Separating hype from hope, understanding the drug development process for new cancer therapies, and recognizing Michigan researchers who’ve made major contributions to the field of oncology were the theme of the annual meeting of the Michigan Society for Medical Research (MISMR). This marked the 16th annual meeting for MISMR who joined forces this year with Pharmacia & Upjohn as co-presenters. The meeting was held at Pharmacia & Upjohn in Kalamazoo.

The day began with the annual workshop for science teachers — a short course on oncology. Presenters were: John Goudie, Ed.D., Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center; J. Patrick McGovren, Ph.D., Clinical Development, Oncology, Pharmacia & Upjohn; and Kathy Gallo, Ph.D., Physiology Dept., Michigan State University. The teachers were given an overview of cancer, as well as ways to help students understand the complexities of cancer with hands-on activities for class use.

F ollowing the workshop, featured presentations were delivered by Michael Graziano, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., of the department of pathology and experimental toxicology at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research in Ann Arbor; Jerome P. Horowitz, Ph.D., of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit; and Langdon Miller, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Development and Oncology at Pharmacea & Upjohn in Kalamazoo.

Left to Right: Michael Graziano, Langdon Miller, Jerome P. Horowitz, J.Patrick McGovren,
Kathy Gallo   Not Shown: John Goudie

Graziano presented a summary of the preclinical drug discovery and development process. Beginning with identifying promising new drugs, he outlined the steps involved in evaluating effectiveness, including the vital role laboratory animals play in the process.

Horwitz, a recipient of the Bennett J. Cohen Educational Leadership Award at the meeting for his development of AZT and other AIDS drugs which grew out of cancer research work in the early 60’s, presented on new drugs in the developmental pipeline at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Joe Michaels & Jerome Horowitz

Miller discussed the drug evaluation process — what really defines a new weapon as a success — focusing on Camptosan, a new colon cancer drug at Pharmacea & Upjohn.

For the first time, MISMR presented a second Bennett J. Cohen Award to Barnett Rosenberg, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the department of biophysics at Michigan State University, and creator of the Barros Research Institute. Rosenberg discovered the anti-cancer activity of the platinum compounds Cisplatin and Carboplatin — some of the most widely used chemotherapies.

Barnett Rosenberg

The Year’s Highlights...

• 16th Annual Meeting & Educational Symposium Medical
  Research in Michigan — Celebrating our Successes
• Science Teacher Workshop
  Oncology — Short Course for Teachers
• Eighth Annual Middle and High School Essay Contest
  The Importance of Biomedical Research
• Political Advocacy Day
  Get to Know Michigan Legislators
• Monitoring the Pulse
  Briefings Covering Current Issues, Policies, and Legislation Focusing on Biomedical Research

We Were There ...

• District V American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
  MISMR Mission and Message in the Schools — Ann Arbor
• Seaholm High School Exploration ‘98
  Veterinary Technicians Role in Research — Birmingham
• Farmington Hills High School
• Battle Creek Math & Science Center
• Osborn High School
  Bioethics Forum
• Rennaissance High School
  Science Fair Judge
• Western Michigan University
  Girls in Science Conference — Kalamazoo

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