Mission: Discovery
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MISSION: DISCOVERY 20131 When we hear that a loved Along with these great new collaborations, we are proud one has been diagnosed with of the many honors that our faculty and staff members cancer, our first question often have received in 2013. Last fall, nine of our researchers is, what kind of treatment will were honored at the ninth annual Inventors Recognition they receive? In the past, that Reception sponsored by the Purdue Research Foundation. was often a relatively simple They were among 45 Purdue University faculty and staff question for physicians to whose discoveries were patented during the 2012-2013 answer, given the one-size-fits- fiscal year. You can read about them on p. 5. all approach to cancer care. R. Graham Cooks, the Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished But increasingly, there are Professor of Chemistry, received the 2013 Dreyfus more individualized options for treatment, thanks to the Prize in Chemical Sciences for his innovations in mass work of researchers like those right here at the Purdue spectrometry and analytical chemistry. His research has University Center for Cancer Research. As one of seven already led to clinical trials for tumor detection in the basic science centers in the United States, we make unique operating room. discoveries that help us understand how cancers form, and we partner with clinicians to turn our findings into new Philip S. Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor diagnostics, monitoring tools and therapies for patients. of Chemistry and inaugural director of the Center for Drug Discovery, was honored with the August M. Watanabe Life Increasing the university’s capacity to translate basic Sciences Champion of the Year Award from BioCrossroads. research into life-changing treatments is, in fact, one Low has guided the discovery and development of seven initiative of Purdue Moves, a series of 10 targeted drugs that are currently in human clinical trials for imaging programs designed to enhance research and educational and therapy of various cancers. opportunities for students and broaden Purdue’s global impact. As part of the initiative, we will be working with And Teasa Thompson — who launched our ACT leaders of the new Purdue University Center for Drug (Affecting Cancer Together) program, which encourages Discovery to share findings and ensure a unified, efficient prevention and early detection of cancer among targeted progression of research. communities in Indiana — received a Cancer Control Champion award from the Indiana Cancer Consortium. At the other end of the cancer research spectrum — prevention — I am pleased to report that members of the Inside are many more success stories of our talented International Breast Cancer and Nutrition Project, affiliated faculty and staff members. Enjoy reading about our with our Breast Cancer Discovery Group, convened progress in the past year, and take pride in knowing you’ve in Saumur, France, last fall for an extended think tank helped make our discoveries possible. meeting. Twenty-five leaders from eight countries came together to detail recommendations for cancer prevention and for the future of international primary cancer prevention research. Dr. Timothy L. Ratliff Robert Wallace Miller Director Purdue University Center for Cancer Research WELCOME 3 PURDUE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CANCER RESEARCH FACULTY MEMBERS BY DEPARTMENT Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1 Animal Sciences: 1 NCI-DESIGNATED Veterinary- CANCER CENTER Comparative Pathobiology: 6 Biochemistry: 10 NCI-designated cancer Veterinary- centers are characterized Clinical by scientific excellence and Sciences: 5 the capability to integrate Veterinary- a diversity of research Basic Medical approaches to focus on the Sciences: 8 problem of cancer. Pharmacy: 1 Physics: 1 The National Cancer Institute currently has 68 Nutrition designated cancer centers, Science: 6 Biological Sciences: 18 seven of which conduct laboratory research only and do not provide patient Medicinal Chemistry & care, including the Purdue Molecular Pharmacology: 14 University Center for Cancer Chemistry: 13 Biomedical Research. Engineering: 2 Chemical Engineering: 1 Health Sciences: 4 Mechanical Engineering: 1 Electrical Industrial Human & Computer and Physical Development Engineering: 1 Pharmacy: 1 & Family Studies: 1 4 METRICS Purdue Research Foundation hosted its ninth annual Richard A. Gibbs, Associate Dean for Inventors Recognition Reception last fall to honor 54 Graduate Programs, Professor, Department Purdue University faculty and staff whose discoveries were of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular patented during the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Among those Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy Purdue faculty and staff recognized were nine members of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research. Congratulations to these members for their continuing Philip S. Low, Ralph C. Corley scientific advances: Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Richard F. Borch, Lilly Distinguished Science; director, Purdue Center for Drug Professor and Head, Department of Discovery Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy David D. Nolte, Professor, Department of Physics, College of Science R. Graham Cooks, the Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science Fred E. Regnier, John H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Stanton B. Gelvin, Edwin Umbarger Emeritus, Department of Chemistry, Distinguished Professor of Biology, College of Science Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science J. Paul Robinson, SVM Professor of Cytomics, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine; Arun K. Ghosh, Ian P. Rothwell professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Engineering, College of Engineering Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, and Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy HONORS 5 96elite scientists collaborating with experts researchers9 worldwide to make with discoveries discoveries patented last year clinical trials active based on Purdue’s basic cancer 14 research departments on campus, driving research further than 19 one could alone 5discovery groups with an expansive years37 of cancer focus on research various types of cancer 7 How do the But Freeman and chemicals you’re her team aren’t exposed to every just interested in day in your studying the effects of those chemicals on environment affect adults. They want to your health and understand the impacts your chances of the chemicals have on getting cancer? children and work to That’s the question cut down the risk of at the heart of cancer later in life. research by Jennifer “Most of our studies Freeman. are focused on early “I believe this is a very developmental important problem in exposures since this public health,” Freeman is one of the most says. “There is a great sensitive life stages,” lack of knowledge on if Freeman says. and how the large number of environmental chemicals in “We study the immediate effects of the developmental which we are exposed everyday may influence cancer and exposure and the potential impacts from this other diseases.” developmental exposure later in life.” Once Freeman and her team at the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research identify a potential problem with those environmental chemicals, the researchers work to determine the molecular mechanisms by which the adverse health effects are occurring. “Once we understand the underlying molecular components, we can use our research to identify the best treatment options for patients with various types of “There is a great lack of knowledge cancer,” Freeman says. on if and how the large number of “We can also apply our research to cancer prevention, environmental chemicals in which we to help people avoid exposure to chemicals that may contribute to cancer development.” are exposed everyday may influence cancer and other diseases.” JENNIFER FREEMAN 8 Cancer steals and human versions loved ones away of InvTCC have very — not only our similar cellular and family members molecular features, biologic behaviors, and friends but and responses to our companion therapy, breakthroughs animals, too. Dr. in treating pets with Debbie Knapp InvTCC could benefit wants to save both humans as well. as co-director of the Purdue Most deaths from InvTCC are caused by University College tumors that can’t be of Veterinary removed. One of the Medicine’s new drugs which could Comparative offer hope is tubulysin Oncology Program. B, but only if it can destroy cancer cells “In my job, I get to help the dogs, help the dogs’ families without damaging healthy ones in the process. and learn something that helps people,” says Knapp, a veterinary medical oncologist and the Dolores L. Knapp and her team are collaborating with Phillip Low, McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology. “That is a Purdue’s Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of tremendously exciting thing to do.” Chemistry, whose laboratory has pioneered the use of folate in targeted cancer treatment. Certain cancers can Consider, for instance, a particular kind of bladder cancer take up much more folate than normal cells, and folate known as invasive transitional cell carcinoma (InvTCC), can guide drugs into the cancer, while not harming other which kills more than 14,000 people and an estimated organs. Knapp’s team is evaluating tubulysin paired to 20,000 dogs annually in the United States.