tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12363338127422534082024-03-24T16:32:25.017-07:00Keeping the Women we Love HealthySharing the latest information on women's health news and researchThe Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-6683228395638824102019-05-06T08:48:00.000-07:002019-05-08T08:58:32.565-07:00How have you been? What are you up to? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can you believe that it’s been almost 25 years since we started awarding research scholarships to undergraduate research students?<br />
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Many are witnesses of the Howell Foundations growth: Our Board of Directors, Advisory and Legacy Councils, friends and especially our donors help us make sure awareness of the need for women’s health research continues to grow.<br />
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Most importantly, <i>you</i> have been an integral part of our mission to “Keep the women we love healthy.” We are extremely proud of your strive in the field of women’s health. We are encouraged by your dedication and commitment. Every time we see your publications, or we have the opportunity to follow your career, or we have you as a guest speaker at our events, our work to keep the women we love healthy comes full circle.<br />
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As you may know, we lost our beloved Dr. Howell in 2018. Now, more than ever, we are committed to keeping her legacy of care alive, specifically in the area of women’s health research. We are dedicating 2019 to the life of this remarkable woman, with a series of testimonials about how her dedication impacted our community.<br />
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As we approach our 25th anniversary, we are revamping our digital efforts. Your work is instrumental in this wonderful story; a story in which women’s health is properly addressed with factual research that includes women. We need your help to move the Howell Foundation to greater heights in the next 25 years so that more scholarships can be given to train the next generations. Will you?<br />
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Let us know what you are up to. We would certainly love to hear from you, and if you allow it, boast about all your accomplishments through our promotional material (blog, web, newsletters, etc.). <b><a href="mailto:northrupcarolyn@gmail.com" target="_blank">If you are interested, please contact me</a>. </b>(For those of you who have received a Howell Scholarship or grant in the past 5 years, yes, I am the lady that has been driving you crazy with the click of the camera!).<br />
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Please let me know:<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How did the Howell Scholarship influence your life?<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What is your current top priority in women’s health?<br />
•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can you send a picture?<br />
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If you have a moment, follow us on our Facebook and Linked In pages. I hope to hear from you soon and have the opportunity to connect!<br />
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Thank you!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping the women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Awarding undergraduate research scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Presenting the latest medical research findings at our events and t hrough our Speaker Service progam, where experts and researchers convey timely timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Funding research initiatives geared towards improving the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. </span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ### </span> </li>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-42390142784577266722019-04-17T13:41:00.001-07:002019-04-19T11:30:41.034-07:00The work of the Doris Howell Foundation to address the need for women's health research. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The question is why are we passionate about women's health research?<br />
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<b>The need. </b><br />
Women are not small men. The exclusion of female subjects in current research efforts may result in the misdiagnosis and consequently, erroneous medical treatment of women. In the era of personalized medicine, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach on the basis of results from male research subjects places women at a higher health risk. We seek to end the bias at a research level.<br />
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<b>What we do: </b></h4>
The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is dedicated to making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is THE premier organization advancing women’s health research.<br />
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To that extent, the organization:<br />
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Scholarships/Default.aspx"><span style="text-align: center;">Funds unique undergraduate </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">research scholarships </span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Scholarships/Default.aspx"><span style="text-align: center;">and </span><span style="text-align: center;">graduate nursing </span></a><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Scholarships/Default.aspx">research grants </a></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">to scientists researching </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7DlmLGcns0zdLWfXeksPM21loYyu2b6SnxEphrgjaEaStn2RAls4rEZ5psssLNEbrs2-wQ9kt5llu8ATZppT8smxEN04GaiOopkVedml3_qh8SZEOGlF1P7XGiVrtufykNFOQj1JzB8X/s1600/speakership_203936074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7DlmLGcns0zdLWfXeksPM21loYyu2b6SnxEphrgjaEaStn2RAls4rEZ5psssLNEbrs2-wQ9kt5llu8ATZppT8smxEN04GaiOopkVedml3_qh8SZEOGlF1P7XGiVrtufykNFOQj1JzB8X/s200/speakership_203936074.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">Presents the latest medical research </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">findings at our events </a>and through </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmSOfn4LPEW7AX0ckRgvKO6HklxpHokoTpK1h8COgSBqDUrkzOhDVqvM0bKLP2NYB98SuTuhAGSXdeg4d33XAVYBLdF4OjsnE6Y9BjHexEae8S8HkXFNpJwoATQt_Ou9mSSM-x6yKtb6_/s1600/Latino+Family_98814044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmSOfn4LPEW7AX0ckRgvKO6HklxpHokoTpK1h8COgSBqDUrkzOhDVqvM0bKLP2NYB98SuTuhAGSXdeg4d33XAVYBLdF4OjsnE6Y9BjHexEae8S8HkXFNpJwoATQt_Ou9mSSM-x6yKtb6_/s200/Latino+Family_98814044.jpg" width="200" /></span></a>our Speaker Service program, where </div>
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experts and researchers convey timely </div>
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information on topics relevant to women’s </div>
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health and the health of their families. </div>
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Community-Engagement.aspx">Funds research initiatives </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Community-Engagement.aspx">that improve the health of </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Community-Engagement.aspx">under-served women </a>and </div>
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advocacy in the community.<br />
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A core belief of The Howell Foundation is that women are usually the nucleus for their families' health. We bring awareness of the need for women's health research to "Keep the Women We Love Healthy". By informing women to be catalysts for their health and the health of their families, we can make a difference in our community.<br />
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<b>What can <i>you</i> do to <i>Keep the Women you Love Healthy</i>?</b><br />
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<b>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b><b>Don't miss our next educational event. <a href="http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation2&fm=1">Register today!</a> </b><a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">Learn about the latest</a> findings in women’s health first hand from prominent researchers and spread the word on the importance of women’s health.<br />
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Friday, May 10, 2019 - "Why Palliative Medicine Must Become Mainstream"</div>
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Guest Speaker: Daniel Hoefer, MD </div>
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<b>ABOUT THE SPEAKER:</b></div>
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Dr. Daniel Hoefer is Chief Medical Officer, Outpatient Palliative Care Program at Sharp Healthcare. Dr. Hoefer is board certified in both family medicine and palliative care. He has been in practice since 1993 and provides care out of his Sharp Rees-Stealy El Cajon office. His practice focuses on chronic pain management, COPD, end-of-life care and more.</div>
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<b> •<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Become a Friend of Howell. </b><a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Giving/Default.aspx"> <b>Your donation can help us achieve BIG things</b>,</a> among them, helping emerging undergraduate and post graduate scholars further their knowledge on women’s health. You help make a difference! Personal pledges from generous individual donors like you are the lifeblood of our organization as they help us achieve our mission of "Keeping the Women We Love Healthy."<br />
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<b>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Donate on behalf of your organization. </b> Women and men in your company or foundation will have the opportunity to learn more about the health of the women in their lives. <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Giving/Corporation-And-Foundation.aspx">Corporations and Foundations</a> in San Diego are committed to community involvement and strong corporate citizenship.<br />
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<b>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have us over. </b>Get up close and personal with experts in the field of women’s health research. <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Speakers-Service.aspx">The Howell Speakers Service</a> extends the Howell Foundation’s educational mission into corporations and nonprofit organizations. Friends of Howell have the opportunity to listen to the latest research affecting women’s health today<br />
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<b>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Support a researcher</b>. It’s about <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Community-Engagement.aspx">making our community healthy.</a> The Howell Foundation made a commitment to develop partnerships with academic and community-based organizations to support programs that improve quality of life in San Diego communities where health disparities are prevalent.<br />
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<b>•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Consider us in your planned giving efforts.</b> Celebrate the life and legacy of the women and men who mean the most to you. If you would like to continue your legacy through education and research on women’s health, then please consider us in your planned giving efforts. Explore the giving alternatives that best serve your goals and needs by contacting Brad Benter h<a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Giving/Planned-Giving.aspx">ere</a>.<br />
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Health is a gift. Don't take it for granted. <b><a href="http://www.prestodonate.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation&fm=1">Donate TODAY</a></b> to help <b><i>Keep the Women we Love Healthy! </i></b><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-4314267290555744362019-04-04T09:36:00.000-07:002019-04-04T09:52:37.046-07:00And the winner is...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS0fMfAEM7_5fi9JmbBKkswiNiHBLbFgIhaYwVVfWoUOt3w6JqlDE0pQitn8EUDP8ivkDD-BQM9UB82tNJoUEE3Ci6bXr2tDwj5Y6Sh8LwGybZa5Ys7rpadD7WZcrMX3pFs1E8WtINKPs/s1600/Pitch+Contest+Winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS0fMfAEM7_5fi9JmbBKkswiNiHBLbFgIhaYwVVfWoUOt3w6JqlDE0pQitn8EUDP8ivkDD-BQM9UB82tNJoUEE3Ci6bXr2tDwj5Y6Sh8LwGybZa5Ys7rpadD7WZcrMX3pFs1E8WtINKPs/s400/Pitch+Contest+Winner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pictured Above: Dr. Brooke Emerling, winner of the <br />Howell Fast Pitch Contest Award; Kathleen <br />Franklin, Howell Foundation Board Member; <br />and Dr. Carole Banka, former Howell Foundation Board <br />Member and Fast Pitch judge. </span></td></tr>
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Actually, we all are winners when it comes to learning about the latest research in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). <br />
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While efforts have reduced mortality rates by more than a third, the work in finding the cure has doubled. There are currently more than 150,000 women living with stage IV metastasized breast cancer in the US.<br />
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The Susan G. Komen Foundation held it second Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference in March, where patients, providers and researchers came together to paint a picture of the current status and advancements in treatments for MBC. Moderated by Farideh Z. Bischoff, Ph.D and CEO of FreMon Scientific, the program included presentations from a panel of experts in the field:<br />
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<li>Keith Wilner MD, Executive Director of Oncology at Pfizer, </li>
<li>Svasti Haricharan, Ph.D, Assistant Professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Susan G. Komen Researcher, and </li>
<li>Rebecca Shatsky, MD, Breast Cancer Medical Oncologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Moores Cancer Center at UCSD. </li>
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The program concludes with keynote speaker Tarane Sondoozi, Psy.D, CEAP, who discussed her journey to breast cancer recovery. She is Employee Assistant Provider at Scripps Health.<br />
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A first in the Conference was the ‘fast-pitch contest’, an opportunity for researchers to present current research projects in metastatic breast cancer for the opportunity to win $1000 to help fund their research efforts. Dr. Carole Banka, Ph.D., who has published research on breast cancer metastasis and has collaborated with the Howell Foundation for over 12 years, represented the Howell Foundation as one of the judges for the event.<br />
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As part of the <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/">Howell Foundation’</a>s guiding principle, the organization supports research efforts that benefit women in the community. “We’ve been entrusted to provide our vision and experience in advancing women’s health through research, an item that clearly aligns with the Howell Foundation’s mission to advance women’s health. It was certainly an honor to be asked to participate in an event such as the one held by the Susan G. Komen Foundation”, comments Kathleen Franklin, immediate past Co-Chair of the Howell Foundation and breast cancer survivor.<br />
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“I am encouraged by the accomplished researchers that presented at the fast pitch competition. The originality of their research programs suggests that one day –sooner rather than later— researchers will find the cure(s) for this terrible disease. It was a challenging task to determine the winner, as all the pitches were fantastic!” comments Dr. Banka. After much discussion among the judges, the panel chose to award the $1,000, donated by the Howell Foundation, to Brooke M. Emerling, Ph.D. “As a representative of the Howell Foundation, I congratulate you, Brooke, for your wonderful work.”<br />
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<b>About Brooke M. Emerling, Ph.D </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBCFHLaRtOl6lS64e30E7BArzSKwFDoiMJP2CpmcXUuVO7sN9UpAmhJEhAFB3-jYY9-ApKlCDP7i-ulK3lsY8oaLCNlcICY67qA3rxJ-jpJfjZlB8X6dxi3OfQ3bOOwMXB1lppbrcmNCF/s1600/Dr.+Emerling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="389" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBCFHLaRtOl6lS64e30E7BArzSKwFDoiMJP2CpmcXUuVO7sN9UpAmhJEhAFB3-jYY9-ApKlCDP7i-ulK3lsY8oaLCNlcICY67qA3rxJ-jpJfjZlB8X6dxi3OfQ3bOOwMXB1lppbrcmNCF/s320/Dr.+Emerling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Brooke Emerling, Ph.D</span></td></tr>
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Dr. Emerling received her BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her Ph.D. from Northwestern University. As a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Navdeep Chandel, Brooke identified and characterized novel signaling pathways that regulate the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1. Upon completion of her Ph.D, Brooke joined the laboratory of Lewis Cantley at Harvard Medical School. There she discovered that the loss of function of PI5P4K enzymes resulted in synthetic lethality with p53 loss and began to elucidate the role of the PI5P4K enzymes in cancer metabolism. After she completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Brooke became an Instructor of Cancer Biology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine where she continued her research on lipid kinase signaling and cancer metabolism. In August 2016, Brooke joined the faculty at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute as an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Signaling Networks Program.<br />
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You can read more about her exciting journey researching breast cancer <a href="https://www.emerlinglab.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<b>Current Research Background</b><br />
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also referred to as stage IV or advanced breast cancer, is largely an incurable disease. The standard of care for MBC patients is restricted to a complex management of symptoms and is often hindered by the development of therapy resistance. In the US, 154,000 women currently live with MBC.<br />
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Novel treatment strategies targeting specific cancer pathways of invasion and metastasis are paramount to improving the outcomes for women with MBC. Breast cancer metastasis is a complex multistep process, in which each step represents a significant barrier to metastatic progression, the most formidable being the foreign microenvironment to which disseminated cancer cells must adapt.<br />
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How tumor cells overcome these barriers during metastasis is critical for successful dissemination and yet remains a poorly understood process. One of the fundamental hallmarks of cancer is the reprogramming of cellular metabolism to promote tumor cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Moreover, breast cancer cells display unique metabolic signatures depending on metastatic site. Understanding the metabolic co-dependencies of metastatic breast cancer cells with their local microenvironments may reveal potential vulnerabilities suitable for therapeutic targeting.<br />
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<b>The Emerling Lab focus </b><br />
On her work, Dr. Emerling comments: “Our research focuses on a novel family of enzymes/proteins that are essential metabolic regulators and are required for the growth and metastasis of MBC cells, in particular cells with mutant p53.<br />
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The tumor suppressor p53 – ‘guardian of the genome’ and most frequently mutated gene in all cancer particular in aggressive tumors like triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Unfortunately, it has also been difficult to directly target p53 with drugs. Therefore, targeting our proteins is extremely attractive for MBC patients, in particular patients with a p53 mutation.<br />
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Our laboratory uses a variety of complex model systems, including genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) which gives us the unique ability to study breast tumor initiation, maintenance and metastasis in a living organism with an intact immune system.<br />
Our proteins are exciting ‘druggable’ targets and our research will guide future drug discovery endeavors targeting the tumor microenvironment and metastasis in MBC.<br />
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My goal and dream is to have drugs in the near future targeting these proteins in the clinic for MBC patients which will ultimately bring change and reduce MBC mortality.”<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ###</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping the women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Awarding undergraduate research scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Presenting the latest medical research findings at our events and t hrough our Speaker Service progam, where experts and researchers convey timely timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Funding research initiatives geared towards improving the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. </span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ### </span> </li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, Ph.D, with information provided by the keynote speakers and fast pitch contest winner, Brooke Emerling, Ph.D </span><br />
<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-88765196916977295052019-03-20T10:23:00.000-07:002019-04-09T16:06:23.241-07:00Exercise your brain, it’s a muscle! How Ruth Curran brings brain health awareness to the Howell Foundation. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0855OzCPTAe0SxBYNIk1r74xp3TCLn1ICVhuy1xqQk31sUNh-M596uIXPvjKGeGzE_nmhDE4MHo10JiDpRDjLpy3tDgAaVTo8pxBN9xeFL7FXUb6cKV7we05EicSCfniIqyaVqe5ifTd/s1600/Brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1431" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0855OzCPTAe0SxBYNIk1r74xp3TCLn1ICVhuy1xqQk31sUNh-M596uIXPvjKGeGzE_nmhDE4MHo10JiDpRDjLpy3tDgAaVTo8pxBN9xeFL7FXUb6cKV7we05EicSCfniIqyaVqe5ifTd/s320/Brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Actually, no, it is not (good try mom!). Even though the complexities of how the brain functions have not been fully discovered, exercising it should be part of our daily routine. Just ask author, speaker and recent addition to the Howell Board of Directors, Ruth Curran, MS.<br />
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When I heard of all the incredible work Ruth has done throughout her career, the first thing that came to mind was <i>“Brainiac.”</i> No, not the supervillain, superman-hating enemy in the comic books, more like an exceptionally -intelligent- woman kind of brainiac.<br />
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Ruth, a Master in Science, suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2004 in a car accident. With a very particular perspective on life, she focused on the restoration of her cognitive capabilities by studying, writing and developing methods to improve her brain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDMNTgarDwgg6sLRbkmg51VlzvMYKTstbYxf9jJNIsh08smVmIxikc-NM4Ozvlv53V6THW5uGUrHn5Wuo3NF64kqzVDn2D7L3bORMIZPOsPhI31nNyU1oMeT94o1GkDWzj0jBaN_Q54VN/s1600/Ruth+Curran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="360" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDMNTgarDwgg6sLRbkmg51VlzvMYKTstbYxf9jJNIsh08smVmIxikc-NM4Ozvlv53V6THW5uGUrHn5Wuo3NF64kqzVDn2D7L3bORMIZPOsPhI31nNyU1oMeT94o1GkDWzj0jBaN_Q54VN/s320/Ruth+Curran.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On this path to recovery and becoming herself again -- and with much frustration in between-- she became very interested in the connection between the brain and her daily activities. She started designing a series of games and puzzles as part of her healing process, brilliantly called <a href="http://www.craniumcrunches.com/">Cranium Crunches</a>. She is the author of the book, <a href="http://www.rollingmulliganpublishing.com/index.html">Being Brain Healthy</a> where she presents the “B’s” of brain health: “Be self-aware, Be active, Be social, Be engaged, Be purposeful, Be complicated (thank you!) ... Be powerful” <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1)</span>. She co-authored <a href="https://www.delmartimes.net/art/books/sd-cm-nc-brain-author-20170705-htmlstory.html">An Insider’s Guide to the Injured Brain</a> with Mary Lanzavecchia, a workbook for survivors and those who support them.<br />
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According to the CDC, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability in the United States, contributing to about 30% of all injury deaths. Commonly called concussions, the effects of suffering one can include impaired thinking or memory, movement, sensation (e.g., vision or hearing), or emotional functioning (e.g., personality changes, depression). These issues not only affect individuals but can have lasting effects on families and communities. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2)</span><br />
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“We all, at one time in our lives, will face a change in brain function whether is part of an injury, disease, stroke, aging, trauma, stress, or exhaustion. Building a deeper understanding by seeing challenges through a different lens makes us more compassionate with others and ourselves.” Ruth has a master's degree in counseling psychology and joins the Doris A. Howell Foundation with 28 years of experience as a strategist, business development executive, and organizational behaviorist in the for-profit, not-for-profit, and governmental sectors.<br />
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She has shared many life experiences from her volunteer services, traveling around to literally help the world. You can read her <a href="http://www.craniumcrunches.com/bepurposeful/inspiration-history-independence-the-message-of-one-charismatic-women/">“Travel with a Purpose”</a> blog and quickly realize that living a meaningful life to her will always include the improving the lives of others, not only improve her brain. Ruth fell in love with <a href="https://globalvolunteers.org/">Global Volunteers</a>’ mission and vision five years ago as a volunteer on a service program to St. Lucia. She went on to serve in Tanzania on the Reaching Children’s Potential Project and she is now the Director of Partnerships and Development for the organization. “Volunteering fueled my passion and that passion fueled me on my journey to where I am today.”<br />
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Ruth is a speaker specializing in the area of healthy brains and aging. Utilizing the games she developed, her presentations teach audiences how to use the power of music, food, and laughter to lead a brain-healthy life.<br />
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“Funding science that supports women’s health hits so many of my personal core values. Serving on the Howell Foundation Board helps me live another huge piece of my life long passion for scientific research and women’s empowerment.” Her journey to brain health has been an inspiration to many, with a very valuable lesson: Life’s unexpected changes can lead you to a wonderful new path of discovery.<br />
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Welcome to the Board Ruth! We are certainly looking forward to our exciting path together!<br />
<br />
###<br />
<br />
The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping the women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is the premier organization advancing women’s health. The organization does so by:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li> Awarding undergraduate research scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health; </li>
<li>Presenting the latest medical research findings at our events and through our Speaker Service program, where experts and researchers convey timely timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families, </li>
<li>Funding research initiatives geared towards improving the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ### </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Ruth Curran, MS. with information provided by the following sources:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>http://www.rollingmulliganpublishing.com/the-path.html</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html</span><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-60493146354512844982019-03-08T11:14:00.003-08:002019-03-28T08:33:07.989-07:00It's all about celebrating the women and men who ensure women’s equality in scientific research, health and education. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5oamJg8rAYgAMZbl8YNlT1t5M-73sp2zEQ96yp5Ii8UZbAzne154Iq-aR3Hlx-VLbbR5tpWYT6f6rYyZA8aTloEfoQpbQQETzLKAMf8B7iXIgZSE-mT2wOpIsbVEDgEYqxC__v4lZJcC/s320/shutterstock_128399450.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
Much of the knowledge about diseases, treatment, and drug development are based on research results of male subjects, ignoring the possibility of gender differences and inferring that what works for men will work for women as well. Applying results of clinical studies that include only men affects women adversely. Even though there has been a significant growth in health research regarding key differences between men and women, women are still underrepresented in many research areas.<br />
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The Howell Foundation's key initiatives are focused on guaranteeing an emphasis on all areas of research that may affect women’s health, promoting the need for further women’s health research, avoiding research bias by addressing the backlog of research efforts that include women, and ensuring that all the progress in research is integrated in educational publications and information sources available to our community.<br />
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It has only been a little over 25 years since the National
Institutes of Health <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1">Revitalization
Act of 1993</a></span> that mandated the inclusion of women and minorities as
subjects in all federally funded clinical research and related outreach,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and established of the Office of
Research on Women’s Health.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shortly thereafter, the Doris A. Howell Foundation was
established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, the Howell
Community continues to make serious strides in eliminating gender bias in research. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So on this march 8<sup>th</sup>, we want to celebrate all of
us who are committed to “Keeping the Women we Love Healthy”. Because, after
all, “how many of us have wives, how many of us have daughters, how many of us
have sisters? And we all have mothers...” It takes a community to help them
stay healthy, as Dr. Howell would say. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We recognize the efforts of our academic partners who are
committed to advancing women’s health through education, ensuring our guiding
principle of “keeping the women we love healthy.” The advancement of education
is the cornerstone that guarantees women receive the care based on research
tailored to them.</div>
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We are proud of all our past and present scholars who made the decision to
pursue a career in science and medicine, emphasizing study and research in the area of
women’s health. Today, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2017/06/autism-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-hiv.html">undergraduate
scientists from UCSD</a></span>, and the California State University system through <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-results-are-in-how-howell.html">C-SUPERB</a></span>
are on their way to pursuing a career in science, or are <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2015/10/celebrating-our-scholars.html">already
there</a></span> and continue to thrive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We applaud the Ph.D. nursing candidates from USD’s Hahn
School of Nursing who are <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/10/advances-in-breast-cancer-research-in.html">on their way to becoming leaders</a></span> in the community they take care for and have moved the standards of care for our families forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We celebrate the CEI <a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/12/howell-foundation-addresses-influence.html">scientists who partner with community organizations</a> in their efforts to further research involving under served or at risk women in the San Diego community. They not only conduct valuable studies, but educate underrepresented women as well. </div>
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We especially acknowledge the donors who make all of our research awards possible. Be it a "Friend" donation, a scholarship donation, or something in between, YOU make all of this research and education possible. We thank you! </div>
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We have learned from over 100 physicians and researchers who convey timely information on <a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/10/advances-in-breast-cancer-research-in.html">topics relevant to women’s health</a> and the health of their families. Translating novel research findings for the public empowers women to become their own best health care advocates. </div>
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We honor our co-conspirators, <a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2015/12/dedicated-women-coming-together-to-work.html">Soroptimist International of La Jolla</a>, who recognized the efforts of Dr. Doris Howell by establishing the
Foundation in her name. To this day, many members of Soroptimist continue to
support the advancement of women’s health through their donations to the Foundation and
participation on our Board of Directors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And we most certainly
are very thankful to our fellow past and present Board members, volunteers and administrator
who, with their talent and experience, are moving the need for women’s health research
to the forefront of women’s health care. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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On this International Women's day, we celebrate the life of <a href="https://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/12/unable-are-loved-to-die-for-love-is.html">Dr. Doris A. Howell</a>, whose
relentless work in making sure women had the same research rights as men has
led to significant awareness in our community; a woman who continues inspiring
all of us to pursue women’s health equality through research and education even
though she is no longer with us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We, all of us, ARE the Doris A. Howell Foundation for
Women’s Health Research! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>###<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">A</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">bout the Foundation: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The mission of the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's
Health Research is to make a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. We
strive to become THE premier organization advancing women’s health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by funding undergraduate research
scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues
affecting women’s health; presenting the latest medical research findings at
our events and through our Speaker Service program, where experts, scientists,
doctors, authors and researchers to convey timely information on topics
relevant to women’s health and the health of their families; and by funding
research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase
awareness and advocacy in the community. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-1035460810307477032019-03-01T13:50:00.000-08:002019-03-06T18:53:07.571-08:00The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research to Support Komen’s Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference this Month<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYbfmCR5ShR1Ppk3LDYWkFtxEfI_09QU8SG9z60QDX8J_wTN5Kem88FIVqor5FyrLxC50SrOoSJr6c7ECVl5GhGcM3fi-ormFrlfiv82BPH7ZNW6BisaFSRJlkoC-DiUhvjLl0RoNNWnE/s1600/Breast+Cancer+Komen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYbfmCR5ShR1Ppk3LDYWkFtxEfI_09QU8SG9z60QDX8J_wTN5Kem88FIVqor5FyrLxC50SrOoSJr6c7ECVl5GhGcM3fi-ormFrlfiv82BPH7ZNW6BisaFSRJlkoC-DiUhvjLl0RoNNWnE/s1600/Breast+Cancer+Komen.jpg" /></a></ul>
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<br />
<br />
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<ul>
<li>Scientists to present emerging research in Metastatic Breast Cancer </li>
<li>Howell Foundation to be a part of the panel of judges for research proposals at the event </li>
</ul>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundation will be participating in the Komen Foundation’s conference ‘Concept to Cure: The Process from Research to Market and Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer’. The event will focus on the latest advances in metastatic breast cancer treatments, clinical trials, patient support and national issues for metastatic/stage IV breast cancer (MBC). The conference will host approximately 150 participants – including patients, families, supporters and the medical community, according to the organization’s information.<br />
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As a part of the program, one of the break-out sessions will include ‘research pitches’ to a panel of judges from scientists regarding their latest work in metastatic breast cancer for a chance to win a $1,000 award provided by the Howell Foundation. Dr. Carole Banka, Ph.D., who has published research on breast cancer metastasis and has served on the Howell Foundation Board for over 12 years, will be the Foundation’s representative on the panel.<br />
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“It speaks volumes when the Susan G. Komen Foundation invites you to participate in a community event such as the Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference,” comments Kathleen Franklin, immediate past Co-Chair of the Howell Foundation and breast cancer survivor. “As part of the Howell Foundation’s guiding principle, the Howell Foundation supports research efforts that benefit the community; especially when statistics from the Komen Foundation show that in San Diego County, one in six women are diagnosed with breast cancer per day, with one woman losing the battle to this devastating disease every day. We’ve been entrusted to provide our vision and experience in advancing women’s health through research, an item that clearly aligns with the Howell Foundation’s mission to advance women’s health. What an honor!”<br />
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It is not the first time that the Howell Foundation has directly supported women’s health research in the community. Just last year, the organization held an outreach event that invited women to join ‘The WISDOM Study’; the largest clinical trial conducting research according to personalized standards of screening technologies for breast cancer. The organization's participation in the Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference not only continues to bring the latest advances of breast cancer research in our community, but aligns with its mission to <i><b>'keep the women we love healthy'.</b></i><br />
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“What is very exciting to us at the Howell Foundation is the possibility of having these talented scientists use the research results and continue to bigger research projects that benefit women in the community”, comments Carolyn Northrup, Chair of the organization’s Communications Committee. “Our participation in the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference is just an example of our efforts to advance women’s health. After all, this IS what the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is all about!” she concluded.<br />
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The event will take place March 5th 2019, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. For more information about the event, visit the Komen Foundation website at http://www.komensandiego.org<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</b> Since 1995, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is THE premier organization advancing women’s health research. The organization does so by funding undergraduate and postgraduate research scholarships and grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through our outreach events, funding and supporting research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>About the Susan G. Komen Foundation:</b> Since early 1995, Susan G. Komen® San Diego has grown into the trusted organization in San Diego County providing breast cancer services from screening through treatment. Our mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Our bold goal is to cut the current number of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. in half by 2026. Seventy-five percent of the over $19 million raised to date has been invested here in San Diego County to provide services and support including free mammograms, diagnostic services, patient navigation, care-coordination, meal assistance, education and temporary financial assistance. The remaining twenty-five percent has funded international breast cancer research. Next to the U.S. government, Susan G. Komen is the largest non-profit funder of breast cancer research in the world. </span><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-80439271426563620492019-03-01T10:50:00.001-08:002019-03-01T10:50:37.759-08:00The Hello’s of the Howell Foundation: Meet Carol Tuggey<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIhEgJr8uOUIK1-WkI5WP3jthD9ZbExMCiDvMup_n4p3MfkDX_JP9BYms7VmzYdLchStv1MrRUqVeQ23BXAAjrT5zT8AhZrNytD3dZ60YFaXcfmpYhqQZeCL1P_C2a596LH-yomH1BxKe/s1600/Carol+Tuggey+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="292" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIhEgJr8uOUIK1-WkI5WP3jthD9ZbExMCiDvMup_n4p3MfkDX_JP9BYms7VmzYdLchStv1MrRUqVeQ23BXAAjrT5zT8AhZrNytD3dZ60YFaXcfmpYhqQZeCL1P_C2a596LH-yomH1BxKe/s400/Carol+Tuggey+Pic.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Carol Tuggey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2019 Howell Foundation Vice-Chair </span></td></tr>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research warmly welcomes Carol Tuggey as its new Board Vice-Chair. She brings many years of experience in the area of non-profit board management, and was instrumental in supporting the creation of the Doris A. Howell Foundation through Soroptimist International of La Jolla back in 1995.<br />
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Kathleen Franklin, who will be stepping down as Co-Chair, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors in support of the initiatives of the Foundation. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the opportunity I had serve as Co-Chair for the Foundation. During my transition year, I will be working closely with the Executive Committee to ensure that we highlight the importance of women’s health research and promoting our guiding principle of “keeping the women we love healthy”, comments Kathleen “I am looking forward to working towards a successful succession plan for our organization and especially working with Carol during 2019”<br />
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Kathleen Franklin has been very involved in the development and implementation of policy. Her long time tenure at the Howell Foundation is very valuable, and we will continue to benefit from her experience.<br />
We are also very excited and looking forward to the exchange of ideas with Carol, who is not new to the organization’s work in advancing women’s health research.<br />
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Carol Tuggey has been part of the Board since 2010, and was instrumental in setting up the Howell Foundation in 1995. “In my business career, as the former CEO of Tuggey Interior Design, the visual was always important, even central, to the completion of a successful project”, comments Carol. Carolyn Northrup, Communications Chair for the Foundation comments: “We are at a crucial point at the Foundation, and having a good eye for design translates into making sure that all the elements in the revision of our plans, in the ideation of our campaigns, in the events we plan have that balance that allows to communicate the importance of women’s health research. By keeping those who really new Dr. Howell’s principle of ‘Keeping the Women we Love Healthy’ close to us, we can make sure that those who come after us can ensure her legacy keeps on living for years to come.”<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">From Carol Tuggey: “I am pleased to have the chance to work with the Howell Foundation and encourage all of our worldwide friends and neighbors to become better informed on the need for women’s health research and better able to thrive!”</span></blockquote>
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“My background is not in science but in the world of business and design. I come to the Board of the Howell Foundation seeing what I have always thought was important: the chance to help us all to increase our awareness and education on the way to healthy and lifelong empowerment.<br />
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I met Dr. Doris Howell while she was teaching and leading at the UCSD School of Medicine. She was an incredible woman with foresight and warmth and caring. I was impressed with her courage and accomplishments in a time that women did not have much support in professions. She had pioneered the hospice movement and also led young doctors to see themselves in terms of their patients and also as a part of their communities. She encouraged me to put myself into her scientific world with a community emphasis, to work with others to bring health issues out of a classroom and lab and into the workplace and the public discussion.<br />
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I was a Past President of Soroptimist International of La Jolla, the local part of a global organization of business and professional women. I encouraged Doris to join us in a community service campaign. That grew into many projects and finally into the creation of The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research in 1995. Although I have not been in every battle, I feel that the effort to start the foundation and to help it grow in the community is one of the things of which I am most proud.<br />
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Now that I am working on the development and growth of the Howell Foundation, I see that our visual education is a part of our whole education as healthy people. We must see what is happening around us and also see the opportunities that we have to make things better. Since there has been an emphasis on women’s health, there has been much more research that uses female subjects and seeks to investigate how women and girls are affected by conditions both good and bad. When our foundation offers undergraduate students the financial opportunity to do research, we encourage both scientists and women in general to benefit. When scholars are involved in publishing the work of their lab, they gain experience and also show the accomplishment of the research goal. The community benefits. We all benefit.<br />
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Our Community Engagement Initiatives and Nursing Grants similarly act in the community as ways to make us aware of issues and possible treatments that were not studied in the same way in the past. We are reminded that women everywhere have many of the same difficulties, and that they are not limited to women. Outreach into the community is important as we seek to encourage healthy lives and healthy opportunities.”<br />
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Welcome on Board (pun intended!) We at the Foundation are privileged to have you.<br />
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
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For the past 24 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health research and education.<br />
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The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. </div>
The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-1885432669818567372019-03-01T08:16:00.000-08:002019-05-11T09:09:43.063-07:00Bringing women’s health to the forefront: meet the Howell-CSUPERB 2019 Scholars. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDXnRzgtxuqyaCk4hlZsK6QP4HxuATrERxnDSocWtJvpRBnoBt3zQJuPuvbEIG8SR3bfj2TaKy8FZYc_BNwlbvLvfdAJXnBz4LMRwXnanP8qY6YDe-vu0MP1Qu7R6_M3rTAynOEsO1wzo/s1600/CSUPERB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDXnRzgtxuqyaCk4hlZsK6QP4HxuATrERxnDSocWtJvpRBnoBt3zQJuPuvbEIG8SR3bfj2TaKy8FZYc_BNwlbvLvfdAJXnBz4LMRwXnanP8qY6YDe-vu0MP1Qu7R6_M3rTAynOEsO1wzo/s640/CSUPERB.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Donors and Board Members are not only proud, but inspired by the research topics of all our scholars. Dr. Howell’s reasoning behind setting up the Howell Undergraduate Scholarship program was to get young scientists excited about a career in women’s health. As a pediatric oncologist, she realized that women were taking care of everyone in their family but themselves.<br />
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As best stated by Susan Baxter, Executive Director, California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEmRbcScx0OCw9rbn0-xKdAXKoKaw-nkC1ShevSbdf6ez74QtpUnUlcBy27QkDejZcDL5E9FDu3P2y5KpBQExbl2g4MXvEHXNQspY-yO6hftf9FABlt0v4CjsZVrtknC5mPKh9ieAUcz1/s1600/Susan+Baxter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="276" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEmRbcScx0OCw9rbn0-xKdAXKoKaw-nkC1ShevSbdf6ez74QtpUnUlcBy27QkDejZcDL5E9FDu3P2y5KpBQExbl2g4MXvEHXNQspY-yO6hftf9FABlt0v4CjsZVrtknC5mPKh9ieAUcz1/s200/Susan+Baxter.jpg" width="187" /></a>“The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's health was one of the first nonprofits nationwide that supported undergraduate researchers. We've been very grateful for our partnership. Together, the Howell Foundation and CSUPERB have given $855,000 in awards to 200 students since 2001; the great majority, 87% of them, graduate and go on to apply successfully for medical school, graduate school or work in the bio medical field.”<br />
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We had the opportunity of meeting three of the 12 Howell-CSUPERB scholars at the first Howell Luncheon of the year: Danielle Reynolds, Jeniffer Sih and Ashley Schwartz.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc-a8qKk2877QJLMsIvp8Wm3_uVkwDJOIiOsbcQmOvpj9yYDXBzgyXQUUknb67p0Ekpao0R6HHdIQ5SM6Hlm-fAb2aAlV48cOfXAzAVbq8jQVzEw5bik3aiaSR4hBz9gnIzFlYS6afIHB/s1600/Jeniffer+Sih+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="496" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc-a8qKk2877QJLMsIvp8Wm3_uVkwDJOIiOsbcQmOvpj9yYDXBzgyXQUUknb67p0Ekpao0R6HHdIQ5SM6Hlm-fAb2aAlV48cOfXAzAVbq8jQVzEw5bik3aiaSR4hBz9gnIzFlYS6afIHB/s200/Jeniffer+Sih+.JPG" width="163" /></a></div>
With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affecting roughly one in 500 individuals, Jennifer Sih's project <b><i>“Determining the crystal structure of two human MYH7 myosin mutations causative of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy”</i></b> is focused on the gene mutation of a major protein involved in muscle contraction and relaxation in the heart.<br />
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“I'm a fourth year cell and molecular biology major at San Diego State and I'm currently working at the <a href="https://bernstein-lab.sdsu.edu/" target="_blank">Bernstein Lab at SDSU</a>. I did want to start by thanking everyone and the Foundation. This has been such an exciting opportunity to grow as a student, as a researcher and as a person. I was actually born with a cardiomyopathy and received a heart transplant at the age of 16. So it's very meaningful to me that you're interested in doing this research. And I'm so excited to see how this project will unfold. Thank you so much for your support. This has truly been an experience I'll cherish forever.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOshmgWPpQV63KkqDe22dOsSGxfED2ao47ZVvcxiWeEKiLJWJW8FBkRPJkJbCdiuvBFdCJUMcgn_pf4MlJnrtI8fZVgWfKkOY_-iLab8MHwhHG_QV8DVO7EcJ_b2tLEPGjMIQ5kDp_MDk/s1600/Dannielle+reynolds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1404" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOshmgWPpQV63KkqDe22dOsSGxfED2ao47ZVvcxiWeEKiLJWJW8FBkRPJkJbCdiuvBFdCJUMcgn_pf4MlJnrtI8fZVgWfKkOY_-iLab8MHwhHG_QV8DVO7EcJ_b2tLEPGjMIQ5kDp_MDk/s200/Dannielle+reynolds.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
“My name is Danny Reynolds and I'm a fourth year biology student at San Diego State University. I began volunteering at the <a href="http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/Pub/glembotski/people.html" target="_blank">Glembotski Cardiology Laboratory</a> about two years ago. He is ultimately the one who introduced me to this opportunity. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the Doris A. Howell Foundation as well as the Fleet Family for supporting undergraduate students like us in our academic pursuits. I know that every one of these projects will just buy it near and dear our hearts in regard to women’s health, and so I'm extremely thankful to have this opportunity to see what progress can be made in the field.<br />
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Her research project <b><i>"The Protective Role of ATF6 under Stress Conditions Caused by Pregnancy and Childbirth"</i></b> will focus on exploring potential avenues for therapies that would decrease mortality of expecting mothers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy01aqaJFkKWGNSl2v7D2gjS9mtvP0si8RSLjhgvm8J4ux5mlV12zpujnYjMZkyTk24NZufz9B3KV2m-Ry-ZYpuXvkaipCctQJyuuS3xpwaTeAdXQned2KzLOJYpxT3hTb2P0AogNS3_kh/s1600/Judy+%2526+Ashley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1600" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy01aqaJFkKWGNSl2v7D2gjS9mtvP0si8RSLjhgvm8J4ux5mlV12zpujnYjMZkyTk24NZufz9B3KV2m-Ry-ZYpuXvkaipCctQJyuuS3xpwaTeAdXQned2KzLOJYpxT3hTb2P0AogNS3_kh/s200/Judy+%2526+Ashley.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Ashley Schwartz is an applied mathematics teacher. “I do want to say thank you so much to the Howell Foundation and to Mrs. Judy White. This has an amazing opportunity for me. When I first started doing research, I never thought it would really impact my life as much as it has. Being given the opportunity has really changed the direction that I foresee my future career going.”<br />
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Her research project <b><i>“Mathematical and computational models analyzing the effect of common toxins on embryonic development in the zebrafish model” </i></b>will be focusing on creating computational models that will enable and automate the analysis of toxins responsible for over or under development deformities of the organs in our body. “I'm really excited about the implications of <a href="https://ugeorge.sdsu.edu/?page_id=2" target="_blank">my project</a> and how these chemicals could negatively affect the health in embryonic development in humans.”<br />
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Congratulations to all the Howell – CSUPERB Scholars! We wish you nothing but success. Please do let us know the results of your research.<br />
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Rebeca Almeida (Public Health & Ethnic Studies, Cal Poly , San Luis Obispo)<br />
<b><i>“Mammographic Breast Density and Acculturation: Looking at Chinese Immigrants.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Marilyn Tseng, Kinesiology & Public Health<br />
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Autumn Barker (Biology, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)<br />
<b><i>“Effect on Lactobacillus on Escherichia coli biofilm formation.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Alejandra Yep, Biological Sciences<br />
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Jan Cajulao (Microbiology, San Francisco State University)<br />
<b><i>“Friends or Foes - the Effect of Probiotic Microbiota on Group B Streptococcus.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Lily Chen, Biology<br />
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Samantha Crawford (Biochemistry, San Diego State University)<br />
<b><i>“Novel Detection of Biomarkers of Breast Cancer using Microfluidics and Nonlinear Multi-photon laser wave-mixing detection.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: William Tong, Chemistry and Biochemistry<br />
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Martey Haw (Biology, San José State University)<br />
<b><i>“Molecular Analysis of Metastasis in Cancer Cells with Increased Intracellular pH.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Bree Grillo-Hill, Biological Sciences<br />
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Emmanuelle Issa (Mathematics, California State University, Fresno)<br />
<b><i>“MUC16 Specific Antibody Treatment of Ovarian Cancer.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Cory Brooks, Chemistry<br />
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Katia Niño (Biology, California State University, Fullerton)<br />
“<b><i>Quantification and Dynamic Mapping of the Aminoglycoside Resistance Protein AAC(6')-Ib.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Marcelo Tolmasky, Biological Sciences<br />
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Danielle Reynolds (Biology, San Diego State University)<br />
<b><i>“The Protective Role of ATF6 Under Stress Conditions Caused by Pregnancy and Childbirth.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Chris Glembotski, Biology<br />
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Ashley Schwartz (Mathematics, San Diego State University)<br />
<b><i>“Mathematical and Computational Models Analyzing the Effect of Common Toxins on Embryonic Development in the Zebrafish Model.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Uduak George, Mathematics and Statistics<br />
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Khadija Shafiq (Biotechnology, Cal Poly, Pomona)<br />
<b><i>“Evaluating gD3pep Liposomal Vaccines Containing Different Adjuvants in an Intravaginal HSV-1 Mouse Model.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Jill Adler-Moore, Biology<br />
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Jennifer Sih (Biology, San Diego State University)<br />
<b><i>“Determining the Crystal Structure of two Human MYH7 Myosin Mutations causative of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Sanford Bernstein, Biology<br />
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Kara Zeman (Biochemistry, California State University, Sacramento)<br />
“<b><i>Optimization of the Synthesis of Octavalent Glycodendrimers as Anti-HIV Agents.”</i></b><br />
Mentor: Katherine McReynolds, Chemistry<br />
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No doubt in our minds about the importance of taking care of our health. It is a gift. Don’t take it for granted.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping the women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Awarding undergraduate research scholarships and graduate nursing research grants to scientists researching issues affecting women’s health, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Presenting the latest medical research findings at our events and t hrough our Speaker Service progam, where experts and researchers convey timely timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Funding research initiatives geared towards improving the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ### </span> </li>
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-25766523248109800152019-01-15T11:58:00.000-08:002019-03-03T11:36:54.911-08:00Top facts to know about diabetes: symptoms, risks, prevention & (thank goodness) new technologies for diabetes management. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Doris A. Howell Foundation will be kicking off its lecture series on February 8th with the presentation "Women and Diabetes: Use of digital technologies in diabetes care" with key note speaker Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD. Please visit <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">www.howellfoundation.org</a> to register for the event.<br />
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With a significant number of diagnosed and under/undiagnosed diabetic and pre-diabetic Americans (close to 10% of the population), creating awareness of the symptoms, risk factors and management strategies becomes increasingly necessary.<br />
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The result of the body’s inability to produce or respond to insulin creates abnormal metabolic function, resulting in too much sugar in the blood. The classifications of diabetes are:<br />
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<li>Type 1 diabetes: A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.</li>
<li>Type 2 diabetes: A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose).</li>
<li>Pre-diabetes: A condition in which blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.</li>
<li>Gestational diabetes: A form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women.</li>
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The most common symptoms of diabetes are well known: going to the bathroom often, a feeling of thirst or hunger, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, long healing periods of cuts and bruises, and tingling and pain in hands or feet. Also common are the symptom similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leading to confusion between both types. People considered pre-diabetics need to be mindful of possible symptoms that might be present but silent. If there is suspicion based on any of the symptoms, physicians typically check glucose levels during routine check ups. </div>
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As for the common risk factors, the list includes tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Of concern is the role that obesity plays in the development of diabetes. The latest report from the CDC shows a staggering growth of obesity and </div>
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its relationship to the diagnosis of diabetes cases: </div>
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Diabetes is a serious illness that can progress to kidney disease, and can lead to blindmess, amputations, and be fatal. There are many actions to prevent and manage diabetes; nutrition, exercise and loosing weight amongst the most recommended. Specialists agree: a simple lifestyle change can go a long way to keep your levels of glucose at a safe level.<br />
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"It isn't so much that diabetes is silent, it's more not knowing what is wrong; figuring out why one has extreme fatigue, and literally feels the body shutting down", comments Susan Wells. "Puncturing oneself to test our blood sugar levels is something one needs to get used to doing in a daily routine".<br />
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Fortunately, for diagnosed diabetic Americans, technology is developing mechanisms that can help manage diabetes. We are especially excited about our speaker, Dr. Athena-Philis-Tsimikas, as she will be discussing new technology aides in the management of the disease. If you haven't registered already, visit <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">www.howellfoundation.org</a>.<br />
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In an article from <a href="https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6424-how-new-technologies-are-improving-diabetes-management-video">Scripps</a>, Dr.Tsimikas comments that "the convenience of new diabetes management technologies have made it easier to manage glucose levels by making the experience less painful and more convenient. Glucose levels determine how much insulin or other medication is needed. An alarm tells me if it’s too high, if it’s too low, if I’m in the danger zone,” Dr. Tsimikas said.<br />
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<b>ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:</b><br />
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Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD is the Corporate Vice President of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute at Scripps Health and the Director of Community Engagement at Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego, California.<br />
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With over 25 years of experience, she leads the Diabetes Care Line which creates programs, conducts research and delivers diabetes services across 5 Scripps hospitals, 25 outpatient facilities and the community which serves over 50,000 patients with diabetes.<br />
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Dr. Tsimikas is board certified in the sub specialty of Diabetes and Endocrinology and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSD’s Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. She developed and implemented the innovative Project Dulce program which cares for under served populations with diabetes. Dr. Philis-Tsimikas and Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute are actively promoting and training community physicians and community health centers to participate in community-based clinical research that will bring innovative health care solutions to their communities.<br />
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If you have time, this interview is worth the watch! <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">See you on February 8th! </a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Information prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> with information from the following sources: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.cdc.gov/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.scripps.org/</span><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-63656033999326622782018-12-27T14:48:00.000-08:002018-12-27T14:58:45.441-08:00Happy Holidays and a Wonderful 2019! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a year 2018 has been, and 2019 is just around the corner! The Board of Directors at the Howell Foundation is working on lining up great speakers, is reviewing amazing research topics from our scholars and continues to see the results of our CEI seed resarch grants! <br />
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We couldn't have done it without you! Your continuous support was fundamental in making a difference in women's health research:<br />
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<li>16 undergraduate research scholarships</li>
<li>Two graduate nursing research scholarships</li>
<li>Four educational luncheons</li>
<li>Our evening “Health and Happiness” event</li>
<li>Our pilot grant for assisting with the reproductive health of the East African women refugees in San Diego county and </li>
<li>Our newest initiative, assisting with enrollment of women research subjects in clinical trials (the first being the WISDOM Trial addressing diagnosis in breast cancer)</li>
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With your support, <i>you</i> have advanced research regionally at UCSD School of Medicine, USD Hahn School of nursing, SDSU, CSUSM and throughout the CSU system. Through the Foundation’s scholarship program, <i>you</i> have helped to launch careers in medical research! And <i>you</i> have played a role in an outreach program designed to educate women, making them better healthcare advocates for themselves and their families.<br />
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In November, we sadly said goodbye to the woman who inspired us all. Now, more than ever, we are determined to continue a legacy started almost 25 years ago. We do it as a celebration of her work and in recognition of the many lives she touched. 2019 is poised to continue making a difference in women's health research.<br />
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And for all that, we thank you!<br />
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Happy, healthy holidays from the Board of Directors! May 2019 be the best year yet. We'll see you next year! </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">For over 20 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. </span><br />
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-52685149943812960072018-12-17T11:07:00.001-08:002018-12-17T11:07:56.093-08:00Howell Foundation addresses the influence of culture in family planning and reproductive health. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dr. Sheila Moody at Howell Luncheon in November </span></td></tr>
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In our continued efforts to better the health of women, in 2012, the Howell Foundation made a commitment to fund research partnerships between academic and community-based organizations. The goal of our Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) is to support these partnerships; working collaboratively to develop and evaluate programs designed to improve women’s health. Our priority is to ensure the development of evidenced-informed projects that address relevant issues affecting women’s health within the greater San Diego community, with an emphasis on underserved women.<br />
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The 2018 Community Engagement Initiative recipient is Dr. Sheila Mody, MD MPH. She is Director, Fellowship in Family Planning; Director, Division of Family Planning at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences of University of California, San Diego (UCSD).<br />
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Her project will focus on anayzing how culture influences family planning health, as well as how providers can address their needs in a respectful manner. The research project is a collaboration between the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSD, the Refugee Health Unit at the UCSD Center for Community Health, and United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST). Dr. Mody and her partners will be exploring reproductive health patient-provider interactions and adapt patient-centered reproductive health counseling tools that can be accessible, culturally sensitive, and appropriate for refugee women.<br />
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"Specifically I'll be looking at East African women that live in City Heights. I'm really excited to take a deeper dive into how we can improve patient care by doing a qualitative research, looking at their reproductive health needs, and getting their input in terms of contraceptive counseling tool that could be utilized by clinicians to really be very respectful of the cultural influences .So I can't thank you enough for this opportunity. It's really very exciting and I look forward to sharing the results from the study and the stories from these women with you shortly."<br />
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To date, the Howell Foundation has funded 6 CEI grants totaling $100,000. For information on the Howell Foundation's CEI please email friends@howellfoundation.org. Please note: 2019 CEI guidelines, application and award amount will be available in spring 2019.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">For over 20 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">Event summary prepared by </span><a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #2196f3; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carolyn Northrup</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;"> and revised by Carole Banka, Ph.D., with information provided by the keynote speakers.</span><br />
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-7778962357352479962018-12-01T19:25:00.000-08:002018-12-03T13:09:49.352-08:00"Unable are the loved to die, for love IS immortality" ~ Emily Dickinson<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of a remarkable woman who inspired us all. She truly believed that the way to fight bias against female in research was through education. In doing so, she touched the life of many. </div>
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Devoted to improving the lives of others, her pervasive humanitarian outreach to those in need and to education is legendary. </div>
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Known as the "Mother of Hospice" in our community, Doris A. Howell, M.D. was a graduate of McGill University. A Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, and an internationally renowned leader in pediatrics and hospice care, she was a faculty member at Harvard and Duke Schools of Medicine, Chair of the Dept. of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and on the faculty of UCSD Medical School where she chaired the Dept. of Community and Family Medicine. Serving on the San Diego Hospice Board of Directors since its inception, she was a driving force for San Diego Hospice, now a model of care that is recognized throughout the nation. She was elected Director Emerita in 1989. </div>
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In 2013, Interim Mayor Todd Gloria declared December 2nd as Doris Howell Day. In addition, Dr. Howell was also the recipient of the McGill University Life Time Achievement Award in October of the same year. Tributes to a life-long focus on health and education include numerous awards: the Salvation Army Woman of Distinction Award, the Humanism Award from the Health Care Foundation of New Jersey, and awards for leadership and service from the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has been listed in Who's Who in American Women.</div>
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Upon her formal retirement, Dr. Howell began to focus on the critical need to improve women's health care and research. She and concerned members of Soroptimist International of La Jolla began awarding research grants to young scholars. In 1995 the Soroptimists honored Dr. Howell by establishing the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's Health Research, an independent non-profit foundation. Until 2017, she was an active board member of the Howell Foundation as Chair Emeritus. </div>
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It is comforting to know that her legendary legacy of helping others will continue. UC San Diego Health has named their palliative care teams after Dr. Howell. In 2012, KPBS honored Dr. Howell during Women's History Month. Radys Children Hospital has also honored Dr. Howell when an anonymous donor gave the hospital a significant contribution in her name for the palliative care unit. In 2016, the CSU Institue of Palliative Care headquartered in Cal State San Marcos inaugurated the Doris Howell Award for Advancement of Palliative Care. </div>
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And the list goes on... </div>
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In addition to her work in the community, her dedication to the Howell Foundation is an inspiration to us all. To date, the Foundation has awarded over 240 research scholarships totaling over 680 thousand dollars for students at UCSD, USD Hahn School of Nursing, SDSU, CSUSM and the CSU system. The Howell outreach program has reached many women in the community at more than 100 events celebrated since its inception in 1995. The community Engagement Initiative, launched in 2012, has supported research geared towards improving the health of underrepresented women in our community. Most recently, the Howell Foundation established mechanisms to support meaningful research studies that provide the tools for women to become their best health care advocates – such as the Wisdom Study -- as one of its initiatives.<br />
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Can you imagine her legacy?</div>
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As we celebrate her birthday -- she would have turned 95 years young on December 2nd -- we realize that it is only logical that she received the respect and admiration of many, as she was a "first" in oh so many ways.<br />
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If you have a minute, let us know how Dr. Howell impacted your life. As a matter of fact, let's make December <i>Dr. Howell Month</i>! </div>
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You, Dr. Howell, will always be our first! Rest in peace. You will be sorely missed. </div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-211927769212809452018-10-30T12:55:00.002-07:002018-10-31T08:23:31.141-07:00Advances of Breast Cancer Research in 2018: Making history with the WISDOM trial (or time to weigh in!) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Because women's health starts with research! </b><br />
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<li>“It’s important for women to have confidence in good scientific research” – <a href="http://wisdomstudy.org/">WisdomStudy.org</a></li>
<li>Women make a series of decisions based on the information provided from their screening. Wouldn't you want to know what the best option is?</li>
<li>If you haven't done so already, learn more about the impact this important research will have on women in our community.</li>
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In support of the WISDOM (<b>W</b>omen <b>I</b>nformed to <b>S</b>creen <b>D</b>epending <b>O</b>n <b>M</b>easures of risk) trial, The Doris A. Howell Foundation celebrated its Health and Happiness Series in June with the presentation “Improving Benefits and Reducing Harms from Breast Cancer Screening: The WISDOM Trial,” hosting three renowned specialists in the areas of oncology, epidemiology and genetic testing. Led by UC San Diego Health, UC Davis Health, UCSF, UCLA Health, UC Irvine, and Sanford Health, the mammography screening research trial is searching to determine which strategy produces the most benefit and least harm for women.<br />
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The objective was to inform the San Diego community about the latest research being conducted regarding breast cancer screening guidelines, their efficacy, and the steps required to provide women with accurate, personalized prevention processes that effectively diagnose and treat breast cancer ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED basis. If you haven't done so already, take a look at <a href="http://www.wisdomstudy.org/">www.wisdomstudy.org</a> to learn more about the impact this important research will have on women in our community.<br />
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When discussing breast cancer, the conclusion tends to be unanimous: early detection saves lives. Whereas research shows that overall mortality rates have gone down, one needs to dig in deeper to understand all the moving parts in breast cancer screening:<br />
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<li>Technology – which has certainly improved</li>
<li>The development of new ways to treat the different stages of breast cancer </li>
<li>And most importantly, the personal circumstances, propensity to risk factors, and age</li>
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“The WISDOM Study is designed to end the confusion about breast cancer screening. By comparing two safe and accepted screening recommendations, we can discover the best screening guidelines for ourselves, our sisters, our daughters, and future generations of women,” comments Tracy Layton, Project Manager for the study. “We need women to join the study and share their data, so we have enough information to make informed decisions for future screening recommendations. Together, we can discover the best way forward.”</div>
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If interested in joining the study, and for more information on the WISDOM trial, please contact Trial Coordinator, Ms. Vedeline Torreon, at vtorreon@ucsd.edu.</div>
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Presenting the different perspectives on screening technologies and their effect on breast cancer diagnosis treatment, Dr. Barbara A. Parker (Breast Medical Oncologist and Senior Deputy Director of Cancer Medicine at UC San Diego Health's Moore’s Cancer Center) offered an overview of the state of breast cancer in 2018; Dr. Andrea Z. LaCroix, (Professor and Chief of Epidemiology and Director of the Women's Health Center of Excellence) discussed both sides of the coin when discussing screening tecnology and its effect on women; and Dr. Lisa Madlensky, (Director of the Family Cancer Genetics Program at Moore’s Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health) adressed genetic testing according to women's risk factors. al history<br />
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The latest statistics in breast cancer are the following:<br />
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<ul>
<li>1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer. </li>
<li>Breast cancer comprises about 15% of all cancer cases in the US and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, behind lung cancer.</li>
<li>Overall estimated 5-year survival in female breast cancer patients is around 90% but differs significantly across different stages of breast cancer; 99% when localized to the breast, 85% when localized to the breast and armpit, and 27% if spread to other parts of the body at diagnosis.</li>
<li>Common risk factors include family history, aging, obesity, alcohol consumption, delayed or no childbearing, high dose of radiation (for treating lymphomas) and menopausal hormone therapy.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkhDrmxIVIaMVIos5cv3KB6ly3Qt9wiZIEmLcCq7zVi9MIJkfAgkK8prQe13UbZHIGMtGHclkRWtNE9Qaj-366vFDUjr0RRYNchlNrWlrNkbMed_u-Ad6jmPaDEfuA3A2rZUAasjqP48b/s1600/DSC_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkhDrmxIVIaMVIos5cv3KB6ly3Qt9wiZIEmLcCq7zVi9MIJkfAgkK8prQe13UbZHIGMtGHclkRWtNE9Qaj-366vFDUjr0RRYNchlNrWlrNkbMed_u-Ad6jmPaDEfuA3A2rZUAasjqP48b/s200/DSC_0507.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Barbara A. Parker, MD</span></td></tr>
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Dr. Barbara Parker discussed breast cancer Precision Medicine, breast cancer incidence and death rates, and treatment advances for early and advanced breast cancer.<br />
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“Precision Medicine” was defined by the National Cancer Institute in 2015 and focuses on prevention and treatment strategies that take patients’ individual characteristics into account. “A one-size fits all approach to prevention and early detection of breast cancer is not optimal for women,” comments Dr. Parker.<br />
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The WISDOM trial provides the opportunity to determine breast cancer risk at the point of screening, and to assign breast cancer screening frequency based upon risk:<br />
<ul>
<li>Individualizing care based upon genes, environment, and prognosis; that is, individualizing care based upon family history and inherited genes, reproductive history and environmental exposures, and the prognosis of the cancer based on the tumor characteristics.</li>
<li>Targeting therapies to specific patients, tumors, and pathways based on the understanding of the risk factors , the subtype of breast cancer, and the molecular profile of some tumors. </li>
<li>Targeting screening and intervention strategies to patients at highest risk. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBiHm2RvWQHM9GIO3DTgdMLNKqlCGPCkijy9CdJQtpBLSoNhH2iC_pmTBW4kOFGv2MENZ0XBrUGhGJN2mYwvDh3fHSrgTNzP4XilbT4F3I7Saphmey-KJpFtMIAmJ6OCu5fLf0_LQ3OMx/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBiHm2RvWQHM9GIO3DTgdMLNKqlCGPCkijy9CdJQtpBLSoNhH2iC_pmTBW4kOFGv2MENZ0XBrUGhGJN2mYwvDh3fHSrgTNzP4XilbT4F3I7Saphmey-KJpFtMIAmJ6OCu5fLf0_LQ3OMx/s200/DSC_0513.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Andrea Z. LaCroix, PhD</span></td></tr>
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“There are many different guidelines by different organizations, and this adds a lot of confusion for women regarding their own health”, comments Dr. LaCroix, speaker at the event. “The trial is comparing yearly screening to a personalized screening approach. The personalized screening will provide a mammogram timeline based on a participant’s individual risk factors (age, personal and family history, genetic tests for gene mutations and variations) linked to the development of breast cancer,”she concludes.<br />
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Dr. LaCroix’s participation in the WISDOM Trial is focused on determining how screening can be improved. She presented the two sides of the breast-health screening coin. Whereas research shows that overall mortality rates have gone down, one needs to dig in deeper to understand all the moving parts in breast screening: technology – which has certainly improved -- the development of new ways to treat the different stages of breast cancer, and ultimately, personal circumstances, propensity to risk factors, and age.<br />
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In presenting the controversy surrounding breast cancer screening, Dr. LaCroix mentioned that other countries in Europe -- France, the Netherlands and Denmark-- have just done away with any type of guideline; whereas in the UK, women between the ages of 50 and 70 can get screened as often as desired. This is just a sample of how the breast cancer screening controversy has the potential of affecting women.<br />
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In an era where treating breast cancer is pretty much “processed” – meaning same detection and treatment across the board -- Dr. LaCroix suggests a change in paradigm. “We clearly need to realize that no cancer is the same, just as breast cancer is not just a single disease”.<br />
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Citing Dr. Karsten Jorgensen, “We shouldn’t treat all cancers the same way because they are not the same. Our knowledge of cancer biology tells us that breast cancer represents a spectrum of really different cases of cancer that behave in very different ways. And sadly, screening is not good at picking up those cancers that we really want to pick up.”<br />
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Women around the country make decisions based on the information from their screening. If the study can provide a comprehensive picture when dealing with an already difficult illness, decisions like a double mastectomy based on an abundance of caution can save patients the consequences of unnecessary surgery, for example. The Wisdom Study guiding principles are:<br />
<ul>
<li>No woman will be screened less aggressively than existing recommendations from major professional societies</li>
<li>Minimize false positives</li>
<li>Minimize interval cancers</li>
<li>Minimize incidence of Stage IIB and higher disease</li>
<li>Women with known deleterious mutations in hereditary breast cancer genes will be screened according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines</li>
<li>Screening recommendations will be practical and scalable</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lisa Madlensky, Ph.D</span></td></tr>
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The Wisdom Trial seeks to broaden the understanding of the role risk factors play in the development of breast cancer coupled with the information provided by women, to then provide the individualized screening strategy. “The personalized screening arm takes advantage of all of the advances that have been made in understanding the risk factors and protective factors that each of us may have that relate to our future risk of getting breast cancer”, comments Dr. Madlensky.<br />
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Genetic testing is one of the aspects that gets the most questions in the Trial. The Wisdom Study is structured around three main genetic components that allow the creation of a comprehensive panel of genes upon which screening recommendations will be provided:<br />
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1. “Traditional” BRCA1 & BRCA2 testing will help determine the propensity for a breast cancer diagnosis. Considering that one in 400 to 800 women have a gene mutation under this classification, having it doesn’t necessarily mean a 100% risk of breast cancer. For women whose family history is unknown, who may be adopted or whose family risk of cancer might be passed down through males, BRCA 1 & BRCA2 will definitely provide a solid foundation in risk assessment and personalization.<br />
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2. Women in the Trial additionally get tested for a second set of genes that are extremely rare but are related to an elevated risk of breast cancer (TP53, PTEN, STK11, CDH1, ATM, PALB2, and CHEK2). All women found to have a significant mutation in any of the nine genes listed above will be referred for genetic counseling.<br />
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3. A unique score included in the study is the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) score. Women have millions of them as it is a normal variation in our genomes. They are unique in the sense that they do not behave the same way in individuals who come from different backgrounds as a general genetic variability would. They are technically easy to assess.<br />
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The Study includes a panel of 200+ SNPs. This determines a “risk score”, and depending on that, women with higher scores will be recommended to get their screening mammograms more often<br />
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The Wisdom Study is unique because:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It’s a pragmatic trial: looks at screening in the “real world” – getting women to do what researchers need them to do to follow up on their information is a challenge. By looking at the screening process in a “real world setting” researchers can take concrete actions to guarantee the collection of meaningful information for the study. </li>
<li>It’s Dynamic: Life happens, and as it does, so the changes in risk factors – for example, aging. Whereas a woman might be considered low risk at 50, once she turns 60, her chances of getting diagnosed with breast cancer increase. </li>
<li>It’s preference-tolerant: Women who have a strong preference or are averse to randomization can choose randomization or observation arms. </li>
<li>It’s adaptive: As we learn more about assessing breast cancer risk, our risk assignment processes will be adjusted. Risk assignments will depend on personal information gathered throughout the trial.</li>
</ul>
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</div>
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For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</div>
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The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. </span></div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-53896455592140172412018-10-10T07:55:00.000-07:002018-10-13T14:23:54.513-07:00Have you registered? November 7th “Dementia: perspectives, progress and promise."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKh86AgRxVsfj6v7LwllvEImM1a4z2Y1PFUx-cJ3Qjy682peMJI8Q_dxMw6LWFriv2ekVFK_QBjz_UyxJ1m-C_SepjxfTQVG2s8iIfYh3eut-oyNRecBcu4p_RzhDk0QdLzINpTjoCF1T/s1600/2018+alzheimers+dementia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKh86AgRxVsfj6v7LwllvEImM1a4z2Y1PFUx-cJ3Qjy682peMJI8Q_dxMw6LWFriv2ekVFK_QBjz_UyxJ1m-C_SepjxfTQVG2s8iIfYh3eut-oyNRecBcu4p_RzhDk0QdLzINpTjoCF1T/s1600/2018+alzheimers+dementia.jpg" /></a></div>
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Even though Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia,
it is also a complication of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and a
further cause is <a href="https://www.lbda.org/go/10-things-you-should-know-about-lbd">Lewy Body
dementia</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Seventy percent of dementia cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease</li>
<li>It is estimated that one in six women over the age of 55 will develop dementia, compared to one in ten men. </li>
</ul>
As much as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease research results
sound promising, we are cautiously optimistic about the findings that currently
dictate the way it is diagnosed and treated. To date, we have research results that are encouraging:<br />
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<li>In 2016, researchers in the US found a direct correlation between dementia and heart health. In a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that addressing cardiovascular disease lowered the risk of dementia. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1), (2) </span></li>
<li>A collaboration between scientists in the US and Australia regarding dementia-related diseases showed that brain inflammation is also a major cause. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(3)</span></li>
<li>Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Lund University in Sweden discovered that small clumps of proteins called oligomers kill healthy nerve cells. This is particularly relevant in the development of drugs aimed at targeting these toxic particles. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(4)</span></li>
<li>New technology in brain imaging is showing specific protein clusters, critical to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(5)</span></li>
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By addressing every conceivable cause of dementia and Alzheimer's through
interdisciplinary research efforts, scientists are closer to finding a
cure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what’s next in the crusade to
finally find a cure? How does dementia impact us socially and economically? <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Howell Foundation will be hosting two renowned
researchers in the field: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dr. Amy Borenstein</b>, Professor of Epidemiology,
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San
Diego; and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dr. Pamela Maher</b>, Senior
Staff Scientist at The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>"Dementia: Perspectives, Progress and Promise"</b>
will focus on the current status of dementia research as it relates to Alzheimer’s Disease and other cognitive diso reatments will also be discussed. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Please make sure you <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/Events/Registration.aspx">REGISTER HERE</a>. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Meet our speakers: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-lLiB4DEM7X4defrux2_OV3Ps9LB1XJPNn1hCAGMvsinigDQQKzru6kcgwJfMYO-4mZGmN3m5a2JTOdsP_xPuvIXcy-WvDk7KnctKgjiCvpIRFNjShP1gk4vtpYGXzB5LKUFCAJCPxUK/s1600/amyborenstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-lLiB4DEM7X4defrux2_OV3Ps9LB1XJPNn1hCAGMvsinigDQQKzru6kcgwJfMYO-4mZGmN3m5a2JTOdsP_xPuvIXcy-WvDk7KnctKgjiCvpIRFNjShP1gk4vtpYGXzB5LKUFCAJCPxUK/s200/amyborenstein.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dr. Borenstein, <br />photo by USF Health</span></td></tr>
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Dr. Amy Borenstein has been studying Alzheimer’s disease for over 30 years, beginning with one of the early case-control studies of this disease. Since 1988, she has been funded by the National Institute on Aging as well as private sources to carry out a wide range of research in different countries and ethnicities focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Borenstein has published extensively in the medical literature and is recognized as a leading epidemiologist in the study of Alzheimer’s disease.<br />
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Author of <b><i>“Alzheimer's Disease: Life Course Perspectives on Risk Reduction"</i></b>,Dr. Borenstein will address how dementia is impacting the economic and social fabric of an increasing number of countries as the world population ages. She will give a clinical overview of the major subtypes of dementia and the important risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. She will also discuss promising ongoing trials of antibodies against the Alzheimer protein beta-amyloid. Most importantly, Dr. Borenstein will outline lifestyle changes that may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPhOh4jougvO2SI4R9ShBaL_4YLJsCgbC52DU3s4Tr7BSHyseigyWVMcXZCu6IJ0cj0B_o1ceGuRCBVE24JT1O_W-bZ1Y9GYduEGllI60dFy2WFcAlXeFNK1IvobnnwLW9tSJb_8udalG/s1600/Dr.+Pamela+Maher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPhOh4jougvO2SI4R9ShBaL_4YLJsCgbC52DU3s4Tr7BSHyseigyWVMcXZCu6IJ0cj0B_o1ceGuRCBVE24JT1O_W-bZ1Y9GYduEGllI60dFy2WFcAlXeFNK1IvobnnwLW9tSJb_8udalG/s320/Dr.+Pamela+Maher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dr. Pamela Maher, photo from the Salk Institute</span></td></tr>
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<b>Dr. Pamela Maher </b>has studied the nervous system throughout her career and has identified several natural products that mimic the effects of protein growth factors in the nervous system. Her recent work has focused on identifying other natural products that are effective against brain diseases, improving the natural products already identified using medicinal chemistry, modifying the products to allow penetration of the blood/brain barrier and characterizing their molecular targets so as to provide additional approaches to the treatment of brain diseases.<br />
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Dr. Maher will first discuss the rationale behind her approach to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. She will then provide some examples of the use of this approach including her recent studies of a plant product the were featured in the Union Tribune. Finally, she will summarize where we are right now and what she hopes to accomplish in the future.<br />
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The most important service the Howell Foundation can provide is education through the presentation of vital health information. We are moving closer to a cure. Until that day, we must focus on prevention when discussing Alzheimer's and dementia. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup </a>and revised by Carole Banka, Ph.D with information from the following sources: </span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1504327">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1504327</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/study-examines-factors-behind-decline-dementia-incidence">https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/study-examines-factors-behind-decline-dementia-incidence</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-05-dementia-alzheimer.html">https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-05-dementia-alzheimer.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-scientists-reveal-ground-breaking-alzheimer-disease.html">https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-scientists-reveal-ground-breaking-alzheimer-disease.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180919111520.htm">https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180919111520.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">About Lewy Body Dementia: <a href="https://www.lbda.org/go/10-things-you-should-know-about-lbd">https://www.lbda.org/go/10-things-you-should-know-about-lbd</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">About Dr. Borenstein: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/epb/faculty-and-staff/amy-borenstein">https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/epb/faculty-and-staff/amy-borenstein</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/alzheimers-disease/borenstein/978-0-12-804538-">https://www.elsevier.com/books/alzheimers-disease/borenstein/978-0-12-804538-</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">About Dr. Maher<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://berryhealth.org/pamela-maher-phd/">http://berryhealth.org/pamela-maher-phd/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/researchers.php?id=712</span></div>
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-8286080286187275782018-09-27T11:58:00.001-07:002018-09-27T12:39:01.287-07:00The most important facts to remember during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR8YMjwWNsRy3g-9_rAiiNy-5-7Uws29kwEW2BC97d8UJ63a7oPkZMXBAOPi9xbieS9BHFQ_3HUhGxfjNqVEOIkqlAJ_2s5k78FAi2hVf8xannNV76NsIb8rRck4BoQtfG4ClZzPpP5Cf/s1600/Ovarian+Cancer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="770" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR8YMjwWNsRy3g-9_rAiiNy-5-7Uws29kwEW2BC97d8UJ63a7oPkZMXBAOPi9xbieS9BHFQ_3HUhGxfjNqVEOIkqlAJ_2s5k78FAi2hVf8xannNV76NsIb8rRck4BoQtfG4ClZzPpP5Cf/s400/Ovarian+Cancer.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Even though the rate of ovarian cancer diagnosis has been steadily declining for the past 20 years, we shouldn’t let our guards down. Awareness is a key factor that will contribute to our health.<br />
<br />
<b>Ovarian cancer is known as the “silent killer” due to lack of symptoms.</b> The symptoms are so common that they are often misdiagnosed as other conditions.<br />
<br />
“Ovarian Cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States because the majority of women are diagnosed at a late stage after cancer has metastasized. Five-year overall survival is dismal at 45%; however, if the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, survival rates greatly improve to over 92%”, comments Peg Ford, ovarian cancer survivor and President/Co-Founder of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego.<br />
<br />
Early detection saves lives; however, early screening tests for ovarian cancer are not yet fully developed. You can ask your gynecologist to order imaging tests, particularly if there are abnormal bleeding or other unexplained symptoms.<br />
<br />
Having the correct information to make the right decision regarding your health is especially important if there is a history of reproductive cancer, including breast cancer, in your family. According to the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/new-research.html">American Cancer Society</a>, “scientists continue to study the genes responsible for familial ovarian cancer. This research is beginning to yield clues about how these genes normally work and how disrupting their action can lead to cancer. This information eventually is expected to lead to new drugs for preventing and treating familial ovarian cancer. Research in this area has already led to better ways to detect high-risk genes and assess a woman's ovarian cancer risk. A better understanding of how genetic and hormonal factors (such as oral contraceptive use) interact may also lead to better ways to prevent ovarian cancer.”<br />
<br />
Research on ovarian cancer is encouraging. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413118305084?via%3Dihub#!">This study</a> led by Ernst Lengyel, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago, has found a way to slow down the invasion of cancer to healthy tissue by analyzing the relationship between fibroblasts –or cells in connective tissues such as fat—and the cell’s process of metabolizing their own stored glycogen into glucose. Glycogen is a form of glucose that the cell warehouses for future use. “The supply of glucose fuels the invasion of other tissues, which, in turn, leads to a more aggressive tumor and rapid metastasis”, <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/categories/ovarian_cancer">this article</a> determines.<br />
<br />
<b>Awareness and Prevention are key! Know your stats and risk factors.</b><br />
<br />
To put things into perspective, The American Cancer Society estimates that:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>About 22,240 per year women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.</li>
<li>About 14,070 per year women will die from ovarian cancer.</li>
<li>Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. </li>
<li>A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 75. </li>
<li>This cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. It is more common in Caucasian women than African-American women.</li>
<li>Even though ovarian cancer has a low incidence, it is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage and the overall five-year survival rate is poor: at best only 45% of women diagnosed will survive. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Understanding the <b>risk factors </b>associated with ovarian cancer is of significant importance:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Estrogen hormone therapy, especially with long-term use and in large doses.</li>
<li>Age when menstruation started and ended. If you began menstruating before age 12 or underwent menopause after age 52, or both, your risk of ovarian cancer may be higher.</li>
<li>A small percentage of ovarian cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations – BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women with these mutations also have a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.</li>
<li>Never being pregnant.</li>
<li>Fertility treatment.</li>
<li>Smoking.</li>
<li>Use of an intrauterine device.</li>
<li>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Learn about the symptoms. It may save your life! </b><br />
<br />
Of concern is the commonality of the symptoms, which at times may lead to a misdiagnosis. Doctors have compiled a list of the symptoms most reported form women with ovarian cancer. If you experience any of the following repeatedly for an extended period of time during a month, make sure you talk to your doctor:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bloating </li>
<li>Pelvic or abdominal pain </li>
<li>Trouble eating or feeling full quickly </li>
<li>Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often) </li>
</ul>
<br />
Other issues that might accompany these symptoms include fatigue, an upset stomach, back-pain, pain during sex, constipation, menstrual changes and abdominal swelling with weight loss. The tricky thing is that the discomfort caused by these nonspecific symptoms are often mistaken for more common benign conditions such as constipation or irritable bowels. The key issue is having these symptoms REPEATEDLY in a month.<br />
<br />
The problem with early detection of ovarian cancer is that physicians typically do not address ‘ovarian health’ on a regular basis unless there are some symptoms present. The tests that are used to screen for ovarian cancer start with a complete pelvic exam, and should include transvaginal ultrasound. The CA-125 test only confirms there is a high probability of such cancer being present and is used to monitor ovarian cancer survivors after they are diagnosed and have received initial treatment.<br />
<br />
Although an early screening test for ovarian cancer is not yet fully developed, you can ask your gynecologist to conduct a pelvic and rectal exam. Imaging tests such as an ultrasound or a CT scan can also be of assistance should there be anything abnormal in your pelvic exam.<br />
<br />
<b>Most importantly, stay informed, and stay on your path to health! </b><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">ycle. ###</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by<a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: xx-small;"> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information from the following sources: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/new-research.html</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413118305084?via%3Dihub#!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/categories/ovarian_cancer</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";"><br /></span></span>The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-18960958070889042992018-08-31T09:19:00.001-07:002018-08-31T09:19:44.066-07:00Celebrating the life of a remarkable woman. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjycG-JDKYxDRGnYyexsJ1ITSMMkCoZXAmVZWuWi5m1DQZV87Dy4nb0-8cCwp0RlbO6VN2EH7ShMNXBWQj5h2XlTEf2LQ-eojci3zXpaPvUkhVhSmkLvr2pIO60tIyZCWan3US7qeHwCp/s1600/Skai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjycG-JDKYxDRGnYyexsJ1ITSMMkCoZXAmVZWuWi5m1DQZV87Dy4nb0-8cCwp0RlbO6VN2EH7ShMNXBWQj5h2XlTEf2LQ-eojci3zXpaPvUkhVhSmkLvr2pIO60tIyZCWan3US7qeHwCp/s400/Skai.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<h3>
It is always a pleasure and an honor to work with wonderful women. Dr. Skaidrite Krisans, or Skai-- as we called her-- always had a great sense of humor. Her energy and love for life was just contagious.</h3>
"Skai was a fitness buff and was always willing to try the next new workout," comments Kay Pierce, Treasurer of the Foundation. "For a while she did the Perfect Workout-- moving very slowly while lifting weights. I would meet her at her gym and join her in this work out… years ago…"<br />
<br />
She continues to talk about Skai. "She loved her trips to Italy and improving her working knowledge of the Italian language. She took pride in the fact that after the first two trips she was treated like a local in Italy. In other words, she would go in and buy an espresso and get the locals price and her husband would go in later in the day while she was in her Italian language school and he would get the 'tourista' price. It took them some time to figure out that he was paying more because they never went in together. She also loved fashion and was always dressed 'to the nines' in the latest Italian fashion."<br />
<br />
Anyone who knew Saki understood her passion for women's health. And that's the person that remains in our hearts. In her honor, the Howell Foundation granted a memorial scholarshipto keep her passion for women's health alive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji30JKFjmju9fblfqeP6iBC08u2yGBYwtmWOGuNBwFDM_Eqa2tGqj8whP2_oqtlzQ8YUgLCbRCwj6woqJR7rSS6XAbv0POVElyMNrg40SpvdPPM7n9DLn-F3Qk_6rUAkgzKO976EiL3se8/s1600/DSC_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji30JKFjmju9fblfqeP6iBC08u2yGBYwtmWOGuNBwFDM_Eqa2tGqj8whP2_oqtlzQ8YUgLCbRCwj6woqJR7rSS6XAbv0POVElyMNrg40SpvdPPM7n9DLn-F3Qk_6rUAkgzKO976EiL3se8/s320/DSC_0596.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
We believe that Sara Torres Robles is the perfect candidate to emulate Dr. Krisans' vision for SDSU and her contribution to research.<br />
<br />
"Sara is interested in pursuing knowledge for the sake of knowledge. This will inevitably lead her to make important contributions in the area of women's health", coments Dr. Carole Banka, Immediate Past Chair of the Howell Foundation. "What makes Sara special, in addition to her intelligence and dedication, is her desire to make a difference. She applied to two academic research programs to study abroad with the objective of gaining international research experience, and was accepted at both, one in Japan, and one in China. Most recently she spent the summer doing research at the University of Wisconsin. According to the three SDSU faculty members who supported Sara's application, she is a superstar! Weat the Howell FOundation are proud to have selected her to honor and remember our beloved Dr. Krisans.<br />
<br />
Dr. Skaidrite Krisans was an Associate Dean and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology at SDSU. She mentored and coached many in ther 30+-year tenure at the institution; many were as inspired and thirsty for knowledge as Sara Torres. "I am extremely honored to be receiving a scholarship from the Doris A. Howell Foundation in memory of Dr. Skaidrite Krisans. It's people like her, and my mother, who inspire me to continue on my path to address scientific problems in women's health. After graduating from San Diego State University, I aim to earn a Ph.D in biochemistry in order to become a research professor to mentor under-represented students and scientists, and focus on scientific problems in women's health."<br />
<br />
In attendance at the luncheon were Skai's family, her husband, Janis;<br />
her niece, Susan Waterman and husband, Scott Gifford; and their daughter, Taylor Skai Gifford. Susan was touched to present the scholarship to Sara.<br />
<br />
"What a wonderful way to honor a fellow Board Member", comments Carolyn Northrup, Communications Chair for the Foundation. "So long as there are women and men in our community coming to Sara for an answer to any given women's health-related issue, Skai's essence will be there!"<br />
<br />
Thank you, to all who took the time to remember her by donating towards the Howell Memorial Scholarship:<br />
<br />
Robert P. Banka Fund Susan Mazza<br />
Betty Brayshay Kay Christian Pierce<br />
Mandy Bultler, Ph.D Colleen Peterson<br />
Cherr Conner Carol Tuggey<br />
Kathleen Franklin Sharon Weremiuk<br />
Terrence Frey Cheryl Wilson, RN<br />
Hamilton Loeb Jr.<br />
<br />
Dearest Skai, you will forever be in our hearts for your efforts in making women's health a reality! You are sorely missed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaO1ujJA7SjVgEUjC7DXvDD6CXXNDVf0ifQPooTcHP6TgqY4yYAN1QRLNObyKyxU2HgnLqqQYpy9R3dLk-wgLMrglUmz2yWmzQyhwlfP-MARIcfo8H_eZODHETNgYm0YGAxZtkALdVtQu/s1600/In+Memory+of+Skai.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaO1ujJA7SjVgEUjC7DXvDD6CXXNDVf0ifQPooTcHP6TgqY4yYAN1QRLNObyKyxU2HgnLqqQYpy9R3dLk-wgLMrglUmz2yWmzQyhwlfP-MARIcfo8H_eZODHETNgYm0YGAxZtkALdVtQu/s1600/In+Memory+of+Skai.png" /></a></div>
<br />
###<br />
<br />
<b>About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</b><br />
<br />
For over 20 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. <br />
###<br />
<br />
Event summary prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, Ph.D., with information provided by the keynote speakers.<br />
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-50645257700808007662018-08-31T09:10:00.000-07:002018-08-31T09:10:40.427-07:00Addressing neonatal care from the mother's perspective; mood disorders and lactation as fields of research for the 2018 Howell - USD Nursing Scholars<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuSopaBs18-2amYRxFiurp81DeH4D395FsSd36JWv-jLB13xqSvenuJwLnJ2QT6eYavSXs547SWa4niCk_Yptpq9fmvG4sLhwCv3s3UUkdvfZxXm5z2WZbun0YY_X_jqB__EKq5x9kh-t/s1600/DSC_0602.jpg+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuSopaBs18-2amYRxFiurp81DeH4D395FsSd36JWv-jLB13xqSvenuJwLnJ2QT6eYavSXs547SWa4niCk_Yptpq9fmvG4sLhwCv3s3UUkdvfZxXm5z2WZbun0YY_X_jqB__EKq5x9kh-t/s1600/DSC_0602.jpg+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pictured above, from left to right: Dr. Patricia Roth, Professor and Director of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program; Dr. Jane Georges, Dean and Professor; Ph.D candidate Michelle Fleishman; Cheryl Wilson, RN; Ph.D Candidate Michelle Lee and Dr. Mary Barger. </span></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
The doctor diagnoses and treats an illness. Yet, the bottom line is that nurses are the ones who actually take care of our loved ones. This year, the Cheryl Wilson Scholarships were awarded to Ph.D Candidates Ellen Fleishman and Michelle Lee.</div>
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<div>
The Cheryl A. Wilson Scholarship was established 6 years ago to honor her for all her work at the Doris Howell Foundation. A nurse herself, Chery is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Paul's Senior Homes & Services in San Diego. Proposals for the scholarphips are assessed for their impact on women’s health, research design, scholar qualifications and feasibility of accomplishing study goals. Each student must have a qualified research mentor to direct and guide them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN71sHBHyzJb_Tjm27cWio_-INyMTnC7k-8GuWP5L94lWBkzTWqx9_fC65JmX4bx-L8X92oMbBdzhEvzmUJOOROnMpF9y55GoeSWvQCwESMOSgHtFnrCSM_oieQmyjooEfZZBb-tUe01W/s1600/DSC_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN71sHBHyzJb_Tjm27cWio_-INyMTnC7k-8GuWP5L94lWBkzTWqx9_fC65JmX4bx-L8X92oMbBdzhEvzmUJOOROnMpF9y55GoeSWvQCwESMOSgHtFnrCSM_oieQmyjooEfZZBb-tUe01W/s320/DSC_0583.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellen Fleishman</td></tr>
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<b>Ellen Fleishman, </b>mentored by Cynthia Connely, Ph.D, will be researching mood and anxiety disorders in perinatal women. In her application, she states that "the purpose of this research study is to examine the relationships between the stigma of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), depressive symptoms, social support, and the decision to seek treatment in postpartum women. An exploratory aim is to evaluate the concordance between mental health risk identified through the admission screening process and risk identified through the study instruments. The literature lacks consistency of findings related to the relationship between PMAD, stigma, and social support. This study will help clarify these relationships and how they impact treatment-seeking in a diverse sample of postpartum women. This study proposes that stigma can be a barrier to women coming forward and seeking treatment for PMAD. Strong social support may help to mitigate the stigma of mental illness and support treatment-seeking.<br />
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"In June 2016, I watched the documentary 'Dark Side of the Full Moon' at the annual meeting of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). This documentary, which sheds light on the impact of PMAD on women and families, inspired this research. Immediately after returning from the conference, a colleague and I began working on the evidence-based practice project, which sparked interest throughout the hospital. I have presented on this topic at conferences and plan to continue to conduct research in this area", comments Ph.D Nursing Candidate and 2018 Howell Scholar Fleishman. She is the Director of Maternal Infant Services and Support Program at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZokdNAQ437oO5KbGqmD2RophBTwR7OXew4-HjfsyUGxmNldtISTHV5aFhLdQUlieOz1ZXFLGbIG2yAceyJWHwlGzJ5JQnsisdKnS5nloeyWEDCMlbvMeRF7xZ91p_RmnioYrj9MLlcN7i/s1600/DSC_0586.jpg+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZokdNAQ437oO5KbGqmD2RophBTwR7OXew4-HjfsyUGxmNldtISTHV5aFhLdQUlieOz1ZXFLGbIG2yAceyJWHwlGzJ5JQnsisdKnS5nloeyWEDCMlbvMeRF7xZ91p_RmnioYrj9MLlcN7i/s320/DSC_0586.jpg+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle Lee</td></tr>
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Ph.D Nursing Candidate Michelle Lee, mentored by <a href="http://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2016/12/howells-community-engagement-initiative.html">Howell CEI recipient, Dr. Mary Barger</a>, will be conducting her research on the effects of galactagogues on lactation. A galactagogue is a substance that is proposed to promote lactation in humans and other animals. They may be synthetic, plant-derived, or endogenous, and may be used to treat lactation failure.<br />
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In her application, Michelle stresses the benefits of breastfeeding, which include decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. "Research has shown 30-80% of mothers perceive their breast milk production as insufficient, which is the most common reason for early cessation of breastfeeding. Therapeutic usage of galactagogues has long been believed to help mothers increase breast milk production despite a lack of supporting evidence. Its use may be having a placebo effect." This important research project is designed to settle the question of whether galactagogues truly promote breast milk production.<br />
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Michelle shared a little on her vision: "As a practicing lactation consultant [at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego], I strive to become a nursing researcher with a focus on promoting and advancing breastfeeding and human breast milk knowledge. From this proposed project, I hope to investigate the effects of galactagogues on breastfeeding self-efficacy and planned breastfeeding duration. In a subsequent follow-up study, I plan to document actual breastfeeding durations. Little has been published about breastfeeding self-efficacy in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population, let alone a study of its association with galactagogues. Eventually, I hope to investigate the composition of breast milk after galactagogue consumption and the potential epigenetic changes in infants' guts and immune systems."</div>
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Our care is in great hands! </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPG5l1Yos3f5DT-yBzUr-L4HZHfQzId6WaHhxBiHLsG0xXBNd9Ka4zTdcrOd9Wvp4v7Z4wV0YaFWTM1HiZ0W_Lc-dN7l6Tp50O-Zd03SURRMacqtsvL-gtdSu6jEjXowrEBSrbBoegb6O/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPG5l1Yos3f5DT-yBzUr-L4HZHfQzId6WaHhxBiHLsG0xXBNd9Ka4zTdcrOd9Wvp4v7Z4wV0YaFWTM1HiZ0W_Lc-dN7l6Tp50O-Zd03SURRMacqtsvL-gtdSu6jEjXowrEBSrbBoegb6O/s200/DSC_0577.JPG" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Patricia Roth</td></tr>
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"Dr. Doris Howell has been an ardent supporter for nursing research for many, many years" comments Dr. Patricia Roth, Director of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program & Professor as USD. "She has become such a force in the community and across the country, if not internationally, for support of patients with life threatening illness. Her spirit, her values and her philosophy continue with diverse students, particularly in support of women's health issues. <br />
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You will be glad to know that our graduates now serve as nursing scientists and neuroscientists at the Naval Regional Medical Center here and at the Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. They also serve as Directors of Research locally here at the VA, and as Chief Nurse and Chief Executive Officers in our local hospital system. They have accomplished a great deal in being the directors of schools of nursing throughout the state and throughout the country. The Howell-Nursing Scholars have made a large impact in the health community and we are really grateful for the Doris Howell Foundation supporting them."<br />
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<b>About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</b><br />
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For over 20 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
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The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. <br />
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Event summary prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, Ph.D., with information provided by the keynote speakers.<br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-91008677226565218342018-08-07T09:49:00.000-07:002018-08-08T12:42:58.548-07:00Are you addicted? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuf6tsLuHtX-bZsebL8iGpKL5gXMTgzN13xq9EOkfi4SyslwV_7yADinfK8ufOmNz_Q94MGx8XoH8dYA4TDYJv1eub_zgqKza4B9mIKnxDgm6nBlvUfmhSnmnWmtaLNBJvgnluqPFEIS3/s1600/Mental+Health+awareness+may+122996992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuf6tsLuHtX-bZsebL8iGpKL5gXMTgzN13xq9EOkfi4SyslwV_7yADinfK8ufOmNz_Q94MGx8XoH8dYA4TDYJv1eub_zgqKza4B9mIKnxDgm6nBlvUfmhSnmnWmtaLNBJvgnluqPFEIS3/s320/Mental+Health+awareness+may+122996992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How does one become addicted? Does addiction start with a bad habit? What happens in our brain when we suffer from addiction? What is the correlation between the science, the physiology and the psychology of addiction? Are there any differences between men and women when discussing addiction?<br />
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We hope you will join us on August 17th at the upcoming <a href="http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation2&fm=1">Howell Foundation Health Lecture Luncheon with guest speaker Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross <b><i>"Addiction: It's not just drugs and alcohol".</i></b></a><br />
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There are many forms of addiction. One can be addicted to food, to tobacco, to relationships, to video games, to cell phones. But the one element that accompanies addiction is the stigma associated with it: the perception that it is a weakness. Understanding the science behind addiction becomes a key issue on being able to set an action plan to treat the behavior.<br />
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According to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction">Healthline.com</a>, "Addictive substances and behaviors can create a pleasurable “high” that’s physical and psychological. You’ll typically use more of certain substances or engage in addictive behaviors longer to achieve the same high again. Over time, the addiction becomes difficult to stop."<br />
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One thing is for certain: an integrative approach to a negative behavior is the best treatment for addiction. It needs to go beyond the <i>just- say- no</i> perception, and include the implementation of healthy reward systems, medication, therapy and a healthy support network.<br />
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Meet Dr. Coker Ross! </h3>
Our Speaker for the Howell Lecture series in August will be Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School. According to the information provided in her website, "Dr. Ross’s practice experience after medical school helped fuel her interest in understanding what makes people heal as she saw that most of her patients’ medical problems were related to lifestyle habits and the stresses of modern living.<br />
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In searching for a better way to address these issues, Dr. Ross began to explore complementary and alternative therapies. She completed a residency in Preventive Medicine at Loma Linda University and set up practice in San Diego, California, where she eventually opened three women’s centers where she practiced primary care and office gynecology. Her women’s centers integrated the best of western medicine with complementary and alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, and nutrition counseling."<br />
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Dr. Ross, who studied with Dr. Andrew Weil for two years, will address multiple addictions, the common factors and novel remedies. She maintains private practices in Denver and San Diego using both western and complimentary medicine to treat a wide array of addictions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation2&fm=1">Register here to join us for lunch</a>, and catch up with the latest on women's health research:<br />
11:30am -12:00pm<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Registration/Netwroking<br />
12:00pm - 1:30pm<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lecture Luncheon<br />
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We hope to see you there!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UG5XCsv42fk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UG5XCsv42fk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the following sources: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">www.health.harvard.edu</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">www.nejm.org</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">www.carolynrossmd.com/</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">www.healthline.com</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "montserrat";">Shutterstock image licensed to Carolyn Northrup. </span></span><br />
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-72764137618500758112018-07-14T13:12:00.000-07:002018-07-14T13:12:36.421-07:00Sharing the WISDOM: An Oncologist, a Geneticist and an Epidemiologist walk into a bar...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3MJlei1TvD5v9DnC2E3nDmpasOg1X0Lx2EgB_IBEioZt813FBvb8VReH69XSIlgA8NDrTSu8o4WURgKob7YUHFckIcNe7m4WxcgJH_g9fmz5Pc4Oh1UDQTG-8LLdAlXb-1DnQqUK8izH/s1600/DSC_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3MJlei1TvD5v9DnC2E3nDmpasOg1X0Lx2EgB_IBEioZt813FBvb8VReH69XSIlgA8NDrTSu8o4WURgKob7YUHFckIcNe7m4WxcgJH_g9fmz5Pc4Oh1UDQTG-8LLdAlXb-1DnQqUK8izH/s1600/DSC_0478.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pictured from Left to right: Dr. Lisa Madlensky, Dr. Barbara Parker & Dr. Andrea LaCroix; key note speakers </span></td></tr>
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There isn’t actually a punch line here. Early detection and accurate treatment for breast cancer is certainly more a relief than a joking matter. We did, however, get together to learn about the latest advances in breast cancer screening, prevention and treatment.<br />
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Because women's health starts with research! </h3>
In support of the WISDOM (<b>W</b>omen<b> I</b>nformed to <b>S</b>creen <b>D</b>epending <b>O</b>n <b>M</b>easures of risk) trial, The Doris A. Howell Foundation celebrated its Health and Happiness Series in June with the presentation “Improving Benefits and Reducing Harms from Breast Cancer Screening: The WISDOM Trial,” hosting three renowned specialists in the areas of oncology, epidemiology and genetic testing. <br />
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The objective was to inform the San Diego community about the latest research being conducted regarding breast cancer screening guidelines, their efficacy, and the steps required to provide women with accurate, personalized prevention processes that effectively diagnose and treat breast cancer ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED basis.<br />
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Presented by Andrea Z. LaCroix, PhD, Professor and Chief of Epidemiology and Director of the Women's Health Center of Excellence; Lisa Madlensky, PhD, Director of the Family Cancer Genetics Program at Moore’s Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health; and Barbara A. Parker, MD, Breast Medical Oncologist and Senior Deputy Director of Cancer Medicine at UC San Diego Health's Moore’s Cancer Center, the event focused on informing the audience about current breast screening technologies, and the research currently being conducted to establish the guidelines based on personal history and genetics.<br />
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While Dr. Parker kicked off the evening presenting the overall status of breast cancer in the country and introduced the concept of precision medicine, Dr. LaCroix focused on the controversy of the effectiveness of breast cancer screening. Dr. Madlensky finished the evening with great information regarding genetic testing for the study.<br />
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For Dr. Parker's presentation, <a href="http://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/07/making-history-with-wisdom-trial.html">click here</a>.<br />
For Dr. LaCroix's presentation, <a href="http://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/07/breast-cancer-screening-and-wisdom.html">click here</a>.<br />
For Dr. Madlensky's presentation, <a href="http://howellfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/07/wisdom-study-risk-assessment-and-role.html">click here.</a><br />
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The notion is quite simple: to end the confusion about breast cancer screening methods and help women get the preventive care they REALLY need – rather than facing the uncertainties of misdiagnosis, unnecessary surgery, treatment, medication and cost. Just because all boobs are not created equal.<br />
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Will you help us make history? </h3>
In perhaps what is the most important study concerning breast cancer screening in California, the initiative counts on 5 University of California cancer
centers, and 13 Midwest hospitals with 100+ providers and researchers in
multidisciplinary fields. The WISDOM Trial is the largest initiative in the Network.<br />
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To sign up and help make history visit <a href="http://www.wisdomstudy.org/">www.wisdomstudy.org</a>, or contact <a href="mailto:vtorreon@ucsd.edu">Vedeline Torreon</a> for additional information.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODYa4uteMNSX0Iu9D3fdhNFTZXD0xjl_J-5OKcNE7ftt_vqeEM4CymZoilMbuyoUftlPQXeKTvwWk1xc2vSsb_H-phIqvT2sOhYMOI3TomJS0ExpGYiuj4Sod3iZWCQYYxDjyt9eTX1DK/s1600/DSC_0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODYa4uteMNSX0Iu9D3fdhNFTZXD0xjl_J-5OKcNE7ftt_vqeEM4CymZoilMbuyoUftlPQXeKTvwWk1xc2vSsb_H-phIqvT2sOhYMOI3TomJS0ExpGYiuj4Sod3iZWCQYYxDjyt9eTX1DK/s200/DSC_0499.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dr. Carole Banka & Anseth RIchrds, <br />President and Co-Founder of CHEERS</span></td></tr>
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Co-sponsored by the National CHEERS Foundation, Anseth Richards notes that the organization’s mission is to raise funds to support medical research and health institutions, health advocacy groups and outreach programs; and is proud to work with the Doris A. Howell Foundation to promote women’s health education in San Diego County. We are grateful for such a generous donation!<br />
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Last but not least thank you to all for your support! Again, summaries of the presentations are on the links above.<br />
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
<br />
For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. </span><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-74232678381867933442018-07-14T12:51:00.001-07:002018-07-14T12:51:55.179-07:00Wisdom Study, risk assessment and the role genetics play in breast cancer screening. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGK6FGAlkssP0IzLzQco2tSCjgw6w7T-_j4Ee48uPu35_Qt4fB1K0a0QO0SQPth_tiKi7UMIGJy9vKRreQQ7joO73RHw5PYhOCHxGbEaDHhs6c5g88q3AzJTdFjQKcNUeyxNRRGS0mKxZ/s1600/DSC_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGK6FGAlkssP0IzLzQco2tSCjgw6w7T-_j4Ee48uPu35_Qt4fB1K0a0QO0SQPth_tiKi7UMIGJy9vKRreQQ7joO73RHw5PYhOCHxGbEaDHhs6c5g88q3AzJTdFjQKcNUeyxNRRGS0mKxZ/s320/DSC_0539.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa Madlensky, Ph.D</td></tr>
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During the Howell Foundation's Evening Series in June, Dr. Madlensky discussed the genetic perspective of breast cancer and its role in determining the best course of action for women enrolled in the study. We know that every woman has a set of different risk factors. Why does reinforcing them matter? What is the best screening recommendation based on an individualized basis?<br />
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The Wisdom Trial has two arms. In the randomized arm, women will be assigned to one of two groups, either a group who will receive annual mammograms or a group whose diagnostics will be determined by their personalized profile, including genetics. The second arm is an observational one, where women will continue to receive mammograms (or not) at the frequency to which they are accustomed and under their own physician’s supervision. <br />
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The Wisdom Trial seeks to broaden the understanding of the role risk factors play in the development of breast cancer coupled with the information provided by women, to then provide the individualized screening strategy. “The personalized screening arm takes advantage of all of the advances that have been made in understanding the risk factors and protective factors that each of us may have that relate to our future risk of getting breast cancer.”<br />
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Dr. Madlensky presented 4 screening strategies based on the set of risk calculations. Women who are between 40 and 49, who are low risk, might get recommended to get a mammography at 50. For women over 50, they may be told to go every 2 years. For women who have genetic tests results, have a high breast density score, or have certain combinations of risk factors, will probably be recommended to have an annual mammogram screening. For women who have positive genetic tests, who have had radiation exposure to treat other cancers, or have a high combination of risk factors, perhaps a more aggressive course of action will be suggested: a biopsy and an MRI – depending or the risk-benefit assessment of screening.<br />
<br />
In all of the above examples, recommendations take place, not because it's the default position, but because of the information gathered and standardized risk calculations that indicate the most appropriate plan of action.<br />
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The Wisdom Study is unique because:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It’s a pragmatic trial: looks at screening in the “real world” – getting women to do what researchers need them to do to follow up on their information is a challenge. By looking at the screening process in a “real world setting” researchers can take concrete actions to guarantee the collection of meaningful information for the study. </li>
<li>It’s Dynamic: Life happens, and as it does, so the changes in risk factors – for example, aging. Whereas a woman might be considered low risk at 50, once she turns 60, her chances of getting diagnosed with breast cancer increase. </li>
<li>It’s preference-tolerant: Women who have a strong preference or are averse to randomization can choose randomization or observation arms. </li>
<li>It’s adaptive: As we learn more about assessing breast cancer risk, our risk assignment processes will be adjusted. Risk assignments will depend on personal information gathered throughout the trial.</li>
</ul>
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Genetic testing is one of the aspects that gets the most questions in the Trial. The Wisdom Study is structured around three main genetic components that allow the creation of a comprehensive panel of genes upon which screening recommendations will be provided:<br />
<br />
1. “Traditional” BRCA1 & BRCA2 testing will help determine the propensity for a breast cancer diagnosis. Considering that one in 400 to 800 women have a gene mutation under this classification, having it doesn’t necessarily mean a 100% risk of breast cancer. For women whose family history is unknown, who may be adopted or whose family risk of cancer might be passed down through males, BRCA 1 & BRCA2 will definitely provide a solid foundation in risk assessment and personalization.<br />
<br />
2. Women in the Trial additionally get tested for a second set of genes that are extremely rare but are related to an elevated risk of breast cancer (TP53, PTEN, STK11, CDH1, ATM, PALB2, and CHEK2). All women found to have a significant mutation in any of the nine genes listed above will be referred for genetic counseling.<br />
<br />
3. A unique score included in the study is the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) score. Women have millions of them as it is a normal variation in our genomes. They are unique in the sense that they do not behave the same way in individuals who come from different backgrounds as a general genetic variability would. They are technically easy to assess. <br />
<br />
The Study includes a panel of 200+ SNPs. This determines a “risk score”, and depending on that, women with higher scores will be recommended to get their screening mammograms more often<br />
The additional benefit of participating in the Wisdom Trial is that, if the results of your studies show a high risk for breast cancer, you will get a call from a genetic counselor of be referred to a local genetic counseling clinic.<br />
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The WISDOM Study is the largest breast cancer screening study in California. Did you sign up?<br />
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
<br />
For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by<a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/"> Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. </span><br />
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-40926649202620193102018-07-14T12:04:00.003-07:002018-10-30T09:07:27.000-07:00Breast Cancer Screening and the Wisdom Study: How can we address the controversy? Top things to know about breast cancer screening today<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D</td></tr>
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“There are many different guidelines by different organizations, and this adds a lot of confusion for women regarding their own health”, comments Dr. LaCroix. “The trial is comparing yearly screening to a personalized screening approach. The personalized screening will provide a mammogram timeline based on a participant’s individual risk factors (age, personal and family history, genetic tests for gene mutations and variations) linked to the development of breast cancer,”she concludes.<br />
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Dr. LaCroix’s participation in the WISDOM Trial is focused on determining how screening can be improved. She presented the two sides of the breast-health screening coin. Whereas research shows that overall mortality rates have gone down, one needs to dig in deeper to understand all the moving parts in breast screening: technology – which has certainly improved -- the development of new ways to treat the different stages of breast cancer, and ultimately, personal circumstances, propensity to risk factors, and age.<br />
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In presenting the controversy surrounding breast cancer screening, Dr. LaCroix mentioned that other countries in Europe -- France, the Netherlands and Denmark-- have just done away with any type of guideline; whereas in the UK, women between the ages of 50 and 70 can get screened as often as desired. This is just a sample of how the breast cancer screening controversy has the potential of affecting women.<br />
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In an era where treating breast cancer is pretty much “processed” – meaning same detection and treatment across the board -- Dr. LaCroix suggests a change in paradigm. “We clearly need to realize that no cancer is the same, just as breast cancer is not just a single disease”.<br />
Citing Dr. Karsten Jorgensen, “We shouldn’t treat all cancers the same way because they are not the same. Our knowledge of cancer biology tells us that breast cancer represents a spectrum of really different cases of cancer that behave in very different ways. And sadly, screening is not good at picking up those cancers that we really want to pick up.”<br />
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The idea of the Wisdom Study is to make screening for breast cancer better. Perhaps women with a higher risk of breast cancer can get screened more often than women with a lower risk. According to research presented by Dr. LaCroix, breast cancer screening:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Has resulted in detection of smaller tumors but not reduced the incidence of metastatic disease.</li>
<li>Studies we rely upon for evidence are outdated but showed a reduced risk of breast cancer mortality of 14% for women in their 50s and 33% for women in their 60s. Breast cancer screening has not shown a significant reduction in risk in women over 70.</li>
<li>Can cause harms (false-positive results, biopsies, anxiety, distress, worry about breast cancer, radiation exposure).</li>
<li>Has not incorporated our advances in knowledge about breast cancer biology.</li>
</ul>
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The WISDOM Study is designed to test a new way! Based on the premise that there are many variables in breast cancer, the WISDOM Trial seeks to determine if personalized screening (as compared to one-size annual screening) provides:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Equal to or better patient safety</li>
<li>Less morbidity </li>
<li>More acceptance by women</li>
<li>Prevention enabling</li>
<li>Better healthcare value</li>
</ul>
<br />
Women around the country make decisions based on the information from their screening. If the study can provide a comprehensive picture when dealing with an already difficult illness, decisions like a double mastectomy based on an abundance of caution can save patients the consequences of unnecessary surgery, for example. The Wisdom Study guiding principles are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>No woman will be screened less aggressively than existing recommendations from major professional societies</li>
<li>Minimize false positives</li>
<li>Minimize interval cancers</li>
<li>Minimize incidence of Stage IIB and higher disease</li>
<li>Women with known deleterious mutations in hereditary breast cancer genes will be screened according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines</li>
<li>Screening recommendations will be practical and scalable</li>
</ul>
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The WISDOM Study is the largest breast cancer screening study in California. <a href="http://www.wisdomstudy.org/">Did you sign up? </a></div>
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
<br />
For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. </span></div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-36360168980766187642018-07-14T11:45:00.000-07:002018-10-29T09:16:27.302-07:00Making history with the WISDOM Trial: Because when women come together, beautiful things happen. <br />
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<b>Precision Medicine Initiative: “A one-size fits all approach to prevention and early detection of breast cancer is not optimal for women”</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Barbara Parker</td></tr>
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Dr. Barbara Parker, breast oncologist and Senior Deputy Director of Cancer Medicine, was the first of three keynote speakers. She discussed breast cancer Precision Medicine, breast cancer incidence and death rates, and treatment advances for early and advanced breast cancer.<br />
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In summary, the most important take-away messages from Dr. Parker’s presentation include:<br />
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“Precision Medicine” was defined by the National Cancer Institute in 2015 and focuses on prevention and treatment strategies that take patients’ individual characteristics into account. “A one-size fits all approach to prevention and early detection of breast cancer is not optimal for women,” comments Dr. Parker. Precision Medicine in breast cancer involves:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Individualizing care based upon genes, environment, and prognosis; that is, individualizing care based upon family history and inherited genes, reproductive history and environmental exposures, and the prognosis of the cancer based on the tumor characteristics.</li>
<li>Targeting therapies to specific patients, tumors, and pathways based on the understanding of the risk factors , the subtype of breast cancer, and the molecular profile of some tumors. </li>
<li>Targeting screening and intervention strategies to patients at highest risk. The WISDOM trial, discussed later in the evening, provides the opportunity to determine breast cancer risk at the point of screening and to assign breast cancer screening frequency based upon risk.</li>
</ul>
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The latest statistics in breast cancer are the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer. Breast cancer comprises about 15% of all cancer cases in the US and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, behind lung cancer.</li>
<li>Overall estimated 5-year survival in female breast cancer patients is around 90% but differs significantly across different stages of breast cancer; 99% when localized to the breast, 85% when localized to the breast and armpit, and 27% if spread to other parts of the body at diagnosis.</li>
<li>Common risk factors include family history, aging, obesity, alcohol consumption, delayed or no childbearing, high dose of radiation (for treating lymphomas) and menopausal hormone therapy.</li>
</ul>
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In many situations especially in women over the age of 50, if we detect cancers earlier, patients may do better, live longer and have better options for smaller surgeries and may not require a mastectomy or chemotherapy, for example”.<br />
<br />
“We know that breast cancer survival has improved over the past 20 years thanks in part to high quality, multidisciplinary care. That means excellent surgical technique, high quality medical oncology, making the right judgment regarding chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, managing chemotherapy side effects, and biologic therapy (Herceptin) when indicated, have made a tremendous impact on the management and survival of breast cancer – saving many lives”.<br />
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Breast cancer is not one disease, it consists of multiple subtypes that are treated diffierently. Advances in treatment are encouraging:<br />
<br />
Metastatic breast cancer<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>New drugs and novel combinations are effective</li>
<li>Patients are living longer with “chronic disease of breast cancer” </li>
</ul>
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Early Stage – High Risk Stage II and Stage III<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Novel drugs + chemotherapy given prior to surgery are very promising and may accelerate FDA approval of new effective drugs</li>
</ul>
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Early Stage – Lower Risk Stage I and Stage II<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Molecular profiling determines the majority of patients who can avoid chemotherapy and take endocrine therapy alone</li>
</ul>
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Dr. Parker along with Dr. Lisa Madlensky co-chair the UCSD site for the Athena Breast Health Network. “The purpose of Athena is to create an environment where scientists can rapidly integrate research findings into clinical care,” comment’s Dr. Parker. The Athena consortium is composed of 5 University of California cancer centers. For the WISDOM Study, multidisciplinary physicians from 13 Midwest hospitals are participating.<br />
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The Athena Breast Health Network has several strategic initiatives to improve the lives of woman at risk for, or diagnosed with, breast cancer:<br />
<br />
<b><i>For prevention:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Personlized risk assessment as part of the screening process</li>
<li>Prevention counseling for high risk women (tamoxifen, raloxifene, life style and other recommendations</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><i>For screening and diagnosis:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Risk based screening and prevention</li>
<li>Tailored frequency of diagnostic procedures</li>
<li>Determine who is at risk for what type of breast cancer</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>For treatment:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Tailored interventions based upon molecular profiling and inherited risk</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>And for survivorship:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Better models of care to ensure latest research is integrated into recommendations that maximize quality and quantity of life</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<ul>
</ul>
<b>The WISDOM Study is the largest initiative in the Network. </b> <a href="http://www.wisdomstudy.org/">Did you sign up? </a><br />
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
<br />
For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. </span></div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-29626394138488730022018-07-12T22:44:00.002-07:002018-07-12T22:44:47.914-07:00Joining Engineering and Medicine: Encouraging yet Challenging! What you need to know about the future of Regenerative Medicine.<br />
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During the Howell Foundation luncheon in May, the audience was taken once again to the world of futuristic medicine with the presentation “Advanced Tissue Therapies: Progress in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, presented by Dr. Benjamin Shepherd, Senior Director of Therapeutics at Organovo Inc.<br />
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Dr. Shepherd talked about examples of tissue engineering for both drug discovery and therapeutic tissue development. His presentation focused on current research areas where bioscience and technology have been very successful. He elaborated on the areas of challenge in tissue regeneration: 1) current efforts in organ reconstruction based on previous research in vascular grafts (the blood vessel space), and 2) efforts focused on “additive manufacturing”, also known as 3-dimensional printing. Of significant importance are the future applications of his own research in both areas.<br />
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As individuals live longer, the need to address the surmounting gaps between tissue donors and recipients becomes a point of research focus for many organizations. Today there are hundreds more recipients on waiting lists than there are donors, making the need for regenerating tissues and organs an obvious one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Benjamin Shepherd</td></tr>
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The idea of tissue regeneration started by joining engineering principles with biology; in other words, taking a biopsy, isolating and expanding those cells. His laboratory can grow and expand most type of cells under inherent conditions. Enter the engineering part: creating a tubular, three dimensional component (or scaffold) to grow the cells onto, or establishing a cell production process that can be used time and time again.<br />
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Turns out there are several organizations nationwide interested in bringing new bio-engineering techniques to fruition. Dr. Shepherd presented several companies’ research efforts that are currently focused on enhancing technology-based science into applicable patient treatments by either continued scientific research, or by bio-fabrication hubs, where the “manufacturing” of future organ tissue will be developed. Dr. Shepherd is, of course, involved. <br />
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Although the novel idea sounds great in principle, there are currently a number of challenges. Among them, vascularization; that is, establishing blood flow through the new tissue. Blood vessels from a donor will be rejected by the recipient. Technology that has been developed collaboratively for over 20 years offers encouraging results. One approach is to build a “manufactured”, non-biological, vasculature. A second approach would be the removal of cellular components of blood vessels from the donor that lead to rejection. By a process of “de-cellularization” of the tissue meant for transplantation, the potential for donor rejection is minimized.<br />
<br />
As explained by Shepherd, the process:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Started with a tissue sample from a biopsy, regardless of a familial relationship to the patient, </li>
<li>Grew and matured blood vessels in the lab</li>
<li>Wiped all the cells away and held on to the structural elements of the blood vessels which serve as scaffolding for blood vessels comprised of the recipient’s cells, keeping the structural part and putting the patient’s cells in. </li>
</ul>
<br />
“We’ve gotten rid of the [transplant] rejection response that would be associated with taking cells from one patient and putting it into another because we’ve gotten rid of all the cells. This means that doctors are left with a perfectly ’native-like’, human-derived blood vessel substitute that, when treated with blood thinners, doesn’t clot. This now presents an opportunity for off-the-shelf blood vessel development on which doctors can capitalize to further their own research.”<br />
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This is just one example of how technology applied to medicine is becoming the cornerstone of treatment for researchers and physicians. Did you know doctors can now visualize the actual anatomy of an organ by bio-printing it before facing a complicated surgery? Prosthetics is another area where bio-printing is heavily supported and effectively used in patients with congenital defects or injuries of war, for example. Dr. Shepherd’s current research includes taking that technology and utilizing bio-printing principles for the development of tissue – explained in lay terms, instead of ink on a printer, cells are injected from the printer to create three-dimensional tissues -- that eventually can be either used for transplant surgery, treatment for damaged/diseased tissue or for testing of new therapeutic drugs.<br />
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The possibilities are endless and quite encouraging! Dr. Sheppard’s research indicates that the applications for this bio-technology will be extremely beneficial for illnesses where organs are damaged or inflamed. Past and current efforts include research work on bladder re-construction, synthetic skin substitutes for non-healing wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers or burns, fatty liver disease and cardio-thoracic/heart disease afflictions, to name a few.<br />
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The biggest challenge for his lab is to homogenize the process of cell sourcing. “What we are focusing on is building better systems that are useful for others and, in the process of building those systems, understanding how to do a good job. When we understand how one makes the good tissue, and how one should handle that tissue, from that starting point, we have a better chance of successfully developing a therapeutic tissue”.<br />
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How exciting for our audience to see the actual building of a bladder by 3-D bio-printing and populating that bladder with living cells! The future of medical therapeutics beckons. Thank you, Dr. Shephard!<br />
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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:<br />
<br />
For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.<br />
<br />
The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle. ###<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="http://www.carolynnorthrup.com/">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information provided by the key note speakers. Shutterstock image licensed to Carolyn Northrup </span></div>
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The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-20472084328136813192018-05-31T11:10:00.000-07:002018-06-01T11:35:46.142-07:00Osteoporosis: An update on the latest research findings. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBy0ylCi0IBbowV3G9ODB3Q_VKkEzMdh7Sj2WVGWKYbdnNkw1ZXWc2HZ4q-XMXE62WN93f3LLUVv-D4Z7TkTyQOjm57-difUrN_OI0dEoLpPPe4ukEhXo5Uj4QVreOr0vsSmsPKsyRdbL/s1600/Osteoporosis_186714431.jpg" title="https://medschool.ucsd.edu/research/aging/Pages/default.aspx" /><a href="http://podcast.uctv.tv/vod/31841.mp4">http://podcast.uctv.tv/vod/31841.mp4</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Going back to 2016, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Hofflich, a
leading expert in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteopenia and
osteoporosis and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine practicing
endocrinology and internal medicine at the UC San Diego Health System.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Back then, she explained the
causes and risk factors, the treatment strategies and options and the role calcum plays in the prevention and progression of osteoporosis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Need a reminder of the risks,
causes and management strategies for osteoporosis and osteopenia? Via the
University of California TV, and coutesy of the </span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://medschool.ucsd.edu/research/aging/Pages/default.aspx">Stein Insitute Research on Aging</a> Lecture Series, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">an update on the research conducted by Dr.
Hofflich below. </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mFMkyB4YU2I/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mFMkyB4YU2I?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation: </b><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 14px;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle.</span><br />
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<br />The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com0San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1236333812742253408.post-63637541894952517392018-05-21T14:47:00.000-07:002018-06-05T13:07:59.322-07:00Howell Foundation on board with largest health institutions throughout CA in research trial aimed to address the controversy surrounding mammograms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUVAuIADRYHoqgLtURY3oaXdN9-UY7-jJQ2toeG16SRPnFfySI8NxiBiAahyrQWmzVz0vM736IZ1Yzxg7HSaAsLn7pnKCcV3KiUtCJPXzgMS2hzfpOXVPId-kAyUfhdq_9NDmlMz4NPr6/s1600/Wouldn%2527t+you+want+to+know.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUVAuIADRYHoqgLtURY3oaXdN9-UY7-jJQ2toeG16SRPnFfySI8NxiBiAahyrQWmzVz0vM736IZ1Yzxg7HSaAsLn7pnKCcV3KiUtCJPXzgMS2hzfpOXVPId-kAyUfhdq_9NDmlMz4NPr6/s1600/Wouldn%2527t+you+want+to+know.png" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Led by UC San Diego Health, UC Davis Health, UCSF, UCLA Health, UC Irvine, and Sanford Health, mammography screening research trial to determine which strategy produces the most benefit and least harm for women</i></li>
<li><i>“It’s important for women to have confidence in good scientific research” – WisdomStudy.org</i></li>
<li><i>Howell Foundation supporting the efforts of the WISDOM trial with the celebration of the WISDOM event on June 26th</i></li>
</ul>
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Help us make history and <a href="http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation2&fm=2">register for the event</a>.</h3>
<b>San Diego, CA; May 2018</b>.- In an effort to bring women’s health research issues to the forefront, the Doris A. Howell Foundation announced it is partnering with UC San Diego and its fellow research organizations in the WISDOM (Women Informed to Screen Depending On Measures of risk) trial. The study aims to clarify breast cancer screening guidelines regarding frequency and age at which women should receive their screening mammograms.<br />
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Howell Board Member and Principal Investigator, Dr. Andrea LaCroix comments: “Screening guidelines for breast cancer have changed many times over recent years and seem to be in a constant state of flux. The WISDOM trial’s goal is to test annual screening versus a personalized schedule based on a woman’s clinical and genetic risk factors for breast cancer. The study should determine which strategy produces the most benefit for women and the least harm.” Dr. LaCroix is Professor and Chief of Epidemiology in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. <br />
In order to inform women in the community regarding guidelines for screening and personal factors for breast cancer risk, the Howell Foundation will be hosting an event on June 26th, 2018, at Liberty Station.<br />
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Presented by Andrea Z. LaCroix, PhD, Professor and Chief of Epidemiology and Director of the Women's Health Center of Excellence; Lisa Madlensky, PhD, Director of the Family Cancer Genetics Program at Moore’s Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health; and Barbara A Parker, MD, Breast Medical Oncologist and Senior Deputy Director of Cancer Medicine at UC San Diego Health's Moore’s Cancer Center, the event will focus on informing the audience about current breast screening guidelines, and the research currently being conducted to establish the guidelines based on personal history and genetics. For more information about the event, please visit <a href="http://www.howellfoundation.org/">www.howellfoundation.org</a>.<br />
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“There are many different guidelines by different organizations, and this adds a lot of confusion for women regarding their own health”, comments Dr. LaCroix. “The trial is comparing yearly screening to a personalized screening approach. The personalized screening will provide a mammogram timeline based on participant’s individual risk factors (age, personal and family history, genetic tests for genes (mutations and variations) linked to the development of breast cancer),”she concludes.<br />
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Kathleen Franklin, Co-Chair of the Howell Foundation states the study is critical to advancing knowledge about women's health and breast cancer screening. "We at the Howell Foundation are passionate about making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. It is with this in mind that we are giving our full support to the effort of the WISDOM Trial. This study is crucial to determining the best way to screen for breast cancer. Is it to do annual mammograms, or would a more personalized approach — driven by the data attached to each woman’s genetic makeup, family history and risk factors — deliver better results? It is with pleasure that the Howell Foundation gives its support. "<br />
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“The WISDOM Study is designed to end the confusion about breast cancer screening. By comparing two safe and accepted screening recommendations, we can discover the best screening guidelines for ourselves, our sisters, our daughters, and future generations of women,” comments Tracy Layton, Project Manager for the study. “We need women to join the study and share their data, so we have enough information to make informed decisions for future screening recommendations.<br />
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Together, we can discover the best way forward.”<br />
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If interested in joining the study, and for more information on the WISDOM trial, please contact Trial Coordinator, Ms. Vedeline Torreon, at <a href="http://vtorreon@ucsd.edu./">vtorreon@ucsd.edu.</a><br />
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Help us make history and <a href="http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=howellfoundation2&fm=2">register for the event</a>.<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">For the past 23 years, The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research has been dedicated to keeping to women we love healthy by making a long-term, positive impact on women’s health. To date, it is the premier organization advancing women’s health.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community; bringing women's health research to a full cycle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: xx-small;">Summary & Design prepared by <a href="https://www.carolynnorthrup.com/women-s-health-research" style="background: transparent; color: #2196f3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Carolyn Northrup</a> and revised by Carole Banka, PHD with information from the following sources:</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li><span style="font-family: "montserrat";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.wisdomtrial.org</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "montserrat";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/Pages/2018-01-03-six-minutes-can-save-your-life-contribute-to-science.aspx</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: xx-small;">Shutterstock images licensed to Carolyn Northrup </span>The Doris A. Howell Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12599196016093651352noreply@blogger.com1San Diego, CA, USA32.715738 -117.1610838000000331.861779000000002 -118.45197730000002 33.569697000000005 -115.87019030000003