Published on September 10, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 10, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT:
Eileen T. Sexton
703-837-3691
Eileen.Sexton@preventcancer.org
Grant will focus colorectal cancer prevention research
(Alexandria, Va.)– The Prevent Cancer Foundation has awarded its latest research grant to early-career scientist Yuriko Mori, M.D. Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Mori’s prevention research project, “Preclinical development of colorectal cancer risk stratification marker,” was selected through a rigorous scientific review process from a wide pool of applicants representing many prominent institutions from around the nation. The Prevent Cancer Foundation has been funding cancer prevention research since 1985, and its peer-reviewed grants and fellowships have been awarded to nearly 400 early-career scientists from leading academic medical centers nationwide.
“An estimated 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually. This means to test individuals for future colorectal cancer without invasive screening could potentially advance colorectal cancer prevention and save thousands of lives each year,” says Carolyn Aldigé, president and founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “The Prevent Cancer Foundation is pleased to support scientific advancement from inspiring early-career scientists who will focus on cancer prevention and early detection for years to come.”
Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Currently, there are no noninvasive means of prioritizing individuals at the highest risk for current and future development of colorectal cancers. The goal of the research is to develop diagnostic markers to assess a patient’s risk level for either having or developing colorectal cancers, without needing to perform invasive screening. The study will investigate markers based on an abnormal chemical modification of DNA known as “DNA methylation”, which accelerates colon carcinogenesis by disabling many important genes. Dr. Mori and her team will first perform a genome-wide search for abnormal DNA methylation occurring in normal-appearing colon segments of colorectal cancer patients. The study may ultimately increase accurate colorectal cancers diagnoses through minimally invasive testing by prioritizing high-risk patients who may need tailored colonoscopic screening, prevention and treatment.
Research proposals are reviewed by members of the distinguished Scientific Review Panel, drawn from institutions such as the National Cancer Institute, Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Rush University Medical Center and the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
