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UGA Receives Cancer Grant Web posted Thursday, September 18, 2003 By Ross Markman - Morris News Service ATHENS, Ga. - A team of seven scientists at the University of Georgia recently received a five-year, $6.7 million grant for cancer research. Michael Pierce, the group's leader, said the grant allows the researchers to experiment with treatments for various cancers and Parkinson's disease. "It's clear now that a lot of really critical disease processes involve changes in the complex carbohydrates," Dr. Pierce, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, said Wednesday. "This grant will allow us to investigate that. "Almost every cancer is treatable if it's found early enough." Gordhan Patel, UGA's vice president for research and the associate provost, said a grant of such magnitude is significant, especially during this year's budget crunch. The $6.7 million is the largest grant the university has ever received for cancer research. "What is special about this grant is they're looking at complex carbohydrates, which is a novel way to look at the cancer issue," Dr. Patel said. "This is a very ambitious project." In the long-term, the grant is a step toward an ultimate goal for UGA scientists - forming a comprehensive cancer center. Nationwide, 39 such centers exist, the closest one at Emory University in Atlanta, Dr. Pierce said. When the National Cancer Institute designates a university as a comprehensive center, that university can conduct a higher level of experimental research, Dr. Pierce said. Efforts to create such a center already are under way, as scientists at UGA and the Medical College of Georgia have submitted a proposal for $69 million in state money. UGA and MCG are joined by 27 surrounding counties to form the East Georgia Cancer Network, whose mission is to boost cancer research efforts. The network is part of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, a statewide web of people and organizations established three years ago by then-Gov. Roy Barnes. The bulk of cancer coalition money is expected to come from the state's share of a 1998 legal settlement by major U.S. tobacco companies. The companies agreed to compensate several states for medical costs associated with smoking-related disease, such as cancer. Dr. Pierce fears the state budget shortfall might keep the money out of university hands. "I think it's going to come down to using the money to offset the budget shortfall or using it for cancer research," he said. --From the Friday, September 19, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle SOURCE: The Augusta Chronicle, GA http://www.augustachronicle.com/stories/091903/met_082-1467.002.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn