Progress Newsletter Spring 2012 - University of South Alabama ...

Dr. Bruce Chabner, aProfessor of Medicine atHarvard Medical School andDirector of Clinical Researchat Massachussetts GeneralHospital, has agreed to leadan external adivsory boardfor the Univeristy of SouthAlabama Mitchell CancerInstitute. The announcementwas made at the March USABoard of Trustees meeting.The creation of the advisoryboard, said MCI directorDr. Michael Boyd, is aimedat moving the MitchellCancer Institute one stepcloser to gaining a covetedNational Cancer Institutedesignation, something onlyabout 40 centers have earnednationwide.Chabner first visitedthe MCI this past Octoberand participated in theDistinguished ScientistsSeminar Program, lecturingon “Clinical Phase I Trials inCancer Guided MolecularProfiling.” He also spokeat the MCI’s first ScientificColloquium, recognizingoutstanding cancer researchwithin both MCI andthe University of SouthAlabama. In addition, hiswife, Davi-Ellen Chabner,author of numerous medicalterminology textbooksincluding “The Language ofMedicine” delivered a vibrantlecture to MCI faculty andstaff on medical terminologyas it relates to cancer.A visit by Dr. Chabnerwas especially meaningfulfor MCI Director,Visiting Professor at MCI to HeadExternal Advisory BoardFrom left to right: Dr Michael Boyd, Dr. Laurie Owen, Dr. Bruce Chabner and Ms. Davi-Ellen ChabnerDr. Michael Boyd, andAssociate Director of CancerControl and Prevention,Dr. Eddie Reed, as Chabnermentored both Drs. Boydand Reed at the NationalCancer Institute where allthree collaborated in the1980s and 1990s.Dr. Chabner has extensiveexperience in the fieldof cancer drug discoveryand development. Afterjoining the National CancerInstitute (NCI) as a SeniorInvestigator in the Laboratoryof Chemical Pharmacologyin 1971, he participated inthe training of clinical andresearch fellows there for24 years including a timewhere he served as Chief ofthe Clinical PharmacologyBranch and Director of theClinical Oncology Program.From 1971 to 1989, Chabnermaintained an activelaboratory program in cancerpharmacology, focusing onthe mechanism of action andresistance of antifolates andother antimetabolites, and ledthe development of Taxol.“I believe in the missionof the place,” Chabnersaid of the MitchellCancer Institute, “andI think cancer centersaccomplish a lot in thecommunities they existin. I’ve been associatedwith the one in Bostonfor many years and it’shad a great impact onpatients and research.”In 1995, Chabner joinedthe Massachusetts GeneralHospital as Clinical Directorof its Cancer Center andChief of Hematology/Oncology and assumed therole as Associate Directorfor Clinical Sciences of theDana-Farber/Harvard CancerCenter Consortium.The author of severalrenowned text books andpublications, Chabnerserves as senior editor for“The Oncologist.” In2006, Chabner received apresidential appointment tothe National Cancer AdvisoryBoard at the National CancerInstitute. According toChabner, “Mitchell CancerInstitute is developing a firstclass cancer research andtreatment enterprise in aregion where the need exists.Great things are happening inMobile at the MCI.”Progress | SPRING 2012 3