Summit 2009 (17)
Children categories
Razelle Kurzrock, M.D., FACP
Chair and Professor
Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics
[A Phase I Program]
Anderson Clinical Faculty Chair for Cancer Treatment and Research
Division of Cancer Medicine
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States
Dr. Razelle Kurzrock is a Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Director of the Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), and holds the Anderson Clinical Faculty Chair for Cancer Treatment and Research. Her work, which spans more than two decades, has been widely funded, including by the NIH, The American Cancer Society, the pharmaceutical industry, and several foundations. Dr. Kurzrock has had extensive experience in clinical and translational research studies, having been the PI on more than 80 phase I-II clinical trials of biologic and targeted agents, some of which have gone on to FDA approval. Dr. Kurzrock’s passionate dedication to education has focused on training the next generation of investigators in clinical and translational sciences. As such, Dr. Kurzrock has served as the PI on a K30 education award from the National Cancer Institute and is the co-Director and Educational Director for the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), an infrastructure program funded by one of the first 12 NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (Dr. Kurzrock, co-PI, total award = 36 million). Also of note, she is the director of an MS/PhD program in Patient-Based Research, which she developed and which was approved in 2003 for degree granting at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center. This program is a unique and exemplary training curriculum designed for those who wish to become scholars in research pertaining directly to the human model.
Dr. Kurzrock has served as a mentor to numerous students engaged in clinical and basic research and is also the Director of the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship Program. In recognition of her many contributions to clinical education, Dr. Kurzrock was, in 2008, selected for membership in the University of Texas Academy of Health Science Education, thus being designated as a Distinguished Teaching Professor. Dr. Kurzrock has published extensively in the field of clinical/translational research, with more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, most of which involve the early investigation of novel molecules directed towards cancer therapy. Dr. Kurzrock is known nationally and internationally for her work in this field, as reflected by awards for excellence in clinical research as well as numerous requests for speaking engagements both in the US and abroad. Her work has led to four patents pending, including the use of liposomal curcumin in cancer treatment. Recently, she has become chair of the Early Therapeutics group in the Southwest Oncology Cooperative Group (SWOG).
The Phase I Clinical Trials Program, directed by Dr. Kurzrock, was founded by her at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in July 2004. In 2007, the program achieved departmental status, becoming the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics. Its mission is to translate laboratory discoveries and clinical observations into hypothesis-driven clinical trials leading to targeted, tailored and personalized cancer treatments. Since its inception, the program has grown rapidly and in 2009, 820 patients were registered on more than 100 Phase I trials. The M. D. Anderson Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics is now the largest Phase I department of its sort in the world. Its ambitious aim, already started, is to use molecular profiling to match patients with targeted drugs, hence making personalized cancer therapeutics a reality.
Dr. Kurzrock is married to dermatologist, Dr. Philip Cohen, has four children, and in her “spare” times enjoys reading and running half-marathons.
H. Miles Prince MBBS (Hons) MD, MRACMA, FRACP, FRCPA
Director, Centre for Blood Cell Therapies
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Professor Miles Prince is Professor of Medicine at both Melbourne and Monash Universities and Director of the Centre for Blood Cell Therapies at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne.
He trained in Clinical and Laboratory Haematology in Melbourne and Sydney and completed his MD in Toronto, Canada examining gene transfer into myeloma cells for immunotherapy.
He has a very active research program involving clinical research and laboratory research – the latter involving stem cell research and cancer immunology. He has been involved in numerous clinical trials of new agents in myeloma and lymphoma including thalidomide, lenolidomide, bortezomib, VEGF inhibitors, retinoids, denileukin diftitox, monoclonal antibodies and histone deacetylase inhibitors.
He has published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 350+ abstracts/presentations, is a reviewer for numerous Journals, and a member of several Editorial Boards and Scientific Advisory Boards. He is the currently the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Group to the Myeloma Foundation of Australia.
Video Interview with Miles Prince, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Audio Interview with Miles Prince, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Jim Johnston
Founder and Executive Director
International Castleman’s Disease Organization
Castleman’s Disease Patient Advocate
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Jim Johnston is Executive Director and Founder of the International Castleman’s Disease Organization (ICDO), a non-profit, patient advocacy organization founded in 1990. The ICDO is an integral link between patients of Castlemans Disease (a rare disorder) and the academic / medical community. This educational forum provides an open exchange of information between patients, families, Castleman's Disease physicians and ICDO representatives. Prior to Jim’s full time position with ICDO, he worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was a staff engineer for the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Jim’s determination to develop a clearing-house of information for other Castleman’s Disease patients came after his own diagnosis of Castlemans in 1989. Following a surgical resection of Castlemans in San Diego, CA, Jim has been in remission for twenty years.
Jean-Francois Rossi, MD, PhD
Head of Department, Haematology and Medical Oncology,
CHU Saint-Eloi
Montpellier, France
Jean-François Rossi, born in France, has been a Professor of Haematology since 1993. He has been the head of the department of Haematology and Medical Oncology since 1998, at CHU Saint-Eloi in Montellier, France. He is certified in Haematology, Rhumatology, Immunology, Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.
- Resident of Montpellier-Nîmes University Hospital (1978-1984)
- Assistant Montpellier-Nîmes University Hospital (1984-1987)
Research fellow: Internal Medicine Oncology-Hematology Department, Tucson, AZ (1984-1985) - Pr BGM Durie
- Member of the INSERM Unit U847 (director Pr B Klein)
- Head of the Center for Clinical Investigation CIC BT509 INSERM for Biotherapy
- Coordinator for the French network of the CIC in Haematology and Oncology
- In charge of the Department for valorisation in the Institute for Research of Biotherapy (Director Pr B Klein)
- Co-director of the Myeloma and Immune Therapy in B-cell malignancies program
Memberships:
- Member American Society of Hematology
- Member American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Member American Society of Bone and Mineral Research
- Member European Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Member Société Française de Greffe de Moelle-Thérapie Cellulaire
- Member Société Française d’Hématologie
Teaching:
- Head of clinical Haematology at the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier-Nîmes
- Associate Professor at the University of Suzhou (China)
Research program:
- Immune therapies in B-cell malignancies, including monoclonal antibodies (anti-interleukin 6, anti-BAFF-APRIL, HB-EGF, …) and other tailor made therapies (Aurora kinases,…)
Number of publications indexed in Medline: 154
Other Activities:
- Manage the relationship between GOELAMS (groupe Ouest-Est des Leucémies aiguës et autres maladies du sang) and Intergroup CLL/GOELAMS with industrial companies
- Head of the Follicular Lymphoma program for the GOELAMS group
Video Interview with Jean-François Rossi, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Audio Interview with Jean-François Rossi, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Jean Campbell
Vice President of Membership Development,
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Danbury, Connecticut, United States
Jean has been with NORD since 1992, working in the organization’s Patient Assistance Programs for the first three years and later joining the Development staff, which she led since 1998. Under her leadership, there was a significant expansion of several of NORD’s membership programs along with the creation of NORD’s restricted research, medical meeting and clinical broadcast programs. Jean played a key role in the establishment of the NORD Corporate Council which, since its inception in 1999, has grown to include more nearly 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Her areas of responsibility in recent years have included organizing two major annual events: the NORD Conference and Tribute Banquet, which have both grown under her direction. In addition, she has worked closely with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Rare Diseases to organize regional meetings for patient organizations focusing on how patient groups may work effectively with NIH.
In the Spring of 2009, Jean was named Vice President of Membership Development. Her responsibilities include enhancing and expanding services to NORD Member Organizations, for providing mentorship to start-up patient organizations, to bring additional rare disease organizations under NORD’s ‘umbrella’, and to discover pathways to better collaborations within the rare disease community.
Jean received a B.A. in History from Hunter College in NYC and Development Certifications from Marymount College and Western Connecticut State University. Jean currently represents NORD on America’s Charities’ Health 1st Board of Directors. Prior to joining NORD, Jean held positions in education and business. She is active as a volunteer in health organizations, schools, and several local service clubs.
Guido Tricot, MD, PhD
Director, Stem Cell Transplant and Myeloma Program
University of Utah School of Medicine
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Guido Tricot, MD, PhD, is the director of Huntsman Cancer Institute's Myeloma Program. He has been researching and treating multiple myeloma for over twenty years. Tricot is also a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
His team's treatment strategies are based on tandem autologous transplantation, a treatment approach that has increased the median survival rate of patients to ten years or more, compared to 2.5 to 3 years with conventional chemotherapy. The long-term outcome data of Dr. Tricot's work have been published extensively.
He has received several research grants from the National Cancer Institute and has been principal investigator on many myeloma clinical trials.
Dr. Tricot regularly gives presentations on multiple myeloma all over the United States and the world. His research has appeared in numerous publications, including New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, the British Journal of Haematology, Seminars in Hematology, and Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. He is also a peer reviewer for many medical journals.
He received his medical and doctoral degree at the University of Leuven in Belgium. Before joining Huntsman Cancer Institute, he was Director of Clinical Research at the University of Arkansas Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the largest myeloma program in the world.
Dr. Tricot has also served as Director of Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation at the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland and at Indiana University.
Video Interview with Guido Tricot, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Audio Interview with Guido Tricot, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Gregory Pacheco
Castleman’s Disease Patient,
Campaigner for CD Research
Pasa Robles, California, United States
Greg Pacheco is a 3rd generation native from the small town of Paso Robles in California. He was diagnosed with Multicentric Castleman’s Disease in June 2004 after a number of misdiagnosis over the preceding 16 months. After struggling with the symptoms of CD he finally found himself at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on a clinical trial for a new drug being developed not yet approved by the FDA. Since that time Greg’s disease is under control and he still travels to Little Rock from his home in California to receive treatments under the care of Dr. van Rhee.
Currently Greg is on the board of directors and serves as the face for the charitable non-profit organization Castleman’s Awareness and Research Effort (C.A.R.E.). C.A.R.E. was established by Greg’s family and friends to raise funds for Castleman’s Disease research and to bring public awareness to this rare and deadly disease. Recently the Gregory R. Pacheco Castleman’s Disease Research Laboratory at UAMS has been dedicated in his honor to conduct research exclusively for Castleman’s Disease.
David Golub
Vice President
Mark Krueger and Associates, Inc.
New York City, New York, United States
David Golub, vice president, joined Mark Krueger & Associates, Inc. in May 2007 after 15 years of successful service in the nonprofit, government and commercial sectors. David has developed a strong understanding of strategic, implementation and operational aspects of organizational success, particularly in the health care marketplace. His diverse experience and proven acumen span a broad array of disciplines, including advocacy, government relations, communications and marketing, project management, grant writing, and technology innovation.
Before joining the firm, David spent eight years at the American Cancer Society, the largest and best-known private health organization in the world. During this time, David served in several roles, most recently as a regional vice president for Queens County, New York, a populous and diverse borough, where he oversaw a staff of 25 delivering a broad range of patient services and community-based programs. Before that time, David was vice president for creative services, in which capacity he developed marketing strategies and collateral, including print and digital materials, to support health promotion and fund raising priorities. In addition, during this time, David helped design and implement a multi-agency, community-based outreach program which provided no-cost cancer, diabetes and tobacco screenings at community and federally qualified health centers serving medically underserved communities.
During his service with the Society, David was awarded the first-ever Distinguished Innovator Award from the Society’s national home office, recognizing his leadership role in delivering breakthrough projects. David continues to serve as a Co-Primary Investigator on a NCI-funded study of community health promotion strategies focused on libraries, overseen by researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation.
Previously, David held positions at the New York City Board of Education, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Dow Jones News Service. He has done consulting work for organizations including the Municipal Art Society and the New York League of Conservation Voters.
David holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago, where he also did several years of graduate work in intellectual history. David lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Corey Casper, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Adjunct Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Global Health
University of Washington
Assistant Member, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute
Director, Uganda Program on Cancer & Infectious Diseases
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington, United States
Dr. Casper received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1997, followed by an internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Moving onto the University of Washington, Dr. Casper completed a Masters in Public Health degree in 2002 and his Infectious Disease fellowship training. He then joined the faculty in 2003. He currently is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health at the University of Washington. He’s is also an Assistant Member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute.
Dr. Casper divides his time between research, teaching and clinical care. Dr. Casper cares for patients at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Harborview Medical Center, where he specializes in infections among persons with impaired immunity due to HIV or cancer. He also directs the Castleman Disease Clinic, where over 200 patients with this rare disease receive expert consultation. At the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, he directs the Infection Control Program, which has developed novel methods for the prevention of respiratory virus infections among patients with impaired immunity and new methods for tracking and reducing healthcare-associated infections. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dr. Casper leads the Uganda Program on Cancer and Infectious Diseases. This program, in partnership with the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, conducts research aimed at identifying how infections which cause cancer are acquired, defining strategies for the treatment and prevention of infection-related cancer, and training African and US health care providers to be the next generation of cancer researchers and care providers.
Video Interview with Corey Casper, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Audio Interview with Corey Casper, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Billy Wayne Hook, Jr.
Castleman’s Disease Patient
Patient Advocate, MD Anderson Hospital
Texas, United States
Prior to his illness, Billy Wayne Hook, Jr., was a designer for HVAC/ Mechanical for both new construction and for the remodeling of hospitals and office buildings. After suffering serious symptoms, Wayne was finally diagnosed with MultiCentric Castleman’s Disease in January, 2007. He spent most of two years undergoing diagnoses and treatment in several hospitals before doctors at MD Anderson confirmed his diagnosis. When Wayne arrived at MD Anderson, he was out of options and his life expectancy was down to days. After a last ditch effort to control his symptoms ended with a severe allergic reaction to Retoxin, Wayne needed oxygen, was wheelchair bound, and had Denver catheters in both lungs. Consequently, Dr. Kurzrock and the staff at MD Anderson fought diligently to get him accepted in a clinical program approved by the FDA. Thanks to them, Wayne is now stabilized and continues with a set treatment regimen using the Anti-IL6 drug.
Mr. Hook is honored to be participating at the International Castleman’s Disease Summit this year. Because of his gratefulness and his desire to give back, he has become an advocate in cooperation with MD Anderson Hospital. He makes himself available as a resource to other patients who have been newly diagnosed with Castleman’s. They can relate to him and ask questions about the clinical program.
Video Interview with Billy Wayne Hook, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009:
Audio Interview with Billy Wayne Hook, recorded at the ICDO Summit 2009: