Winter 2008 Newsletter: Message from the Executive Director

Another year has past and the Cancer Research Foundation has a great deal to be thankful for. Last year was the second year for recorded cancer statistics showing a reduction in cancer death rates. The likelihood that a child diagnosed with cancer will die from cancer within five years has been reduced by 50% since 1970. Every day we are thankful for the great strides that have been made in cancer science and the lives that have been extended and saved. It is the commitment of you, our donors, which allows us to continue to fund basic and applied scientific research, working towards more breakthroughs in the fight against cancer.

Because of the great support we continue to receive, we are pleased to be able to announce eight extremely promising new Young Investigator Award recipients. The studies suggested by these researchers are in a number of promising fields and are listed within this newsletter. We have four scientists who will be doing work directly in genetic coding, studying the genetic markers and mutations which may either identify people who are more likely to develop cancer or even cause the development of cancerous cells. We have two researchers studying how to block blood vessels from feeding tumors. We have a researcher investigating the use of breast cancer related drugs on ovarian cancer, and we have a scientist studying what personal beliefs and biases might keep people of different races and backgrounds from receiving the cancer treatment their doctors recommend. I am also pleased to announce that for the 2007 Sharon W. Swanson Young Investigator Award the CRF has chosen Blasé Polite, to honor our former Executive Director for all her hard work and the many, many years she toiled tirelessly for the CRF.

Personally, as the CRF’s new Executive Director, I am thankful for the opportunity to work for the Cancer Research Foundation. I am so excited to work with the Board and with you, our donors, to find ways to make our organization more effective and to fund even more cancer research.

Finally, and most importantly, on behalf of cancer research and our Board of Directors, the Cancer Research Foundation is so thankful for the support of all of our contributors; I wanted to make sure to extend our appreciation and our holiday greetings to you all. We have included a list of all the contributors who gave during our last fiscal year in this newsletter and our very great thanks go out to all of you. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and send our best wishes for a very happy new year!

Sincerely,

Alexandra Nikitas,
Executive Director