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Hoxworth to Receive Gift from Deaconess & Heimlich Institute 2009 National Heimlich Maneuver Week School Visit Marks National Heimlich Maneuver Week IN THE NEWSHoxworth to Receive Gift from Deaconess & Heimlich Institute$500,000 GIFT FROM DEACONESS IN NAME OF HEIMLICH INSTITUTE FUNDS RESEARCH AT HOXWORTH BLOOD CENTER CINCINNATI—Deaconess Associations Foundation (DAF) has given a half-million dollar gift in the name of the Heimlich Institute to fund new research at Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati. The donation will aid in the development of new cellular therapy treatments for patients. The gift was awarded at an event scheduled on Thursday, January 28th at 3:00 pm at Hoxworth on the UC Academic Health Center’s campus (3130 Highland Avenue). Patrick Ward, executive director of the Deaconess Associations Foundation, says he is pleased that this gift will not only be used to create cutting-edge treatments for patients, but also to further support Deaconess’ mission encouraging medical innovation. “We have a vital interest in furthering medical research, and we welcome this opportunity to partner with Hoxworth Blood Center,” he says. “Deaconess is proud to support this groundbreaking research in the name of the Heimlich Institute.” Jose Cancelas, MD, PhD, and Thomas Leemhuis, PhD, researchers at the blood center, will use the $500,000 gift to fund two projects: one looking at ways to eliminate cell damage in chemotherapy patients and the other aimed at creating cell therapies for immune-compromised pediatric patients. Leemhuis, associate professor of pediatrics, says his team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will work to form an experimental treatment that could potentially fight three of the most common viral infections in immune-compromised patients. “The process will involve bringing an innovative technology from Baylor College of Medicine to Hoxworth to collect blood from the patient, isolate white blood cell groups and genetically engineer the cells to express proteins that mimic the proteins of cytomegalovirus (herpes), the Epstein-Barr virus and adenovirus (most commonly affecting the respiratory tract)—the three most common viruses affecting this population,” he says. “This will help white blood cells identify the pathogens and begin fighting them before they are reintroduced to the patient’s system.” Cancelas, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and his team will analyze the role of stem cell proteins in adult bone marrow to see how they can be manipulated to improve side effects of chemotherapy in pediatrics. “Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in U.S.,” says Cancelas, director of research at Hoxworth and an associate professor at the College of Medicine. “A cornerstone of cancer therapy is chemo-radiotherapy, but a major side effect of chemo-radiotherapy is damage of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow. Our project intends to analyze the role of a protein involved in the cell-to-cell communication in the blood from inside the environment of the bone marrow and to see if manipulation of the function of this protein may improve some of the problems associated with cancer therapy.” The Heimlich Institute is named after Henry Heimlich, MD, a noted Cincinnatian and inventor of the Heimlich maneuver. “We are pleased to be working with Deaconess to ramp up medical innovation in the Tristate,” Ronald Sacher, director of Hoxworth, says. “With this generous gift, we are promoting collaboration and are truly working toward breakthrough discoveries that have the potential to help millions worldwide. “We thank Deaconess and the Heimlich Institute for their generosity.” Sacher said. For more information regarding Deaconess Associations Foundation can be found at www.DeaconessFoundation.org. Visit www.hoxworth.org to learn more about Hoxworth Blood Center. About Deaconess Foundation: About Hoxworth: Media Contacts: Barbara Lohr |
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