 Don’t miss our top 5 cancer-related stories this month,
including a guest commentary from an industry leader, our two-part series on
trends in cancer research and more!
By E. Kevin Hrusovsky, PerkinElmer Inc. As the complexity and volume of data continue to rise, bioinformatics is emerging as one of the cornerstones of personalized medicine, from enabling discovery and development of novel treatments and diagnostics to facilitating collection, analysis and interpretation of data that ultimately helps an individual patient. SPECIAL REPORT PART 1: ‘Good enough’ is no longer good enough By Randall Willis, ddn Features Editor Aiming beyond the standard of care in oncology By Randall Willis, ddn Features Editor Are we really making things better for cancer patients? High-profile oncology partnership By Jim Cirigliano, ddn Contributing Editor Araxes Pharma and Janssen Biotech ink oncology drug development deal Natural neighbors By Kelsey Kaustinen, ddn Features Editor OSU, Biosortia link up to identify natural products for potential cancer treatments  |
 AACR Annual Meeting 2012: Photos and Other Additional Material
March 2012
SHARING OPTIONS:
(To go back to the main stories on the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, click here)
This web page contains addition AACR news and coverage related to what you can see and do in the Chicago area while at the annual meeting. To go straight to the photos and sightseeing suggestions, click here.)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) expressed fears in mid-February
that the president’s recent proposal to freeze funding for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year 2013 will slow the rate of progress
against cancer. As such, the AACR is calling upon the president and the U.S.
Congress to provide a $2 billion increase to $33 billion.
For the past decade, the NIH budget has remained essentially
flat, the AACR notes, and because of the rate of biomedical inflation has also
lost approximately $5.5 billion in purchasing power since 2003. If enacted, the
organization says, the president’s request would “continue the downward trend
that is putting lifesaving research at risk, and jeopardize the nation’s
longstanding position of global leadership in science and technology.”
“The potential for continued flat funding could not come at
a worse time because the opportunities for turning our growing scientific
knowledge into effective strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer
have never been greater,” said AACR’s president, Dr. Judy E. Garber, who is
director of the Center for Cancer Genetics and Prevention at Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“This is a defining moment in cancer research; tremendous
progress has been made in our understanding of cancer and its vulnerabilities,”
Garber added. “We must capitalize on these discoveries and transform treatment
for cancer patients everywhere. In addition, the value of cancer research and
biomedical research to the economic health and well-being of this nation cannot
be overestimated.”
The budget request seems to undermine the president’s stated
commitment to scientific progress and innovation, AACR said, as emphasized in
his recent State of the Union Address when he noted, “Today, the discoveries
taking place in our federally-financed labs and universities could lead to new
treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched.”
“We are grateful for President Obama’s longstanding support
for cancer research, but the fiscal year 2013 budget request is extremely
concerning,” said Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the AACR. “If we are going to
continue to make significant progress, it will require a renewed commitment on
the parts of President Obama and Congress to provide the NIH and National
Cancer Institute with sustained funding increases.”
AACR journal receives
prestigious 2011 PROSE Award
PHILADELPHIA—The American Association for Cancer Research’s
newest journal, Cancer Discovery, in
February received a 2011 American Publishers Award for Professional and
Scholarly Excellence (PROSE Award), in the category of “Best New Journal in
Science, Technology and Medicine.”
The Professional and Scholarly Publishing (PSP) Division of
the Association of American Publishers presented more than 45 PROSE awards at a
special awards luncheon, which was held recently during the PSP Annual
Conference in Washington, D.C.
“All of us who are involved with the publishing of Cancer Discovery are extremely pleased
to receive such an esteemed award,” said the journal’s publisher, Diane
Scott-Lichter. “Cancer Discovery
captures the most significant work in cancer research and provides a unique
forum to communicate and inspire new thinking in the field.”
Cancer Discovery launched at the AACR Annual Meeting
2011 and is the seventh journal published by the AACR. It provides readers with
peer-reviewed articles describing major advances in basic, translational,
clinical and epidemiological research.
AACR supports World
Cancer Day
PHILADELPHIA—The American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) expressed its support of World Cancer Day on Feb. 4—as well as
encouraging AACR members to support it as well—and as part of that also
supported the efforts of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to
bring “the looming world cancer crisis to the forefront by urging the public,
government leaders and health policy makers to take proactive steps in the
global fight against cancer.”
The 2012 World Cancer Day initiative for this year followed
the theme “Together it is Possible,” raising public awareness through education
and encouragement of healthy lifestyle choices in an effort to reduce cancer
risk.
“World Cancer Day is a reminder that we must take action and
work together to decrease the global burden of cancer,” said Dr. Margaret Foti,
CEO of the AACR. “The AACR has had a long-standing focus on cancer prevention
research. We believe that known prevention strategies offer long-term potential
for lowering cancer incidences and mortality and we urge everyone to take
action.”
Dr. David G. Nathan
receives ASH lifetime achievement award
This award is the ASH’s highest honor and is named for a
prolific inventor and entrepreneur who made important contributions to
hematology and to the ASH. The award is presented to someone who has
demonstrated a lasting commitment to the field of hematology through
outstanding contributions to education, research and practice.
“David Nathan is a true leader in the field of hematology
research, and we are pleased that he has been awarded this distinguished honor.
His visionary leadership will continue to move the field forward for the
benefit of patients not only with hematologic diseases, but also all types of
cancer,” said Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the AACR.
Nathan is president emeritus of the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and the Robert A. Stranahan distinguished professor of pediatrics at
Harvard Medical School as well as a Harvard professor of medicine. Throughout
the course of his nearly 50-year career, he has made numerous advances in
medicine, including the development of the first prenatal diagnostic test for
thalassemia and sickle cell anemia and the introduction of hydroxyurea for the
amelioration of sickle cell anemia.  Chicago's Historic Water Tower, located on the stretch of Michigan
Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile. Located nearby is 74-story Water Tower
Place, the eighth-tallest building in Chicago, which not only contains the Ritz-Carlton
hotel, luxury condominiums and office space but also sits atop a block-long
base containing a several-story high atrium-style retail mall that fronts on
the Magnificent Mile.
CREDIT: Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau  One way to enjoy your visit to the city and get an
educational experience and eye candy at the same time is to take one of the
architectural boat tours along the Chicago River, as pictured above.
CREDIT: Choose Chicago  Chicago's Field Museum is—among other natural, historical
and artistic wonders housed there—home of Sue, the largest complete
Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered.
CREDIT: City of Chicago
 A view from Oak Street Beach of the John Hancock Center, one
of Chicago’s most recognizable buildings and a landmark at one end of the
city’s famous “Magnificent Mile.” The John Hancock building is 100 stories tall, and on the 94th floor is an observatory from which visitors can view Lake Michigan and the city, as well as the Lavazza
Espression Café, where you can enjoy coffee, wine and other beverages. One floor above that is a restaurant called The Signature Room at the 95th.
CREDIT: Choose Chicago
 Chicago’s huge McCormick Place convention center will host
the AACR Annual Meeting 2012. Pictured here is the entrance to McCormick Place
South.
CREDIT: Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau
 Among the most eye-catching scenic options at Millennium Park
is the giant, metallic, bean-shaped Cloud Gate Sculpture that reflects both the
skyline and passers-by. Millennium Park opened officially in 2004, some four years behind schedule.It is located in the Loop area of Chicago and had been planned originally to celebrate the new millennium, hence its originally planned opening date of 2000. Millennium Park is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline in an area that covers a 24.5-acre section of northwestern Grant Park.
CREDIT: City of Chicago
 The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan on Chicago's South Side. It is reportedly the largest
science museum in the Western Hemisphere and was the site of the 1893 World's
Columbian Exposition.The museum is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on
experiences designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity.
CREDIT: City of Chicago
 Featuring rides, dining, shopping and other attractions,
Navy Pier is one of many Chicago attractions along the shore of Lake Michigan and has been open to the public since 1995. All told, Navy Pier reportedly offers 50 acres of parks, promenades, gardens, shops, eateries and attractions, including a 15-story tall Ferris wheel.
CREDIT: Cesar Russ Photography
 The John G. Shedd Aquarium is reportedly the largest indoor
marine mammal facility in the world. It offers several freshwater and saltwater exhibits with themes ranging from the Amazon to the Caribbean and is even home to some Beluga whales.
CREDIT: Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (To go back to the main stories on the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, click here) Code: E031299 Back |
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