Georgetown University Medical Center presents 'Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancer'

Increasing cure rates; reducing the late effects

Date: Friday, April 17, 2009
Time: 8:00 am-4:45 pm
Location: Research Building Auditorium
Georgetown University Medical Center
3970 Reservoir Rd NW
Washington, DC 20057

The Georgetown University Medical Center invites all media to attend the day-long "Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancer Symposium" presented by the Georgetown University Hospital Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Topics will include neuro-oncology, hematology and sarcomas. Media are encouraged to attend the all-day session, but do not need to attend each session. Lunch will be provided to all members of the media.

Speakers will include:

Keynote speaker: Peter Houghton, PhD, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Kara Amey, patient advocate
Charles Hemenway, MD, PhD, Tulane University
Crystal Mackall, MD, Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute
Aziza Shad, MD, Georgetown University Hospital
Jeffrey Toretsky, MD, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

A panel discussion will be held on "Advancing Novel Targeted Therapies Developed for Childhood Cancer Into Clinical Trials and Beyond." Panel members will include individuals from:

Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program at the National Cancer Institute
Johnson & Johnson
Candlelighters Children's Cancer Foundation
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

**Select speakers will be available for media interviews

Symposium Schedule

8:00 – 8:10 Introduction and Welcome to Symposium

8:10 – 9: 35 Novel Targets for Childhood Brain Tumors

9:55-11:20 Targeting High Risk Leukemia

11:20 – 12:15 Poster Viewing and Box Lunches

12:15 – 1:30 Keynote Address: Creation and testing of targeted therapeutics for childhood cancer

1:30-3:40 Bone Tumors: From Challenge to Novel Targeted Approaches

4:00 – 4:45 Panel Discussion: Advancing novel targeted therapies developed specifically for childhood cancer into clinical trials and beyond

About Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Lombardi is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute, and the only one in the Washington, DC, area.

RSVP to this event by Thursday, April 16, 2009. Please contact:

Tressa Kirby, Communications Officer, Georgetown University Medical Center
(P) (202) 687-8865; (E) Tk275@georgetown.edu