Dr. Lowy, Dr. Varmus, Cold Spring Harbor’s New Partner and More…

Here are a few highlights of cancer research news that have recently caught my attention:

  • Douglass Lowy has been named the Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Lowy’s areas of expertise includes: cancer biology papilloma viruses, preventive vaccines, and tumor suppressor genes. For more on his career.
  • New York Times writer Sabrina Tavernise recently interviewed Dr. Harold Varmus, former director of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Varmus shared his thoughts on the state of cancer research and future trends.
  • Recently 60 Minutes on CBS aired a segment on a “miracle” treatment for glioblastoma which involves injecting the polio virus into the brains of patients. The study is currently being conducted at Duke. In response to the CBS piece, contributor Arlene Weintraub shared her thoughts in an article in Forbes.

  • Cold Spring Harbor Lab has teamed up with North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. The collaboration will allow Cold Spring Harbor to establish clinical trials with human subjects. More on this scientific venture in the New York Times.
  • According to a review article published by researchers with Medical University of South Carolina, exercise and physical activity as a therapeutic option for lung cancer patients has been shown to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, and potentially reduce length of hospital stay and complications following surgery for lung cancer.
  • Patients and their caregivers differ on end of life choices according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore. This cross –sectional survey included 211 patients and their caregivers.

Please feel free to contact Marisol Hernandez to share any comments.