With the mission to save lives, leading academic researchers, clinicians, and Canary Foundation partners converge at Stanford University to discuss early cancer detection progress and research SAN JOSE, Calif., May 15
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than half a
million Americans die from cancer each year, and the best chance to reduce
these numbers is through early detection and intervention. The Canary
Foundation, the world's first nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the
funding, discovery and development of tests for early cancer detection, will
host its annual Early Detection Symposium from May 20-22, 2008 at the Frances
C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Close to 200 members of the extended Canary Foundation Network, including
leading scientists, doctors, engineers, and computer scientists from academia
and industry will meet and share their successes, challenges, and visions for
the field of early detection of cancer.
This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that 1.4 million
new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States. Identifying early
stage cancers will save lives. Survival rates improve dramatically - up to 90
percent - when cancer is diagnosed early, but the gap in funding and research
for late stage disease and early detection is wide. Today, less than 15
percent of research funding goes to early detection.
The Canary Foundation's goal is to deliver early detection tests for solid
tumor cancers by 2015. Imagine a day when screening for cancer will become as
common as tests for cholesterol. A simple blood test and then isolating the
tumor with imaging will allow doctors to intervene early enough to
dramatically increase the chance of a full recovery with minimal side effects.
Canary Foundation Early Detection Symposium
Covering topics from discovery to marketplace, the Symposium is focused on
building strategies for the discovery, validation, translation, approval and
dissemination of efficient, cost-effective tests for early cancer detection.
This year's Symposium attendees and speakers will feature world-renowned
scientists, academic researchers and clinicians, as well as Canary
Foundation's commercial and foundational partners. Session panels include
ovarian cancer screening, biomarker discovery, molecular imaging and updates
on Canary's investments towards early detection of ovarian, lung, prostate,
and pancreatic cancer. Highlights include:
-- Dr. John Niederhuber, director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI),
will deliver the keynote address and speak on early detection
investment at the NCI. Niederhuber oversees the nation's public
investments and policy decisions in all cancer research, including
early detection.
-- Dr. Leland Hartwell, Nobel Laureate and director of Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center, will provide an overview of the global
investment in early detection.
-- Dr. Ian Jacobs, Director of University College of London (UCL)
Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre and of UCL's Institute for
Women's Health, will discuss lessons learned from the UK Collaborative
Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening. The study began in 2000 and is
expected to take 10 years to complete. The study has involved over
200,000 women from 12 collaborating centers in the UK.
"The Early Detection Symposium is a place to share ideas, trends, progress
and achievements in early cancer detection," said Don Listwin, founder and
chairman of Canary Foundation. "There's a lot of work ahead of us, but
through events like this we hope to foster further collaboration with partners
and research institutions, which is crucial to reaching the end goal of
delivering effective early detection diagnostic tools."
With 100 percent of donations going into early detection research
activities, Canary Foundation has raised over $27.9 million since 2004 and
committed $15.4 million to early detection research.
Registration, Conference agenda information
The conference is an invitation only event. To obtain more information on
registration and the program agenda for the Early Detection Symposium, please
visit http://www.canaryfoundation.org/symposium-08.cfm/.
Canary Foundation Early Detection Symposium
Canary Foundation's Early Detection Symposium is a three-day conference
that brings together members of the extended Canary Foundation Network,
including leading academic researchers, clinicians, and partners. This event
is held to foster the exchange of research results and ideas in early cancer
detection. The symposium will be held at Stanford University from May 20-22,
2008. For more information, please visit:
http://www.canaryfoundation.org/symposium-08.cfm.
About Canary Foundation
Canary Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the goal of identifying
cancer early through a simple blood test and then isolating it with imaging.
Since 2004, Canary has raised over $27.9 million and committed $15.4 million
to early detection research. Its collaborative research programs span multiple
disciplines and institutions. 100% of donations go to early detection research
activities. For more information, please visit
http://www.canaryfoundation.org.
SOURCE Canary Foundation
