Research
Meet the researchers who met with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden
When First Lady of the United States Jill Biden, Ed.D., visited Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center on Wednesday, she met with several scientists about advancements in preventing, detecting and treating cancer and the importance of addressing cancer disparities.
Abundance of iron drives cell death and could be key to development of novel treatments for neuroblastoma
Anthony Faber, Ph.D., and a team of researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center were awarded a grant from the American Cancer Society to study how MYCN and an abundance of iron can drive cancer cell death in neuroblastoma and potentially be targeted with novel treatments. This award is the first part of a potential two-stage grant worth a combined total of $600,000.
VCU technology could upend DNA sequencing for diagnosing certain DNA mutations
Doctors are increasingly using genetic signatures to diagnose diseases and determine the best course of care, but using DNA sequencing and other techniques to detect genomic rearrangements remains costly or limited in capabilities. However, an innovative breakthrough developed by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Department of Physics promises to diagnose DNA rearrangement mutations at a fraction of the cost with improved accuracy.
VCUarts and Massey Cancer Center win Hamilton International Arts in Health Award
Last year, 12 patients in the Supportive Care Clinic at VCU Massey Cancer Center stepped inside a conference room, donned motion sensors and engaged in a facilitated life review, acting out various parts of their lives through a virtual avatar displayed on a projection screen. Recently, the unique collaboration between researchers at VCUarts and Massey’s Palliative Care Program was recognized with a tie for first place in the 2nd Annual Hamilton International Arts in Health Awards from the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH).
Study shows the experimental drug AR-12 could be a promising COVID-19 treatment
A team of scientists led by Paul Dent, Ph.D., at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center has discovered that an experimental cancer drug called AR-12 inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, from infecting cells and replicating. Their findings were published online today in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology, and steps are now being taken to develop a clinical trial testing the novel oral treatment at VCU Health.