA. In 2005, Bernstein was a recipient of the Novartis Prize for Hypertension Research. Two years later, he was awarded the American Heart Association’s Basic Research Prize.CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email [email protected]
Researcher Awarded $5 Million to Advance Future Stem Cell Treatments for Segmental Bone FracturesA Cedars-Sinai team of researchers led by principal investigator Dan Gazit, PhD, DMD, has been awarded a $5.18 million grant from California’s stem cell research agency to advance stem cell technologies in segmental bone defects, a complex medical problem caused by large portions of bone tissue loss. The research team will use the grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop a novel approach to treat segmental bone defects without grafting bone. Stem cells will be recruited to the fracture site using a collagen matrix and then a bone-forming gene will be directly delivered to the stem cells using an ultrasound pulse. If successful, researchers will be able to proceed to clinical trials.CONTACT: Cara Lasala, 310-423-7798; Email [email protected]; Twitter @CedarsSinaiCara
Nominations Now Open for Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute’s 2014 Corday Prize in Heart Research The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is accepting nominations for the 2014 Eliot Corday, MD, International Prize in Heart Research, which annually honors a physician or scientist conducting groundbreaking research or individuals who significantly advance the practice of heart medicine. The Corday Prize is named for the late Eliot Corday, MD, a distinguished cardiologist who was an attending physician with Cedars-Sinai, a member of its board of directors and chief of Cardiology for 11 years. CONTACT: Sally Stewart, 310-248-6566; Email [email protected]
Registration Open for Run for Her® 5K Run and Friendship Walk to Support Ovarian Cancer Research Registration is now open for the ninth annual Run for Her® 5K Run and Friendship Walk supporting ovarian cancer research and awareness. The Los Angeles walk’s growing popularity inspired participants to organize the first New York City Run for Her to underscore the importance of advancing medical discoveries and treatments.CONTACT: Michael Miller, 323-866-7784; Email: [email protected]
RSS