Spring 2000 Newsletter: Young Investigator Awards

October, 1999

Each year, the Cancer Research Foundation accepts grant requests from young men and women engaged in first-project laboratory and/or clinical cancer research. These proposals come to the Foundation already reviewed and ranked by a faculty awards committee, using the National institutes of Health peer review process. Only the innovative and bold proposals with practicable research plans are considered for funding.

After receipt by the Foundation, our medical consultant, Dr. Joseph B. Kirsner, interprets the complex science to the trustees. Cancer Research Foundation trustees make all funding decisions.

Last October, five young scientists from the University of Chicago Medical Center were awarded young investigator grants:

• Suzanne D. Conzen, M.D.
• Wouter Hoff, Ph.D.
• Bruce T. Lahn, Ph.D.
• Joel Shilyasky, M.D.
• Jonathan P. Staley, Ph.D.

These awards are for one year. At the end of the year, if the hypotheses have proven worthy of further study this early research will be used as a basis for application for major outside funding.

“Glucocorticoid-Mediated Survival Signaling in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells”
$50,000

Dr. Geoffrey Green, Ph.D. in the Ben May Institute for Cancer Research, states that “the discovery of a link between glucocorticoid receptor activation and survival signaling is a potentially clinically relevant avenue of breast cancer research .... and will provide important additional data.”

“Analyzing the Role of Human Y-Chromosomal Genes in Normal Development and Tumorigenesis of Germ Cells”
$50,000

Dr. David Ledbetter, Marjorie I. and Bernard A. Mitchell Professor and Chairman of the Department of Human Genetics, tells us that "Dr. Lahn is by all measures a truly remarkable young scientist and prominent rising star in his field. He was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics on July 1, 1999, after a national search effort. He was very highly sought after by a number of other outstanding institutions. Dr. Lahn's remarkable energy and productivity predict that he will continue a highly productive independent research program."

Dr. Lahn is named the Raymond F. Zelko Young Investigator in memory of the Foundation business manager who died of cancer in 1993.

“The Role of an ATPase in 5’ Splice Site Recognition”
$50,048

Dr. Anthony P. Mahowald, Louis Block Professor and Chairman of the Department Of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology states: “The fidelity of splicing is absolutely critical for the faithful execution of genetic information. Dr. Staley’s work is innovative and provides a major new paradigm for understanding the fidelity (exactness) of splicing.”

“Elimination of Tumor Spread by CD4 + T Cells”
$50,000

Dr. Bruce Gewertz, the Dallas B. Phemister Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery, says that “Dr. Shilyansky has distinguished himself as a superb technical surgeon, a dedicated researcher, and a role model for his colleagues and students. Joel is an innovative scientist whose research could lead to fundamental breakthroughs in cancer research. “

Dr. Hans Schreiber, Professor in the Department of Pathology tells us that “It would be critical to the biomedical community to develop the career of academic surgeon-scientists with broad-based knowledge in molecular cancer biology and immunology. ”

“Dr. Shilyansky is the hardest worker I have seen in a long time and he has endless enthusiasm carefully guided by thoughtful planning.”

“Signal Transduction by a Bacterial Photoreceptor”
$50,000

Dr. Keith Moffat, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, says that “Dr. Hoff has the potential to become a world leader in physical biochemistry,” that “he has a breadth of knowledge, arising from his training in a very broadly-based microbiology department and from his strong interest in interdisciplinary studies.”