TED talk on MDS/AML research – by expert Dr A Raza
26 Jan. 2015TED talk on MDS/AML research by expert Dr Azra Raza.
Published on 15 Jan 2015
Cancer research relies heavily on testing drugs in mice — yet it’s clear that for effective treatment, we need to be testing in humans. In an informative talk, oncologist Azra Raza walks us through the challenges of personalized cancer research and offers a potential solution, based on decades of sample collection.
Oncologist Azra Raza is the director of the MDS Center at Columbia, where she moves the latest cancer therapies from theory to practice.
This talk was given on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at TEDxNewYork. The theme was “Grand, Central.” For more information, visit http://tedxnewyork.com or follow http://twitter.com/tedxnewyork.
More news to on fundraising event set up to help research on MDS in the USA:
The Columbia University Medical Center has benefited from a great fundraising concert, to help fund further research into MDS.
Read more here:
http://www.nearnessofyouconcert.org/
“Cancer has either directly or indirectly touched practically everyone. Since the sequencing of the human genome, a host of rapidly evolving technological advances have thrown open exciting new vistas for therapy driven research, with the aim ofcuring several cancers. Thanks to the work of hundreds of thousands of investigators over the last several decades, we are finally witnessing encouraging developments in several types of cancers already.
Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) finds itself at an auspicious moment with the opportunity to dramatically change the course of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) research, treatment and patient care. Every element needed to discover a cure for MDS is here—our ability to perform research with the largest group of patients and tissue samples; the technology and facilities offered by the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC); the capacity to approach every area of patient care; and our access to the best clinical staff in the field. CUMC is eager to capitalize on this rare opportunity to become the leader in MDS care in the country, and the world.”
Performers and Line up:
Hosted by Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman. The Nearness of You Concert in honor of Michael Brecker. Special performers included Paul Simon, James Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Randy Brecker, and Bobby McFerrin.
This further article provided more information about Michael Brecker’s battle with MDS:
http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-paul-simon-and-james-taylor-headline-concert-benefit-cancer-research
“On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bobby McFerrin, and other prominent musicians will honor the memory of their friend and colleague, 15-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Michael Brecker, at “The Nearness of You” benefit concert in New York City.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness are the benefit chairs, and Meredith Viera will serve as master of ceremonies.
Proceeds from the concert will support cancer research at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the work of Azra Raza, MD, and Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, PhD. Dr. Raza is director of the Myelodisplastic Syndromes (MDS) Center at CUMC.
Dr. Mukherjee is a physician and researcher at the MDS Center. In 2011, he won a Pulitzer Prize for The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
In 2004, Brecker was diagnosed with MDS. In need of a bone marrow transplant, he searched in the International Bone Marrow Registry for a match. He failed to find a matching donor, and in 2007 he died at age 57.
As a result of the tens of thousands of people worldwide who registered in an effort to save Brecker’s life, 54 lives were saved when new registrants were perfect matches for others in need.
“When I learned that a cure for MDS will likely provide the key to curing leukemia, I realized there was no better way to honor my husband’s legacy than by raising important funds for research through this benefit concert,” said Brecker’s widow, event producer Susan Brecker.
Partial support of the “The Nearness of You” concert has been provided by Novartis. The concert will be held in The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. General tickets, starting at $200, may be purchased as of Monday, November 17, at The Jazz at Lincoln Center box office, located on the ground floor of the Time Warner Center (Broadway and 60th Street), by Center Charge phone at 212-721-6500, or online at www.jazz.org/events/all/”
This concert helped raise $1.2million dollars – which will help this particular research center to work further on MDS and AML.
Together with all the work done in all international haematology experts centres – research is getting closer to a cure for MDS and AML.
