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August 30, 2004
Year-long 'academy' examines cancer drug development

By Holly Korschun

A new Drug Development and Pharmacogenomics Academy at Emory will offer a year-long lineup of nationally recognized basic scientists, clinical researchers and biostatisticians presenting an A-to-Z view of the drug pipeline and steps involved in discovering and developing effective pharmaceuticals.

The free educational program, “A 3-D Look at Cancer Drugs: From Discovery to Development to Delivery,” is sponsored by the Winship Cancer Institute and the School of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology.
Today’s inaugural lecture will feature Thomas Roberts, professor and chair of cancer biology at Harvard Medical School and faculty dean of the Division of Medical Sciences, speaking on “Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy and Research.”

Roberts is considered one of the fathers of kinase therapy, the research that led to the development of breakthrough drugs such as Gleevec for chronic myelogenous leukemia. The program begins with a reception at 4 p.m. in Winship’s fifth-floor conference room and will be followed by a dinner in WHSCAB plaza.

The ongoing academy schedule includes twice-monthly programs on Thursdays, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a light meal, followed by a lecture and round-table discussion at 6 p.m. Lectures and discussions, delivered by leading scientists and clinicians from throughout the country, will focus on drug discovery and preclinical development; clinical drug development; and regulatory approval and public policy. Presenters will share their perspectives on how the cancer community can delineate better strategies for new drug discovery, for creating better clinical trial designs and for improving clinical practice for patient care.

“This Drug Development and Pharmacogenomics Academy will cover all aspects of drug development—from concept to high throughput assays all the way through preclinical and clinical development of compounds—including pitfalls and tricks of the trade,” said Fadlo Khuri, co-director of the academy, Winship chief medical officer and associate director of clinical and translational cancer research.

Haian Fu, associate professor of pharmacology and director of the Chemistry-Biology Center for Drug Discovery, will co-direct the course.

The academy is free and open to the public. CME credit is available for individual seminars or the entire course of lectures. More information about the academy and a registration form are available at the Winship website: www.winshipcancerinstitute.org.

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