VCU Massey Cancer Center Researchers Awarded Nearly $4 Million in Stimulus Funding from the National Institutes of Health

By Andrea Butler
Massey Cancer Center

Twelve faculty researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center received nearly $4 million in federal stimulus funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 13 research projects. The grants range in size from $99,993 to $591,990 for a wide variety of projects ranging from clinical trials for leukemia to pre-clinical studies on a gene therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Funding is from the American Recovery and Revitalization Act, federal legislation designed to stimulate the economy.

“We can attest that the stimulus funding we've received is doing exactly what it was designed to -- help us advance our research mission and create and retain jobs that stimulate the economy, “ said Gordon D. Ginder, M.D., director of VCU Massey Cancer Center. “The funding has a ripple effect beyond our laboratories,” he added. “For example, it supports biomedical supply companies, transportation businesses that deliver these supplies to our labs, and even the vendors on campus who sell lunch to our staff.”

The 175 research members of VCU Massey Cancer Center hold faculty appointments in 28 academic departments at VCU, and are selected as members of the cancer center based on their accomplishments in cancer research. When combined with the members’ research teams, about 500 people are focused on cancer research at Massey.

The spectrum of their work includes gaining insight on how to prevent and control cancer and analyzing the economic impact of cancer; developing new therapeutic treatments for cancer, and improving treatment methods to enhance the quality of life for those with cancer.  

The 12 recipients and their projects are:

Cathy J. Bradley, Ph.D.
Health Insurance, Labor Supply and Health

Xiangning Chen, Ph.D.
Variants in Nicotine Receptors and Pharmacogentics

Xianjun Fang, Ph.D.
Lysophophatidic Acid in Oncogenesis

Panos Peter Fatouros, Ph.D.
Metallofullerene Nanoplatform for Imaging and Treatment

Paul Fisher, Ph.D., M.Ph.
Cancer Gene Management by Novel Gene Therapy and Dietary Agents

David Gewirtz, Ph.D.
Development of Vascular Disrupting Agents

Gordon D. Ginder, M.D.
Globin Gene Expression During Erythroid Differentiation

Steven Grant, M.D.
(1) Proteasome/HDAC Inhibition in Leukemia/MDS; Phase I Trial and Correlative Studies (See separate news release on this highly selective “GO” grant)
(2) Phase I Trial of Bortezomib and Romidespin in CLL and Small Cell Lymphoma

Hisashi Harada, Ph.D.
Apoptosis Induced by Glucocorticoids and MEK1/2 Inhibitors in Leukemia

Kristopher Valerie, Ph.D.
Radiation-Induced ATM and ERK Signaling in DSB Repair

John G. Tew, Ph.D.
Follicular Antigen Binding Dendritic Cells

Lawrence B. Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D.
Cellular and Inflammatory Pathways in Asthma and Allergic Diseases: From IGE to Cells
(Note: This study has implications for cancer research.)