MMRF Senior Research Awards
fund important discoveries
Dr. Nizar Bahlis, University of Calgary,
Dr. Alan Lichtenstein, Brentwood
of these myeloma cells and develop new
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Biomedical Research Institute,
treatment strategies based on inhibition
Dr. Bahlis’s work will investigate how
Los Angeles, CA
of the function of these novel targets.
myeloma cells become resistant to
Dr. Lichtenstein will examine the
the IMiDs class of drugs (Thalidomid,®
sensitivity of cells to inhibitors which
Revlimid,® Pomalyst®). He has analyzed
target the RNA of the c-myc gene, called
the genome of myeloma cells resistant
IRES, which is induced in myeloma cells
to IMiDs and identified several potential
as a survival mechanism when treated
mechanisms to explain this resistance.
with Velcade® (bortezomib). Inhibition
In this proposal he intends to study these
of this IRES RNA may offer new
mechanisms with the aim to develop novel
treatment strategies for patients who
therapeutics to overcome them.
develop Velcade (bortezomib) resistance.
Dr. Esteban Ballestar, Bellvitge
Dr. Robert Orlowski, University of
of increased tumor cell survival, drug
Biomedical Research Institute,
Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center,
resistance, and poor prognosis. This grant
Barcelona, Spain
Houston, TX
will enable a continuation of that work,
Dr. Ballestar is interested in under-
Dr. Orlowski’s work will focus on
wherein he will examine the exact role of
standing the epigenetic mechanism of
high-risk patients whose myeloma
NEK2 in promoting tumor cell survival
DNA methylation as it relates to myeloma
cells harbor the 17p deletion and p53
and also the impact of NEK2 inhibitors
cells and the cells of bone formation
loss. Using shRNA technology, he will
in preventing relapse.
(osteoblasts) and bone resorption
identify genes necessary for the survival
Dr. Fenghuang Zhan, University
of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Dr. Zhan has already identified gene
NEK2 as upregulated in myeloma
cells of patients achieving Complete
Remission (CR) and early relapse of
multiple myeloma, and found it plays a
role in increasing the genomic instability
of myeloma cells, which is a hallmark
(osteoclasts) during the process of bone
destruction that often accompanies
myeloma. He will investigate the
In 2015, the MMRF funded $1,375,000 in Senior Research and
possibility of using methylation as a
Research Fellow Awards. The MMRF acknowledges generous
marker for myeloma bone disease status
and response to drugs.
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contributions from Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech,
Millennium, Onyx, Celgene, and Novartis in support of the awards.
T HE MMRF.ORG