One of the most motivating things for me so far has been speaking with returning/veteran DFMC teammates who, much like myself, went through their first season wondering how in the heck they would actually conquer these crazy goals we have set for ourselves - both on and off the race course. Raising tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research while training to run one of the toughest marathon courses out there is definitely a daunting task. These are goals not quickly met or achieved overnight. These goals demand time, dedication, strategy, and most importantly the help and support of others. There will be times in this journey where we will leap ahead, times where things will stand still, and there may even be some setbacks. But we will power on and reach our goals.
This is much like the cutting edge Barr Program research projects which receive 100% of the funds raised by this challenge. Some of these projects can take years from development to approval, execution, and clinical trials, etc. And just like with our journey, there are times these projects leap ahead, there are times they stand still, and yes there may also be setbacks. But each project unlocks new discoveries and gets us one step closer to the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer. And much like in running and training, often you cannot see the growth and full scope from looking at one run or race, but you need to look at these things over time. Which is why we often share the impact of projects from previous years that are now complete and serving as the foundation for additional discoveries and/or being integrated into treatments, etc.
But today we have the chance to take a look at research happening right now, literally as I type this. Research made possible by generous donors like you! And nothing is more motivating than knowing that these are the sorts of discoveries that, together, we are helping to make a reality. Because today's research is tomorrow's cure, and today's patient is tomorrow's survivor.
Barr Program Investigator Carl Novina, MD, PhD
Excellent progress is being made at Dana-Farber to identify
and sequence many cancer mutations, but it is often still difficult to discern
their various roles: some mutations drive cancer, while others are neutral
bystanders. Using Barr funding, Carl Novina, MD, PhD,is applying a novel
technology called gene editing to develop protein tags that may help categorize
mutations and pinpoint the critical drivers, representing strong targets for
treatment. Gene editing allows scientists to use artificial enzymes to cut into
a gene and insert, remove, or replace segments of DNA. In contrast to
approaches aimed at stopping mutant gene expression, Dr. Novina intends to use
this technology to introduce a segment of DNA that acts as a sophisticated
“tag,” allowing him to trace a protein through the cell and determine its
potential role in driving tumor growth. Understanding the underlying causes of
various cancers could help investigators pinpoint possible targets for
therapeutic intervention.
