8/11/2004
BURLINGAME and SAN FRANCISCO, CA - August 11, 2004 - Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC 2 ) and the National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF) announced today that the two non-profit organizations have joined together to fund a population-based study at the University of California, San Francisco, led by Margaret R. Wrensch, MPH, Ph.D. The goals of the study are to gain a better understanding of the development of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and variations in survival rates among patients diagnosed with this deadly form of brain cancer. ABC 2 is dedicated to accelerating therapies leading to a cure for brain cancer and NBTF is dedicated to serving people whose lives are affected by brain tumors.
Dr. Wrensch is among nine research scientists to receive a 2004 Project Award from ABC 2 for her translational research project, which is the first of its kind involving very large-scale genotyping of constitutive DNA from brain cancer patients. By combining resources with NBTF, the two organizations broadened the original scope of the project and thus its potential for helping in the near-term with disease prognosis and ultimately, treatment selection.
"We are pleased to be collaborating with NBTF to expand the pioneering research being done by Dr. Wrensch and her colleagues," stated John Reher, ABC 2 Executive Director. "It is our hope that this study may give us clues as to why some brain cancer patients survive longer than others . With this knowledge, we hope the medical community can ultimately identify effective therapies to prolong survival for brain cancer patients."
"We chose the specific subjects and hypotheses for this project to be the best first step in a multi-stage process aimed at delineating the role of polymorphisms in glioma prognosis and etiology," explained Dr. Wrensch. "The funding we are receiving from ABC 2 and NBTF will allow us to generate extremely valuable genetic information about GBM."
"By working together, NBTF and ABC 2 can make an even greater impact on brain tumor research," noted Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, NBTF Executive Director. "This type of research is crucial for the over 100 people diagnosed each day with a benign or malignant brain tumor. By increasing our understanding of survival, we can eventually improve treatments as well."
About ABC 2
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC 2 ) was founded in May 2001 by Dan and Steve Case and their families, along with leading scientists and entrepreneurs. ABC 2 aims to raise awareness about brain cancer and help mobilize critical scientific research through research grants and partnerships. ABC 2 funds outstanding and novel translational science that is aimed at the discovery of a cure for brain cancer.
Each year more than 17,000 people in the United States find out that they have a malignant primary brain tumor. An additional 100,000 patients are diagnosed with a brain tumor that has metastasized from another part of the body. The mission of ABC 2 is to accelerate a cure for brain cancer by increasing the number of potential therapies discovered and then rapidly moving them into the clinic to help patients. In order to accelerate progress in what has been an under-served field of research, ABC 2 provides researchers from all backgrounds with the support they need to make critical breakthroughs in brain cancer research. Further information can be found at http://www.abc2.org.
About NBTF
The National Brain Tumor Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization serving people whose lives have been affected by brain tumors. They are dedicated to promoting a cure for brain tumors, improving the quality of life and giving hope to the brain tumor community by funding meaningful research and providing patient resources, timely information and education. For more information please contact NBTF, toll free, at 1.800.934.CURE (2873) or visit http://www.braintumor.org.
