Director's Message

By Douglas Hixson, PhD

You see things and say "Why?" but I dream things that never were and say "Why Not?" George Bernard Shaw, philosopher

Welcome to the COBRE Center for Cancer Research Development (CCCRD). This Center, the first of its kind in Rhode Island became a reality through the efforts of many talented people. The CCCRD is a dream that has been pursued for over 30 years by Dr. Louis Leone, the founder of cancer treatment in Rhode Island, a colleague and friend who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the dream alive. The mission of the CCCRD is to develop the cancer researchers of the future a rewarding endeavor for everyone involved. To accomplish this mission, the CCCRD will provide promising young investigators access to the wisdom and experience of senior faculty mentors as well as cutting edge technologies in biomedical research that were previously unavailable in Rhode Island. The unique nature of this Center is reflected in our logo, which incorporates the three C's in CCCRD in the form of waves, the largest symbolizing the CCCRD as an important and unique resource for Rhode Island, the Ocean State and the two smaller representing the mentoring relationship between senior and junior faculty.

I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world. Margaret Mead

This is a time of opportunity for Cancer Research in RI. With the a combined $8.4 million dollars provided by Rhode Island Hospital and a grant from National Center for Research Resources to establish a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Cancer Research Development, Rhode Island has for the first time, an NIH/NCRR designated Cancer Center with the expressed purpose of providing new investigators with the guidance, financial support and front line research technologies they need to make the break through discoveries that will lead to improved methods for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

If my doctor told me I only had 6 minutes to live, I wouldn't brood; I'd type a little faster. Isaac Asimov

Why some people are more susceptible to cancer or for that matter, why RI has much higher rates of cancer than the country at large are questions still begging for answers. One fourth of all deaths in Rhode Island are attributed to cancer, with cancers of the colon-rectum, breast, lung and prostate accounting for 55% of all cancers in the State (Cancer Control Program, Rhode Island Department of Health, 1994-1998). This high cancer rate costs the state of Rhode Island an estimated $500 million annually (American Cancer Society), a figure that does not consider the emotional toll and quality of life issues. This high cancer rate is one of the most compelling reasons for more research into the key biochemical events leading to cancer, knowledge that will form the basis for better methods for early detection, diagnosis and treatment. Even with current methods, oncologists have success rates of up to 90% when cancer is treated at an early stage. The troubling cancer statistics in Rhode Island will also require major life style changes and a public awareness of major risk factors such as obesity and smoking, issues being addressed by the Lifespan Center for Behavioral Medicine.

We invite you to browse the CCCRD website and learn more about the researchers and their projects. We encourage you to access the Website frequently for links and new information. Join with our enthusiastic young investigators and their senior faculty mentors as we strive for new knowledge through basic research and its application that will give cancer patients in Rhode Island new weapons and new hope that will conquer their disease.