Research Interest in Asbestos-Related Cancer Intensifies

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Wednesday, 8 October 2003

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Grants Attract Largest Field Ever

Few Americans, other than those directly affected, have heard of mesothelioma. When the asbestos-related cancer does make news, it usually is grim. The cancer was mentioned in some reports of the death of popular singer-songwriter Warren Zevon one month ago. It also is the subject of recent reports that the EPA was pressured to downplay the risk created by the tons of asbestos exploded into Manhattan's air on 9/11.

Recently the Senate has focused on the litigation problem caused by mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. But even the Senate has ignored the fundamental human problem -- that the incidence of mesothelioma is increasing but research to develop effective treatments lags far behind most other cancers, and most mesothelioma patients still face extreme suffering and then death after less than 18 months.

Fighting this pessimistic background, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF), the national nonprofit organization whose mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease, issued a message of hope today. In its fourth year of stimulating critically needed mesothelioma research through its competitive grant program, MARF has attracted a record number of applications.

"We have been seeing a steady increase in the number and quality of applications we receive each year," says MARF Executive Director Christopher Hahn, "and last year we received a superb pool of ten applications. This year though, we received an astounding twenty-five applications, and the scientific experts reviewing them are reporting that they are very high quality."

According to Hahn, the twenty-five applications come from prestigious centers in the U.S. and six other countries. Applicants include senior mesothelioma researchers, as well as young investigators, newly attracted to the field. The proposals apply to mesothelioma many of the most exciting concepts current in cancer research generally, including gene therapy and immunotherapy. They include studies of the basic make-up of mesothelioma cancer cells, in order to develop new biological markers and molecular targeted therapies. And they include attempts to improve the effectiveness of existing treatments and monitoring methods specific to mesothelioma.

MARF's Science Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Harvey Pass believes the increased interest in mesothelioma research results from two factors. "In the past few years, small but significant breakthroughs have shown that mesothelioma can be treated. Thus, the hopelessness that for decades surrounded this disease is starting to break down, and the new optimism is bringing more researchers into the field. During this time, MARF has built a rigorous, scientific peer-reviewed grant program that consistently supports high quality mesothelioma treatment research. This support is also attracting more research interest."

According to Hahn, this much needed surge presents a challenge to MARF, as the only national organization devoted to funding mesothelioma research. "As in years past, we are budgeted to fund two research projects this year. But twenty-five researchers have stepped forward with novel, promising ideas to improve mesothelioma treatment. They invested hours developing and testing these ideas, obtaining the preliminary data to support them, and then presenting them to MARF in detailed written form. If we turn twenty-three of these researchers away, will they come back next year, or will they turn their research toward other cancers where funding is more available? For the sake of current and future mesothelioma patients, desperately seeking hope of successful treatment, it is up to MARF to support these researchers.

For more information, contact MARF Executive Director Christopher Hahn at 805-560-8942, c-hahn@marf.org.

For more information, or to contact Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, see their website at: www.marf.org