Hope for a Cure Foundation

Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons, Dr. Dr. Parsons, Professor Cheryl Rock and Mr. Dennis Heath with the Fluorescence Detector.

(L to R) Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons, Professor Cheryl Rock and
Mr. Dennis Heath with the Fluorescence Detector

363 Flurorescence Detector by Hitachi

363 Fluorescence Detector by Hitachi

This donation project was to Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons of the UCSD Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center. The equipment purchased for Dr. Parsons was a 363 Flourescence Detector by Hitachi.

Dr. Parsons' research focuses on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of prostate and bladder cancer and prostate hyperplasia. He is particularly interested in clinical trials and improving patient care through the application of evidence-based medicine.

His previous research has included identification of free testosterone as a risk factor for prostate cancer, optimization of prostate cancer diagnosis utilizing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoforms, and descriptions of novel risk factors for prostate hyperplasia.

The equipment purchased for Dr. Parsons is currently being used to aid in research for a grant given to USCD / Dr. Parsons by the NIH, in regards to the prevention and treatment of bladder and prostate cancer thru diet.

Dr. Parsons is the principal investigator at UCSD for the Selenium and Vitamin E Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT).

Kodak Gel Logic 200 PC to the lab of Dr. Stefan Riedl of The Burnham Institute

(L to R): Tae-Hyun Chris Kim, Stefan Riedl, Ph.D.,
Malgorzata Dobaczewska, Jean Freiser

Front row (L to R): Maryjo Highland, Malgorzata
Dobaczewska, Jean Freiser
Back row (L to R): Olga Fisher, Pam Xitco, Eva Borgstrom,
Jean Remmer, Dr. Stefan Riedl
Missing from group: Dee Jerge

This donation project was to Dr. Stefan Riedl, whose lab is part of the Cancer Center at The Burnham Institute for Medical Research. The equipment purchased for Dr. Riedl was a Kodak Gel Logic 200 Imaging System.

Dr. Riedl’s lab focuses on the understanding of central protein complexes, which act as molecular switches in important cancer pathways. Understanding these switches is crucial to enabling researchers to develop drug compounds influencing these key regulators as a means of combating various cancers.

The Kodak Gel Logic 200 is a state-of-the-art gel imaging system, which allows precise analysis of the protein complexes. The equipment replaced a manual type process which was much more labor intensive as well as time consuming in identifying protein components and how they interact to form large complexes; a process that requires visualization by various methods.

Dr. Riedl has trained at several prominent institutions such as Max Planck Institute and Princeton University, and most recently started his own lab at Burnham in the area of Apoptosis and Cell Death Research.

Bio-Rad Multicolor Fluorescent Imaging System to the laboratory of
Dr. Jean Wang, UCSD / Moores Cancer Center

Dr. Jean Wang and Shun J. Lee

Dr. Jean Wang, Shun J. Lee, Olga Fisher, Maryjo Highland, Eva Borgstrom, Pam Xitco and Dee Jerge.

(L to R): Dr. Jean Wang, Shun J. Lee,
Olga Fisher, Maryjo Highland,
Eva Borgstrom, Pam Xitco and Dee Jerge

Olympus CKX41 Microscope to the laboratory of Dr. Ruth Gjerset, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Pam Xitco and Dr. Ruth Gjerset with Olympus CKX41 microscope, donated by Hope For A Cure Foundation.

Hope For A Cure Foundation Board
Member Pam Xitco (left) with Dr. Ruth
Gjerset and the Olympus CKX41
microscope.

This fundraising project culminated in the donation of an Olympus CKX41 microscope, equipped with a fluorescent illuminator, to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center laboratory of Dr. Ruth Gjerset. The microscope is suitable for multiple applications, ranging from routine cell culture observation and live cell imaging to high resolution multi-stained fluorescence analysis of subcellular structures in fixed specimens. Gjerset’s laboratory research focuses on specific proteins involved in cancer development.

PSSC PowerWulf Computer Upgrade to the laboratory of Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia, The Burnham Institute

Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia with Jean in the computer center at The Burnham Institute.

Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia and Jean
Freiser, Director of Sponsored
Research, with the newly-upgraded
computer equipment in the
computer center at The Burnham
Institute.

Because of all of your continued generosity and kindness, the Hope for a Cure Foundation was able to purchase another piece of equipment for cancer research! In the spring, we delivered a PSSC PowerWulf computer upgrade to Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia of The Burnham Institute. Dr. Pellecchia is currently working on an agent that will focus on prostate, breast, lung and lymphoma cancers at The Burnham Institute. This research is focused on targeting proteins that will render cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. We feel privileged to have assisted him in his journey.

Stryker's Digital Capture High Definition Equipment to the laboratory of Anne Wallace, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery, UCSD

Dr. Anne Wallace with Olga Fiser and Maryjo Highland of the Hope for a Cure Foundation

(L to R): Dr. Anne Wallace,
with Olga Fisher and
Maryjo Highland of the
Hope for a Cure Foundation

Stryker Sales Representative Steve Rons

Stryker Sales
Representative
Steve Rons

Stryker Digigal Capture High Definition

Stryker's Digital Capture
High Definition equipment.

The Hope for a Cure Foundation donated a powerful new tool to the operating room of Anne Wallace, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery at UCSD. Valued at nearly $28,000, Stryker's Digital Capture High Definition equipment is designed to capture and route high-definition images from their companion camera, allowing Dr. Wallace to record detailed mapping of the duct wall of breast cancer patients in the O.R. The equipment allows Dr. Wallace to document her cases faster and on more types of media. She is also able to record the procedure on CD for evaluation, and to apply this information directly to her research and teaching efforts. Furthermore, by studying the data resulting from these powerful image and data capture tools, Dr. Wallace is hopeful of offering earlier cancer diagnoses.

CHEF-DR II System to the laboratory of Floyd Romesberg, Ph.D. and Jodie Chin, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute

Jodie Chin, Ph.D., with the new
CHEF-DR II system

The Hope for a Cure Foundation delivered a CHEF-DR II system to Floyd Romesberg, Ph.D. and Jodie Chin, Ph.D., at The Scripps Research Institute. They are currently working on DNA sequencing and identifying the proteins involved in the mutation of the cells. Their work is of a preventive nature when dealing with cancer.

Miotic Inverted Microscope with Epifluorescence to the laboratory of Dr. Per Borgstrom, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Per Borgstrom, Ph.D., with the new
Miotic Inverted Microscope

Mikron Instruments delivered a Miotic Inverted Microscope with Epifluorescence to Dr. Per Borgstrom at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. This microscope will aid Dr. Borgstrom in his continued efforts to combat cancer.

363 Fluorescence Detector by Hitachi to the lab of Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons of the UCSD Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center