| | | | Since 1999, the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation has funded breakthrough research to fight gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and increase survivorship. We work in partnership with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, a national leader in the battle to overcome cancer. Our shared goal under the leadership of Director Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD and Director for Cooperative Groups Al Benson III, MD, FACP, FASCO, is to raise awareness and funds to advance life-saving cancer medicine. Since 2001, we have committed nearly $4 million to advancing GI cancer research and patient care. For more information regarding Cancer Research Initiatives, visit eisenbergfoundation.org/cancer-research/ | | |  | Our Cancer Care Packages are designed to help ease the side effects of cancer treatment for newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer patients. Each bag is crafted with love by our Junior Board and includes items like blankets, socks, winter hats, herbal teas, playing cards, anti-nausea lozenges and more. | | | | | |  | Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD
Jesse, Sara, Andrew, Abigail, Benjamin, and Elizabeth Lurie Professor of Oncology Director, Lurie Cancer Center | | |  | Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FASCO
Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) Associate Director, Cooperative Groups, Lurie Cancer Center | | | |  | | | Northwestern Medicine & the Eisenberg Foundation: Advancing Cancer Medicine and Increasing Survivorship | | | | 2023-2024 HAROLD E. EISENBERG FOUNDATION RESEARCH SCHOLARS The research scholar award gives scientists the necessary resources and time needed to ask novel research questions and explore new ideas related to gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. In 2023, the Foundation awarded $50,000 to support the work of Research Scholars Shannon Lauberth, PhD and Hidayatullah Munshi, MD. | | | | Shannon Lauberth, PhD Area of focus: RNA-based therapeutics for treatment of colorectal cancer One of the main surprises stemming from the completion of the human genome project is the diversity and complexity of the RNA molecules present in an individual human cell. Also, there is the unexpected realization that only 1-2% of these RNAs provide the instructions for building functional proteins. The remaining 98-99% consist of noncoding RNAs whose functions remain largely a mystery. Vital support from the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation is providing an opportunity to explore a new class of noncoding RNAs, which we found are specifically produced in human patient colon tumors and colon cancer cell lines. Excitingly, we are now testing small molecules that are targeting and degrading these colon cancer-specific RNAs that have shown promise in reducing colon cancer cell growth. The focus of our research program is to explore these molecular underpinnings and then leverage this knowledge to develop RNA-based therapeutics that will be advantageous in targeting these cancer cell vulnerabilities. | | | | Hidayatullah G. Munshi, MD Area of focus: Enhancing response of KRAS inhibitors in pancreatic cancer Recent excitement in cancer therapeutics is the development of inhibitors against Kras, a key protein involved in driving cancer growth in several different tumor types. There is also interest in combining Kras inhibitors with other therapeutic drugs, including immune-modifying drugs, to enhance anti-tumor responses. The Munshi Lab, with the help of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, is testing several novel combination therapies with Kras inhibitors in pancreatic cancer. Their eventual goal is to advance these combination therapies in clinical trials for patients with pancreatic cancer. | | | | | | | | | | Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation
1460 Techny Road | Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 433-3050 | info@eisenbergfoundation.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
