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Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research
Enrique Rozengurt, DVM, Ph.D., FRCPath (UK), AGAF, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases, and Director of CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center was named the inaugural Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research in 2000. This distinguished position helps guide basic science in developing new therapies and finding a cure for this deadly disease, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in America.
Fundamental discoveries in the field of regulation of cell growth have produced a dramatic improvement in our understanding of malignant transformation, tumor progression and invasiveness and provide the best hope for developing novel therapeutic approaches for this a disease. These include the identification of the intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. These novel concepts, some of which pioneered by the research of Dr Rozengurt, are now been applied to pancreatic cancer.
Recognizing the importance of fundamental discoveries as the first step in the process of translational research, the Hirshberg Foundation created the Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research. The major goals of the research are:
- Identify the cause(s) of pancreatic cancer
- Facilitate the early detection of pancreatic cancer
- Extend the lives of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
- Find a cure for pancreatic cancer
current research projects
- G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in pancreatic cancer
- Targeting crosstalk between insulin/IGF-1 and GPCR signaling in pancreatic cancer
- The role of AMPK in pancreatic cancer
- Antidiabetic strategies in pancreatic cancer: Metformin
- Development of rational approaches to combined therapy
- Targeting the AMPK/mTOR axis
- Characterization of PKD signaling in pancreatic cancer cells
- Identifying PKD as a novel target in pancreatic cancer
Laboratory Director:
J. Enrique Rozengurt, DVM, PhD, FRC Path, AGAF, Distinguished Professor of Medicine
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Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair of Pancreatic Cancer Director
- CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center/Chief of Research, Division of Digestive Diseases
laboratory fellows and staff:
| Kristina Kisfalvi |
MD, PhD, Assistant Researcher |
| James Sinnett-Smith |
BSc, Specialist |
| Robert Kui |
BS, SRA1 |
| Steven Young |
PhD, Assistant Researcher |
| Osvaldo Rey |
PhD, Associate Professor |
| Richard Waldron |
PhD, Assistant Researcher |
Current Funding:
| NIH/NIDDK |
R01 DK55003 |
| Principle Investigator: |
Dr. Enrique Rozengurt |
| Dates: |
02/28/08 - 05/30/12 |
| Total Amount: |
$1,360,709 |
| Description: |
Gastrointestinal Peptide Signaling through PKC/PKD |
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The major goals of this project are to characterize the activation of the PKC/PKD pathway and define the role of PKD in proliferative signal transduction in gastrointestinal (GI) cells, including pancreatic cancer cells. New research is demonstrating that PKD may be a novel molecular target for therapy of pancreatic cancer. |
| NIH/NIDDK |
R01 DK56930 |
| Principle Investigator: |
Dr. Enrique Rozengurt |
| Dates: |
05/30/2006 - 06/01/2011 |
| Total Amount: |
$1,356,255 |
| Description: |
GI peptide signaling through tyrosine phosphorylation |
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The major goals of this project are to identify the role of GI peptide-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in signal transduction pathways implicated in cell migration and proliferation. |
| NIH NCI |
R21 CA137292 |
| Principle Investigator: |
Dr. Enrique Rozengurt |
| Dates: |
5/01/2009 - 4/30/2011 |
| Total Amount: |
$372,680 |
| Description: |
Targeting crosstalk between insulin and Gq signaling systems in pancreatic cancer |
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The major goals of this project are to characterize a novel crosstalk between insulin receptor and Gq signaling in human pancreatic cancer cells. A second goal of this project is to test whether metformin inhibits this crosstalk and offers a novel approach for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer, using tumor xenografts in nude mice. |
| NIH NIDDK |
P30 DK41301 |
| Principle Investigator: |
Dr. Enrique Rozengurt |
| Dates: |
11/30/2009 - 11/30/2014 |
| Total Amount: |
$4,725,000 |
| Description: |
CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center |
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The major goals of this P30 Core Grant is to support multidisciplinary research, transfer of information and the award of seed grants. The CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Core Center Grant supports multiple Scientific Cores, a Pilot and Feasibility Program, the recruitment of a Named New Investigator and an array of Enrichment Activities regarding the function and diseases of the digestive system, including the exocrine pancreas. |
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