The Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation Supports Cancer Research
Recognizing Stony Brook Medicine’s expertise related to Hodgkin’s lymphoma research, the Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation has recently awarded Gerardo Mackenzie, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, and Stony Brook Cancer Center, a $179,000 grant investigating prevention of the disease.
“We are excited to be working with Dr. Mackenzie and the team at Stony Brook,” says Jesse Rasch, Chairman of the Rasch Foundation. “We believe that certain natural compounds have tremendous potential to both prevent and help treat blood cancers. Not enough is being done to evaluate these promising compounds, so we are delighted to help drive this research forward.”
Entitled “Evaluation of the anti-cancer effect of various compounds against Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” the study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of select test agents in preclinical models of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dr. Mackenzie and his team will study numerous compounds that have been linked to cancer prevention in general and prevention of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in particular.
A major focus of the research will be the evaluation of curcumin, one of the primary ingredients in turmeric and curry powders as well as various formulations of curcumin, specifically prepared to increase its bioavailability. Besides curcumin, other natural compounds being investigated include polyphenols, aspirin, vitamins, minerals, fish oils, probiotics and other agents known to boost the immune system. In preclinical models of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, they will look at toxicities related to dosage as well as each compound’s potential for reducing tumor growth. If this approach is found to be successful, the team hopes, in the near future, to translate these novel therapies into viable methods for the prevention and treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma for patients.
“We are very pleased with the support from the Jesse and Julie Rasch Foundation,” says Dr. Mackenzie, the study’s principal investigator. “Hopefully, results from these studies will set the stage for the further evaluation of the most promising compounds for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.” In addition to Dr. Mackenzie, the team includes academic research pathologist Nengtal Ouyang, MD, PhD, research scientist George Matthaiolampakis, PhD, and lab technician Joseph Lacomb.
Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation
The Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to driving change that will improve the health and quality of life for current and future generations. It takes a highly targeted, self-described “venture philanthropy” approach, actively investing with a goal of achieving “above average market returns.” It has funded research efforts in childhood eczema, fibromyalgia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is particularly interested in the latter because they believe lymphomas do not generally attract the support and research dollars as some of the more “high profile” cancers.