University of Florida Health
Early Career Development Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Hans Ghayee! His research proposal "mTOR Inhibitors Effect on Growth & Catecholalmine Synthesis of Human Pheochromocytoma Cells" is a distinctive concept of developing a new pheochromocytoma cell line and of testing new agents in that cell line which has the potential of being highly relevant to the field.

On behalf of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) it is a pleasure to announce his selection as the recipient of our first Young Investigator grant in the amount of $50,000. Following is Dr. Gahyee summary of his project:

"Our group is interested in studying tumors called pheochromocytoma that arise from the adrenal medulla. These tumors secrete catecholamines and affected patients may present with hypertension or palpitations and can have devastating complications resulting in cardiovascular collapse. We are interested in identifying compounds which might inhibit pheochromocytoma cell proliferation or catecholamine production. One such candidate class of compounds are called mTOR inhibitors. We hope to further investigate whether hypersecretion of catecholamines would be controlled with mTOR inhibitors. A human pheochromocytoma cell line has been generated in our laboratory and affords us an opportunity to study the effects of mTOR inhibitors and other drugs on human pheochromocytoma cells which will give us an insight for future therapeutic targets."

Due to the current shortage of young scientists focused on the clinical investigation of neuroendocrine tumors, we created this grant to encourage physicians, at the end of their fellowship or beginning of their faculty appointment, to pursue clinical research in this field. Dr. Ghayee's application was well written and his research plan has the capability of producing results that would make significant contributions to NET research and lead to a productive career in neuroendocrine tumors.

In addition, we want to acknowledge the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation for funding this grant. Their continued support and commitment to assist NANETS in fulfilling our mission is critical to the success of the NANETS organization. This collaborative partnership and their assistance in funding research will continue to make a positive impact in improving the lives of people with carcinoid/NET cancers.

Dr. Ghayee will be presenting developments from this research project at the NANETS annual meeting in 2010.

Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center
Young Investigator Grant

On behalf of The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS), it is a pleasure to announce the selection of Diane Reidy-Lagunes, M.D., M.S. as the recipient a Young Investigator award in the amount of $50,000. Her research proposal, entitled “A Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Identify the Pathways Driving Neuroendocrine Tumors & Improve Our Treatments: From Mouse Models to Human Patients” describes an innovative, collaborative strategy that brings together clinical and basic researchers to uncover and therapeutically target the pathways driving neuroendocrine tumor (NET) development.

“The project will help address current knowledge gaps by integrating the analysis of human NET samples with appropriate mouse models of NET cancer. Of particular interest is Dr. Reidy-Lagunes’ approach of testing specific, novel targeted therapies in the mouse model to speed their path to the clinic. “We will move back and forth between human and animal studies, which will continuously cross-inform each other, with the ultimate goal of rapidly translating the knowledge we gain into a novel and effective treatments for this disease,” said Dr. Reidy.

More broadly, the Young Investigator Award helps address a current shortage of young scientists focused on the investigation of neuroendocrine tumors and is open to investigators at the end of their fellowship or beginning of their faculty appointment. The award was supported by The NET Alliance, a long-term commitment by Novartis Oncology, with the goal of improving patient outcomes in NETs. This collaborative partnership and the assistance of Novartis in funding research will be a critical component of improving the lives of people with carcinoid/NET cancers.

Dr. Reidy-Lagunes will be presenting developments from this research project at the NANETS annual meeting in 2010.