Diverse Research Part of Breast Cancer Workshop

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Magda El-Shenawee, whose research focuses on the electricity of breast cancer cells, received funding from the National Science Foundation to host the 2010 Advances in Breast Cancer Research Workshop.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Diverse topics such as state-of-the-art research in breast cancer surgery and the application of nanotechnology in breast cancer imaging and treatment will be discussed at the 2010 Advances in Breast Cancer Research Workshop Oct. 26-29 on the University of Arkansas campus.

These topics and other cutting-edge research on breast cancer diagnosis, therapeutic techniques, treatment and screening will be featured. (See below for a complete list of featured speakers.) The intent of the workshop is to inspire collaboration and motivate researchers from radiology, oncology, breast surgery, nuclear medicine, nanotechnology, engineering, biomagnetics, microwave imaging, biochemistry and other fields to discover new treatments for breast cancer.

“There has never been a national workshop like this,” said Magda El-Shenawee, professor of electrical engineering and principal investigator for the conference. “There are several workshops on breast cancer nationwide, but they focus on medical science and usually one topic within medicine. This is the first time that a workshop on this problem has merged experts in medicine, engineering and technology.”

“Our hope is that this workshop will prompt a major step forward in breast cancer research by prompting discussion and an exchange of ideas between experts who don’t normally collaborate,” said Carol Gattis, associate dean of the Honors College and co-principal investigator.

Honors College Associate Dean Carol Gattis worked with Magda El-Shenawee to organize the 2010 Advances in Breast Cancer Research Workshop.  The Honors College partners with faculty across campus to organize workshops and symposia on cutting-edge research.

El-Shenawee and Gattis received a grant from the National Science Foundation to fund the workshop. Additional cosponsors include the office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the College of Engineering and the Honors College.

For more information about the workshop and a schedule of presenters, please visit the 2010 Advances in Breast Cancer Research Workshop website. Podcasts of the presentations will available after the workshop.

October is the national month of breast cancer awareness. Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 207,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women this year and roughly 40,000 women will die from breast cancer. Approximately 54,000 new cases of carcinoma in situ – the non-invasive and earliest form of breast cancer – will also be diagnosed. There are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Featured topics and speakers include:

• Breast surgery and breast surgical oncology – Suzanne Klimberg, professor of surgery and pathology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

• Nanotechnology – Lily Yang, professor of surgery and radiology; Emory University School of Medicine.

• Oncology, physiology and biophysics – Robert Clarke, professor of oncology, physiology and biophysics; Georgetown University.

• Magnetic resonance imaging – Steven Harms, clinical professor; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

• Diffuse optical tomography – Arjun Yodh, professor of physics and astronomy; University of Pennsylvania.

• Bioengineering and biophysics – John Wikswo, professor of biomedical engineering, molecular physiology and biophysics, physics and astronomy; Vanderbilt University.

• Microwave imaging – Paul Meaney, professor of engineering; Dartmouth College.

• Nuclear medicine – Michael Borrelli, director of radiology research; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

• National Institutes of Health funding opportunities – Tracy Lively, associate chief of the Diagnostics Evaluation Branch of the Cancer Diagnosis Program; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.

• National Science Foundation funding opportunities – Theresa Good, program director of the Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering, CBET Division; National Science Foundation.

• Stress and breast cancer – Ro DiBrezzo, professor of kinesiology; University of Arkansas.