Hope for a Cure Foundation - Achieved Goals

Goal #5

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.

Our most recent 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.

Goal #4

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.

Goal #3

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.

Stryker Digigal Capture High Definition
Stryker's Digital Capture
High Definition equipment.

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

Goal #2

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.

Goal #1

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.