California Foundation with Maine Connection Supports Leukemia Research at The Jackson Laboratory

Date: April 20, 2004

Bar Harbor, Maine–The Linda Tallen and David Paul Kane Foundation for Cancer Research and Education has made a $74,520 contribution to help support a leukemia researcher at The Jackson Laboratory, Shaoguang Li, M.D., Ph.D. This is the Foundation's first gift to support a scientist in the state of Maine.

This gift will support Dr. Li in his efforts to identify the signaling pathways required for the development of leukemia, and to test therapies directed against the disease.

Dr. Li summarized his research goals as follows: "Cancer is different in every tissue. That is why we treat each cancer differently. But there are some general pathways--signaling pathways--that cancers have in common. If we can understand those pathways, we can fight cancer more effectively. This grant will help my laboratory to pursue that goal." Dr. Li began work at The Jackson Laboratory in 2001.

Three years ago, the Novartis pharmaceutical company introduced Gleevec as the first of a new class of drugs known as "small molecule kinase inhibitors," which proved effective against one phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In the May issue of the international journal Nature Genetics, Dr. Li's team announces that they have identified another kinase inhibitor that blocks B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)--the predominant type of leukemia children contract--and that, when combined with Gleevec, may provide more effective treatment in later phases of CML.

The Tallen/Kane Foundation focuses on cancer research and education. Geraldine Wolf, of Portland, serves as an active trustee of the Los Angeles-based Foundation.

Ms. Wolf commented, "It was a pleasure for our board to vote to support this research. Dr. Li is passionate about the work he is doing, and we have great confidence that his work will yield long-term benefits to cancer treatment."

Jackson Laboratory Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D., noted, "This generous gift attests to the Linda Tallen and David Paul Kane Foundation's dedication to understanding the root causes of leukemia and other cancers. Dr. Li's laboratory is studying basic questions that will have far-reaching impact. We are most grateful for this support."

The Jackson Laboratory, founded in 1929, is a world leader in mammalian genetics research. With more than 1,300 employees, the nonprofit, independent facility has a mission to improve the quality of human health through discoveries arising from its own genetics research and by enabling the research and education of others.

Contact(s): Joyce Peterson, 207-288-6058

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