Dedicated to ensuring that the Southern California community has access to the most promising novel therapies available for those afflicted with cancer, from 2001 through 2006, the Phase One Board of Directors directed its efforts to support research that might not be funded by alternative mechanisms.
The studies selected included novel therapies and conventional ones, all having some scientific question about efficacy, biologic correlates, surrogate markers (radiographic, laboratory, tissue based or other), or mechanism of action. The findings of these studies will ideally lead to further research or further independently-funded projects.
2007 As of April 1, 2007, Phase One has approved the funding of the following two projects:
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Grant Amount: $500,000
The City of Hope Division of Medical Oncology, Chaired by Robert Figlin MD., and its
Department of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, directed by Yun Yen MD, PhD., is the City
of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center equivalent to a Phase 1 Solid Tumor Program. In this program is the exciting translation of molecules from the laboratory to the clinic.
City of Hope will use the Phase One funds to support novel Phase 1 clinical trials developed in collaboration with the Department of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology. These resources would be utilized to fund novel protocols or existing protocols where additional funds could translate findings from the laboratory to the clinic. Support for novel "NEW" programs (25-50K/year for two years) in Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology that can reach the clinic during the two years of the award, and bring innovation from our laboratories will be the highest priority.
The City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center's Phase1 Program has a commitment to the Developmental Therapeutics and Hematologic Malignancies Programs directed by Yun Yen MD, PhD, Richard Jove PhD, and Steven Forman MD. City of Hope will establish competitive awards (25-50K/year for two years) that combine a laboratory and clinical Principal Investigator that translate laboratory observations into the clinic during this period. Programs in Solid Tumors and Hematologic Malignancies including lymphomas, in both adults and children would be included.
The Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute-Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
Grant Amount: $2,000,000
The Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute (SOCCI) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
provides cutting edge cancer clinical trials and sub-cellular research, in addition to state-of-the-art
patient care. Its research efforts are focused on developing breakthroughs that translate as efficiently
as possible into new methods for the treatment of cancers of the lung, brain, colon, prostate, pancreas,
breast, spine, ovaries, pituitary, thyroid and blood system, plus melanoma and other cancers.
To further advance its research activities, SOCCI is establishing an endowed chair to support the directorship of the Institute with the help of funds from Phase One. With this endowment, the chairholder will define and direct the activities of the Institute and serve as a key figure in framing the national debate about cancer, while having a decided impact on the direction and success of new research.
2006 Phase One Medical Advisory Board in November 2006 recommended that the Phase One Board of Directors approve the grant award to:
Kuk-Wha Lee, M.D. PhD
Grant Amount: $250,000
Dr. Lee is a graduate of the Medical Scientist Training program at Loma Linda University School of
Medicine, obtaining her PhD and MD. Her clinical training is in pediatrics and she was fellowship
trained in Pediatric Endocrinology at the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA. In training she was
the recipient of the prestigious Giannini Foundation Fellowship, Stein-Oppenheimer Award, and
the LWPES Clinical Scholar Award for her research. In addition, she is the recipient of the UCLA
Prostate Cancer SPORE Career Development Award for her research in cellular and animal
models of human prostate cancer.
Her laboratory studies the biological functions of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and its binding partners in cancer biology, specifically prostate cancer. Specifically, she studies the molecular mechanisms by which this molecule enters cells; targets specific areas within cancer cells (e.g. the nucleus and mitochondria); and initiates the programmed cell death cascade.
Unique assays in their laboratory have been developed to study serum levels of these molecules and also have developed unique transgenic and knockout mouse models of human disease. Based on preliminary work published from their laboratory the plan is to initiate a phase 1 trial of IGFBP-3 in men with prostate cancer in the near future.
See Projects Funded in 2003-2004