Drug Development Conference

The Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Research Association (CMTRA) annual meeting was held at Stanford University from July 19 -22. This is an interesting intersection of academics and the pharmaceutical industry whereby confidential data presentations allow free and open intellectual exchanges about the science and implementation of drug development and clinical trials. For those interested in molecular therapeutics, this meeting is a true gem. From our lab, Jinu's work on IGF receptor inhibition was very well received.

[ pictured top right: an artwork on the Stanford campus by Auguste Rodin, entitled The Gates of Hell. After all, it was a cancer meeting. ]

Our lab featured as UTHSCSA 'Research Stars'

We are grateful for the acknowledgement of our lab's mission in the Summer 2009 UTHSCSA publication entitled, "The reSearch is On: Research-Discover-Cure" emphasizing the importance of the bench to bedside research paradigm. Vice President for Research, Dr. Brian Herman, was a critical reason we endeavored to start our research enterprise at the newly formed Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, and with his support we are able to move closer to fulfilling our mission every day.

Congratulations to Navaline!

Many congratulations to our collaborators Navaline Quach and her mentor, Tom Rando, at Stanford on their publication, "Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Regulates the Expression of Caveolin 3 and beta1 Integrin, Genes Essential for Normal Myoblast Fusion" in Molecular Biology of the Cell. Our lab appreciates the opportunity to have contributed to this study, which dissects the role of focal adhesion kinase in myoblast fusion and differentiation.

Pediatric Drug Development website Officially Launched!

The Pediatric Preclinical Testing Initiative at the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute has officially launched its new website, www.GivingBackChildhood.org . We're excited about this program, which uses genetically-engineered mice to validate novel molecularly-targeted therapies for use in children with cancer.

We sincerely thank our early and current sponsors, including a kind anonymous donor, the Joanna MacAfee Foundation and the Rally Foundation.

Welcoming Steven

Summer intern Steven McCarthy is a welcome new addition the our pediatric cancer research team. Steven is an undergraduate at Florida State University (Tallahassee) where he's majoring in Biomedical Engineering with minors in physics and biology. Steven is also captain for the FSU Men's Water Polo team and recently joined the Biomedical Engineering Society, a prestigious distinction in his field of study.

Cross-disciplinary contributors like Steven make new approaches possible. Welcome, Steven!

upcoming Sarcoma Awareness Fun Run/ Walk & Social !

When: Friday, July 24, at 6:00 pm

Where: McAllister Park (13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd), San Antonio, Texas

This is a free event open to all. The fun run/walk will begin at 6:00pm at Pavilion 3 in McAllister Park. At 6:30pm everyone will meet up at the pavilion where we’ll have a cook-out and social until 8pm. “Sarcoma Knows No Borders” bracelets benefiting the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative will be available at $5 each for our participants on a first come first serve basis.

Many thanks to this year's organizer, Melinda Garcia! For more details* or to RSVP, email GarciaM20@uthscsa.edu .

shown above-right: Team Sarcoma San Antonio (TeSSA) at the 2008 event!

[ for other Sarcoma Awareness events across Texas, click here. ]

* This community event is intended for sarcoma awareness and not specifically a fundraiser or a function of the UTHSCSA.

Interesting Rhabdomyosarcoma Study

In the June issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Durbin and colleagues from the laboratory of David Malkin presented an interesting distinction between the biologies of embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. This distinction centers on the Integrin-linked Kinase signaling pathway. For the original article, click here. For the commentary by Charles and co-authors Paul McDonald and Shoukat Dedhar, click here.