Posted 12:15 am Friday, November 02, 2007
UTHCT Gala Funds Research For Cancer
By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer
City leaders, cancer researchers and state senators joined more than 750 for University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler's Celebration 2007: XXX-Out Cancer event on Thursday night.
Fundraising exceeded $180,000 at the gala for cancer research and treatment at the health science center, UTHCT spokeswoman Toni Moore said.
"Tyler is famous for this facility's research in lung injury, lung disease and chronic infections," said Dr. Kenneth Shine, UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. "Now we're supporting its efforts in researching cancer, particularly in its prevention."
Money raised goes to UTHCT's cancer endeavors, said Vice President of Research Dr. Steven Idell, especially the oncology clinic and clinical studies conducted by new UTHCT team member Dr. Coty Ho.
Idell and four other UTHCT doctors conduct cancer research on grants from the National Institute of Health in the areas of breast, prostate, lung cancers and the drugs and herbs that could prevent cancer.
"They're doing great things here," said Sen. Dr. Bob Deuell, a practicing physician in Greenville, who said he's been sending patients to UTHCT for many years.
Deuell attended the event with his wife, Marilyn.
Many in attendance were longtime supporters of the health science center.
"We've seen it emerge as something new," said Marilyn Glass, whose husband John serves on the UTHCT development board. "It used to be just a lung hospital, and now it's this, with a new identity."
Last year's event raised $175,000 for UT Health Center's Aging Research and Treatment Unit, part of the health center's Center for Healthy Aging.
In 2005, the gala benefited the Texas Lung Injury Institute with more than $170,000 in donations, a special project initiative to help UTHCT fund research in pulmonary diseases.
Since its first celebration in 2002, more than $700,000 has been raised for life-saving initiatives at the center, Moore said.
Shine, a cardiologist, said that although heart disease is the No. 1 killer in Texas, cancer is No. 2.
But advances as a result of research have changed its outlook, he said.
"When I was in training, children's leukemia was a death sentence," he said. "Now 90 percent of leukemia in children is curable. Still, too many people are dying of cancer in Texas."
The UT System is devoted to cancer research, Shine said. Its M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is ranked No. 1 for quality of care and cancer research in the nation.
Other UT cancer centers are located in Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Tyler.
Updated Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. CDT
Staff Writer
City leaders, cancer researchers and state senators joined more than 750 for University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler's Celebration 2007: XXX-Out Cancer event on Thursday night.
Fundraising exceeded $180,000 at the gala for cancer research and treatment at the health science center, UTHCT spokeswoman Toni Moore said.
"Tyler is famous for this facility's research in lung injury, lung disease and chronic infections," said Dr. Kenneth Shine, UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. "Now we're supporting its efforts in researching cancer, particularly in its prevention."
Money raised goes to UTHCT's cancer endeavors, said Vice President of Research Dr. Steven Idell, especially the oncology clinic and clinical studies conducted by new UTHCT team member Dr. Coty Ho.
Idell and four other UTHCT doctors conduct cancer research on grants from the National Institute of Health in the areas of breast, prostate, lung cancers and the drugs and herbs that could prevent cancer.
"They're doing great things here," said Sen. Dr. Bob Deuell, a practicing physician in Greenville, who said he's been sending patients to UTHCT for many years.
Deuell attended the event with his wife, Marilyn.
Many in attendance were longtime supporters of the health science center.
"We've seen it emerge as something new," said Marilyn Glass, whose husband John serves on the UTHCT development board. "It used to be just a lung hospital, and now it's this, with a new identity."
Last year's event raised $175,000 for UT Health Center's Aging Research and Treatment Unit, part of the health center's Center for Healthy Aging.
In 2005, the gala benefited the Texas Lung Injury Institute with more than $170,000 in donations, a special project initiative to help UTHCT fund research in pulmonary diseases.
Since its first celebration in 2002, more than $700,000 has been raised for life-saving initiatives at the center, Moore said.
Shine, a cardiologist, said that although heart disease is the No. 1 killer in Texas, cancer is No. 2.
But advances as a result of research have changed its outlook, he said.
"When I was in training, children's leukemia was a death sentence," he said. "Now 90 percent of leukemia in children is curable. Still, too many people are dying of cancer in Texas."
The UT System is devoted to cancer research, Shine said. Its M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is ranked No. 1 for quality of care and cancer research in the nation.
Other UT cancer centers are located in Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Tyler.
Updated Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. CDT
