1st Cancer Vaccine of the 21st century, An Insider Perspective

Newswise — The Mount Sinai Medical Center and The Samuel Waxman Foundation will honor Douglas Lowy, M.D., Laboratory Chief and Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and John Schiller, Ph.D., Deputy Chief and Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, NIH, for research contributions which led to the clinical development of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer. More than 150 distinguished guests and eminent physicians attend an award presentation, special discussion by the researchers, a roundtable discussion and Q&A on the successes and challenges of vaccines on November 16, 5-7pm, Goldwurm Auditorium, Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The first HPV vaccine was licensed by the FDA in June 2006. The vaccine protects women against strains of a widely transmitted infection of the HPV that causes cervical cancer which strikes more than 11,000 U.S. women each year, killing more than 3,900. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide after breast cancer, and in developing countries, the leading cause of death by cancer.

This evening's award recipients are

Highlights of this event will include:"¢ Award lecture presentation entitled "1st cancer vaccine of the 21st century, an insider perspective from the NIH" by Drs. Lowy and Schiller"¢ Roundtable discussion and Q&A on the successes and challenges of vaccines with our guest NIH scientists/awardees as well as leading scientists from The Mount Sinai Medical Center and Darmouth

The evening will feature the award lecture from 5pm to 6pm in the Goldwurm auditorium located at 1425 Madison Avenue and 98th Street and a wine and cheese reception in the Faculty Dining Room following the lecture from 6pm to 7pm where guests can interact with our distinguished guests from the NIH and additional prominent scientists.

"I'm confident that we'll convert cancer from an early death sentence to a chronic disease with which you can live a long life," said Dr. Waxman, a leading oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and a Professor at The Mount Sinai Medical School. The David Workman Memorial Award of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) recognizes the application of science for the development of a new treatment for a poorly-treatable form of cancer. Past recipients of the David Workman Memorial Award included Dr. Waun Ki Hong and Dr. Reuben Lotan of MD Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas as well as Dr. Michael Grever, Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University.

SWCRF, founded in 1975, is a non-profit organization committed to finding cancer cell-targeted treatments that are minimally toxic to the patient. The Foundation has created "Institute Without Walls" to emphasize the importance of collaborations between scientists. Through the work of the Foundation, major discoveries are supported and research collaborative funded in 50 major medical centers in the U.S., Canada, China, Europe and Israel. The Foundation's goal is to increase our impact in cancer research by growing to 100 research sites by 2010.

Please join us to discuss the cutting-edge work of The Foundation's "Institute Without Walls," which funds promising research around the world and encourages collaboration among scientists. Joint research has yielded important discoveries and has led to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer. Learn more about SWCRF at http://www.waxmancancer.org. To participate or schedule an interview, please call the Foundation at 212.241.1760

Speakers

Dennis Charney, M.D.Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs for Mount Sinai School of MedicineSenior Vice President for Health Sciences of The Mount Sinai Medical CenterAnne and Joel Ehrenkranz Professor, Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, andPharmacology & Biological Chemistry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Peter Palese, M.D.Professor and Chair, Microbiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center

Rhoda Sperling, M.D.Vice Chair - Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive ScienceMount Sinai Medical Center

Samuel Waxman, M.D.Albert A. and Vera G. List Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Co-Director, Joint Clinical Center for Cancer Therapy, Rui-Jin Hospital,Shanghai Second Medical University, China