University of Iowa News Release

March 20, 2006

Photos (from top): Daniel Vaena, M.D., assistant clinical professor of internal medicine in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine; Daryl J. Murry, Pharm.D., associate professor of clinical and administrative pharmacy in the UI College of Pharmacy. Click either image for high-resolution version of the photograph.

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center At UI Awards Seed Grants

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa has awarded one-year seed grants to two UI researchers for projects with the ultimate goal of better tailoring cancer treatment for patients. The awards, which total $30,000, were effective March 1.

A team led by Daniel Vaena, M.D., assistant clinical professor of internal medicine in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, will use a $10,000 award for a study related to non-small cell lung cancer. The researchers will investigate how genetic differences in patients affect survival rates and may make some individuals more susceptible to side effects from chemoradiation that includes platinum. Vaena also is a staff physician with the Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System.

A second team led by Daryl J. Murry, Pharm.D., associate professor of clinical and administrative pharmacy in the UI College of Pharmacy, will use a $20,000 award to study how vincristine, a cancer chemotherapy, is metabolized. The researchers aim to eventually understand how to individualize drug dosages to maximize benefits and minimize side effects for each patient.

Seed grants help junior faculty members and independent research scientists initiate careers in cancer research and fund studies of new ideas related to the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer.

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is Iowa's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers are recognized as the leaders in developing new approaches to cancer prevention and cancer care, conducting leading edge research and educating the public about cancer. Visit the center online at http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/cancercenter/.

University of Iowa Health Care describes the partnership between the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and UI Hospitals and Clinics and the patient care, medical education and research programs and services they provide. Visit UI Health Care online at www.uihealthcare.com.

PHOTOS:

Daryl Murry: 300 dpi available. Send your email request to becky-soglin@uiowa.edu

Daniel Vaena: 300 dpi available. Send your email request to becky-soglin@uiowa.edu. 72 dpi version available at this Web site: http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/InternalMedicine/Divisions/HemOnc/Directory/DanielVaena.html

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5137 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 5224-1178

MEDIA CONTACT: Becky Soglin, 319 335-6660 becky-soglin@uiowa.edu