Symposium celebrates new Institute of Urologic Oncology at UCLA

WHAT:

This educational symposium celebrates the March 3 launch of the Institute of Urologic Oncology at UCLA — a new academic and clinical institute designed to bring together scientists and physicians dedicated to developing cutting-edge cancer therapies. The multidisciplinary team will help move treatments from the lab to the bedside quicker, offering patients the latest in personalized treatments for prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers.

Advances in imaging, minimally invasive surgery and molecularly targeted drug therapies have led to more individualized treatments based on a patient's unique tumor biology, biochemistry and molecular signature. This one-day conference on personalized cancer therapies will feature speakers from leading cancer institutions across the country who will discuss the latest discoveries and trends in tailored cancer treatments.

Dr. Arie Belldegrun

Belldegrun, director of the Institute of Urologic Oncology at UCLA, will deliver the welcome address. (9 a.m.)

 

Dr. Jean B. DeKernion

Professor and chair of the UCLA Department of Urology

 

Judith C. Gasson

Director of UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

 

Dr. Gerald S. Levey

Vice chancellor for medical sciences and dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

 

Michael Milken

Milken, chairman of the Milken Institute, will survey the current state of medical research within the broader social and political environment in his keynote address. (10 a.m.) 

 

Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach

Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner and former director of the National Cancer Institute, will present his keynote address, "Government Programs for Cancer Prevention and Cure: Present and Future Progress." (10:30 a.m.)

 

Dr. Dennis J. Slamon

Slamon, professor and chief of the UCLA Division of Hematology and Oncology, whose laboratory and clinical research led to the development of the molecularly targeted breast cancer drug Herceptin, will discuss his work and the challenges of pursuing targeted therapies. (12:45 p.m.)

 

Dr. Philip Kantoff

Kantoff, director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and chief of the division of solid tumor oncology and professor of medicine at Harvard University School of Medicine, will discuss advances in personalized prostate cancer therapies. (1:15 p.m.)

 

Dr. W. Marston Linehan

Linehan, branch chief of urologic oncology at the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Center, will present the latest targeted treatments in kidney cancer. (1:45 p.m.)

 

Dr. Colin P. Dinney

Dinney, professor and chair of the department of urology at the University Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, will cover the newest bladder cancer therapies. (2:15 p.m.)

WHEN:

Rachel Champeau, UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 310-794-0777