Positive IRL news on the control and curing of diseases that used to be fatal, fast- is always welcome in our inbox and social media feeds!!!!!
One of the most promising updates we got recently-was from a summary of a keynote-delivered by Samuel Waxman -a renown physician-with a mission- at the 2019 Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) Breakthroughs Scientific Symposium.
Specifically-the Waxman Foundation-with a mandate to fund + collaborate global research to develop novel therapeutics to treat cancers -informed attendees about recent efforts "... based on new understandings of epigenetic and genetic mechanisms associated with cancer development and progression, how cancer cells become dormant or reawaken to spread through metastasis, successes in treating childhood leukemia and the role bacteria may play in pancreatic cancer"
Another SWCRF foundation partnership -with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) "...to spearhead research focused on understanding the links between aging and cancer..." is timely---given the fact that the elderly American population is booming-with baby boomers.
“We know that the incidences of cancer increase with age but what we need to understand is what underlying mechanisms associated with aging happen at the cellular level to cause the development of cancer. The partnership among the SWCRF, NCI and NIA is furthering research in aging and cancer that historically has fallen behind,” said Dr. Waxman.
Another upbeat occasion-was a fundraiser for the Cooley Anemia Foundation -with "... a mission to increase life expectancy and enhance the quality of life for those impacted by Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder."
Besides a fabulous flotilla of fire boats on the Hudson River (thank-you FDNY)-and the "Park Slope South" native -host of the evening-the actress Debi Mazar...setting a festive mood...the event honored Robert Ficarra, a founding member of the Thalassemia International Foundation (TIF).(Humanitarian of the Year), and Maria Hadjidemetriou, (Patient Recognition Award recipient).
The advances in finding a way to better manage this disease versus the current requirement of bi-weekly blood transfusions(!!!!) apparently is very promising.
Interesting also-as Thalassemia is related to other genetic diseases like-Sickle Cell Anemia and Tay-Sachs...and any scientific advances would benefit all with these diseases.
INFO: https://www.thalassemia.org