Five new investigative teams from John Hopkins University, The University of Rochester Medical Center, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The University of New Mexico, and The Wistar Institute have recently been awarded grants from the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. This brings the total world-wide members of the Institute Without Walls to 60.

Prospective research teams submitted 70 detailed proposals for this highly selective and competitive process. All proposals were peer-reviewed, assessing the merits of the work and the potential for building collaborative programs in epigenetic therapy, tumor dormancy and cancer stem cells. The final grantees are determined by utilizing the NIH scoring system. All funded programs are reviewed annually by an independent, external committee of eminent scientists.

Newly funded research will be conducted in the following areas:

• "Targeting the Sumoylation Machinery for the Relief of Gene Silencing and Differentiation Therapy" – Dr. Frank Rauscher, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia. This is a basic control of epigenetic components and a good target for cancer selective therapy.


• "Novel Therapies Targeting Epigenetic Silencing of Tumor Suppressors" – Dr. Robert A. Casero, Jr., Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, (Project Leader), Dr. Stephen B. Baylin, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center; Dr. Steven Belinsky, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, University of New Mexico. A specific epigenetic component that malfunctions in colorectal cancer has been identified and inhibitors are being tested in this program.


• "Pharmacogenetic Targeting of the Nuclear Hormone Receptors PPARdelta/gamma in Colorectal Cancer" – Dr. Ronald Evans, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The nuclear receptor family called PPAR plays an important role in inflammation thought to effect the development of colon cancer.


• "MicroRNAs Regulating Acute Leukemia" – Dr. Curt Civin, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.*


• "Differentiation Therapy and Epigenetic Modulation of Human Leukemia Stem Cells" – Dr. Craig Jordan, University of Rochester Medical Center.*
  
  *Dr. Civin and Dr. Jordan will collaborate with others in the SWCRF to understand how to reprogram leukemia stem cells and eliminate the root cause of acute leukemia.