|
“One Force” Dedicated to Making a Difference
Although they don’t work in a laboratory or conduct clinical trials, Fifth District members of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association (AHEPA) and Daughters of Penelope have contributed greatly to advance cancer research at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The AHEPA Fifth District Cancer Research Foundation, through the fundraising efforts of their volunteer Board of Trustees, has awarded CINJ scientists $157,000 in cancer research grants since 1993.
Andrew Zachariades, chair of the foundation, said, “It is incumbent upon all of us to help those in need. None of us are untouched by cancer. We all know someone who has been touched by the disease, be it family, friend or acquaintance. We choose to support CINJ because the compassion and quality of care they offer their patients and families, combined with the integrity of their research, makes CINJ the premier Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of New Jersey.”
AHEPA Fifth District Cancer Research Foundation Members at their recent visit to CINJ for a check presentation and tour. From left: Andrew C. Zachariades, CINJ’s Dr. John Glod, Robin Papagiannis, Zenon Christodoulou, and Chris Sevast.
In March, AHEPA presented John Glod, MD, PhD, pediatric hematologist/oncologist at CINJ, with his latest grant to continue studying the role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in brain tumor growth. MSCs are cells that reside in the bone marrow, are present in circulation, and make up the outer connective tissue of a solid tumor. Specifically, the grant will support research to determine whether the interaction of MSCs with other cell types in the brain tumor environment changes the production of regulatory proteins known as cytokines, which are responsible for mediating an immune response between cells. Dr. Glod’s team will explore whether such interaction would ultimately affect cell communications with the immune system.
Glod, who is also an assistant professor of pediatrics and pharmacology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, notes, “Brain tumors are the most common pediatric solid cancer. Over the past five years, AHEPA’s funding has provided our team the ability to identify factors contributing to brain tumor growth and demonstrate findings that move us closer to answers to this devastating illness for children and families.”
