Research

The Department of Medicine has a major commitment to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapeutic therapy and to the study of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Fellows have freedom to pursue their own areas of interest to begin to build the foundation of their academic careers. All areas of research within the Institute are available for fellows to investigate. In the past, these have included: molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology and therapeutics, bioinformatics, and genetics. In addition, prevention medicine and outcomes-based investigations are also available. Faculty strive to link fellows with their areas of interest.

From its inception, Roswell Park Cancer Institute identified cancer research as the core element of its mission. Since then, groundbreaking research by RPCI scientists has led to greater understanding of the nature of cancer and to major advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment that are now in use worldwide. RPCI instituted the nation's first chemotherapy program, pioneered studies on the relationship between smoking and lung cancer and developed photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. A comprehensive cancer genetics program rivals the world's leading programs in that field. The Institute also made significant contributions to the landmark human genome project. RPCI's Center for Pharmacology and Therapeutics is one of the few centers in the nation capable of all phases of drug development, from the conceptual stage through manufacturing and testing. This year RPCI's strong basic and clinical research programs attracted major research grants and contracts totaling more than $75 million. The Institute has sponsored or collaborated on more than 350 clinical trials of promising new cancer treatments.

Among the current programs of focus in translational research in the Department/Division are studies of:

• novel approaches to angiogenesis inhibition led by Dr Michael Wong; a multifaceted program supported by NCI, DOD and RPCI Alliance funding investigating the role of vitamin D as a targeted anticancer agent (Donald Trump, MD)
  
  
• innovative clinical and mechanistic studies of monoclonal antibody-based therapies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Myron Czuczman, MD and Francisco J. Hernandez Ilizalit, MD)
  
  
• new therapeutic approaches in myeloma (Asher Chanan-Khan, MD)
  
  
• biologic and therapeutic studies in AML - with particular emphasis on the role of angiogenesis inhibitors (Eunice Wang, MD)
  
  
• STAT signaling (Meir Wetzler, MD) and MDR-resistance mechanisms (Maria Baer, MD)
  
  
• allogeneic and autologous stem cell reconstitution translational and clinical research (Philip McCarthy, MD and Minoo Battiwalla, MD)
  
  
• new approaches to the prevention and treatment of lung cancer (Gregory Loewen, DO and Nithya Ramnath, MD)
  
  
• clinical and translational studies in GI (Milind Javle, MD and Marwan Fakih, MD) and breast (Ellis Levine, MD and Tracy O'Connor, MD) cancers
  
  
• Dr Allan Gao has a very successful program in prostate cancer biology which links with investigators in many groups at RPCI as well as the clinical research program in prostate cancer overseen by Drs Trump and Wong from Medicine, Drs. Hyung Lae Kim, Robert Huben and James Mohler from Urologic Surgery and Dr. Michael Kuettel from Radiation Medicine.
  
  
• Drs. Brahm Segal and Nikolaos Almyroudis have a well-developed investigative and clinical program to support and study infections in immunocompromised hosts.

Drawing more distinguished scientists and clinicians into the fold has enriched RPCI's intellectual base, infusing the atmosphere with new ideas and strategies. The addition of over more than 100 new faculty in less than three years has contributed to a surge in clinical and translational research, propelling RPCI into the highest ranks of leadership in cancer care and innovation.

For more information, please visit Roswell Park's website www.roswellpark.org.