VCC-LCCRO Juckett Scholar and Pilot Project
Awards Announced

Yvonne Janssen-Heininger, Ph.D., professor of pathology at the UVM College of Medicine and Vermont Cancer Center (VCC), has been named the 2010 Juckett Scholar for her project entitled "c-Jun N Terminal Kinase EMT and Lung Cancer."

The two-year, $75,000 award is funded by the Lake Champlain Cancer Research Organization (LCCRO) in memory of its founder, the philanthropist J. Walter Juckett, and his commitment to the support and funding of the important work of cancer researchers.

Janssen-Heininger's project will build on her current National Institutes of Health-funded work on the role of Jun-N-terminal-kinase 1 (JNK1), a protein kinase involved in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. The Juckett award will investigate the contribution of JNK1 to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 (TGF-Beta1) in vitro and in vivo. Dr. Janssen-Heininger will explore whether JNK1 enhances lung tumor development by promoting EMT through the repression of a microRNA (miRNA) that sustains epithelial gene expression. She will also investigate whether the removal of JNK1 from cells helps protect mouse models from an oncogenic signaling pathway involving Ras, which is known to be important in the development of human lung cancer.

The following VCC researchers received one-year, $50,000 Pilot Project Awards, also funded by the LCCRO:

Alan Howe, Ph.D., UVM associate professor of pharmacology, will be developing "Intermolecular Epitope Antibodies for Visualizing Subcellular Protein Complexes." His work will involve the development of a novel approach for determining the subcellular localization of specific, endogenous protein-protein complexes. Howe will focus on those antibodies that reflect alterations in the tumor microenvironment in order to facilitate a better understanding of signaling networks that influence the development and progression of cancer.

Karen Lounsbury, Ph.D., UVM professor of pharmacology, will research "Threonyl tRNA Synthetase Modulation of Angiogenesis and Ovarian Cancer Progression through Regulation of von Hippel Lindau Tumor Suppressor." Lounsbury will collaborate with VCC scientists Christopher Francklyn, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and microbiology and molecular genetics, and Cheung Wong, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology. The study will investigate a new connection between environmental stress and growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) through an enzyme that regulates protein metabolism. Inhibitors of this enzyme will further be tested for their potential as anti-angiogenic agents to reduce growth of ovarian and other tumors.

Mercedes Rincón, Ph.D., UVM professor of medicine, also received a Bridge Award for her study, "Role of DNA JC15/MCJ Co-chaperone in Breast Cancer Therapy," which will extend her research on the role of MCJ (methylation-controlled J protein), in a variety of experimental settings, such as breast cancer cells in vitro, mouse mammary tumor models, and human breast tumor samples. Rincón's aim is to evaluate the effect of treatment with chemotherapeutic agents on the emergence of drug resistance associated with MCJ expression.

Wedding Favors For Cancer Research

John and Melissa Drye had been to "a million weddings" that gave out items like mints or candles for favors. They were determined to do something different for their own nuptials. When a friend told Melissa that she'd seen the VCC ad in Vermont Vows magazine she knew it would be the right way to honor their guests while directly benefiting a great cause.

"The guests loved the favors. They thought that it was such a generous and thoughtful way to honor them," said Melissa.

Although neither John nor Melissa has been directly touched by cancer in their circle of close friends and family, Melissa has gotten to know many cancer patients through her job as a pharmacy technician, and both are committed to helping others in need. The new couple's generosity will go directly to support cancer research, education, prevention and care at VCC. For more information about this program call 802-656-8519.

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