Cutting-Edge Cancer Research Threatened by Government Cutbacks

Friends of Susan, a 100% efficient nonprofit, funds innovative, focused cancer research; foundation's goal is $1,000,000 by 2011

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Friends of Susan, a new tax-exempt nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting cutting-edge medical research by funding internationally-renowned Dr. Thomas Kipps, who is convinced that understanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is key to curing breast, prostate and other cancers.  

Every ten minutes in the United States, someone dies from a blood cancer; Susan Fine lost her battle with CLL in 2009. One of her last requests was that her family continue to fight cancer with a 100% efficient fundraising organization, which gave rise to Friends of Susan. Every dollar donated goes directly to support Dr. Kipps' groundbreaking research. The foundation's stated fundraising goal is $1,000,000 before the end of 2010, in order to keep pace with the achievements of prior years.

Recent cutbacks in federal funding for cancer research and a steady decline in the level of financial support from the business community have created the need for organizations like Friends of Susan to make broad appeals for donations in order to support a consistent level of innovation in research.

"The cure and control for breast and prostate cancer are directly linked to fully understanding the workings of the cells in a disease like CLL," says Dr. Kipps. "I'm developing a method to deliver a specially modified gene directly into tumor cells in the patient. Once embedded, the gene would produce molecules designed to convert the tumor into a microscopic vaccine-manufacturing plant. In this way, cancer-killing vaccine would be produced internally over a period of time and would access... cancer cells that are not accessible to the surgeon."

Kipps, Deputy Director of Research at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and a Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego's School of Medicine, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the understanding of the immunobiology, cell biology and molecular genetics of human B-cell malignancies, with emphasis on CLL. He is also the chairman of the CLL Research Consortium (CRC), which unites some of the nation's top clinical and laboratory sites to avoid duplication of efforts and implement actual treatments and cures from lab bench research.

Donations to support Dr. Kipps' research can be made via FriendsofSusan.org. For a limited time, Friends of Susan is pleased to offer donors a choice of "thank you" gifts with contributions.

For more information about the "thank you gift" program or Dr. Kipps and his work including videos and testimonials visit FriendsofSusan.org.

About Friends of Susan: Friends of Susan is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization of people who want to help fund life-saving cancer research that is threatened because of government cutbacks. These cutbacks reduce the availability of drugs and knowledge necessary to treat all types of cancer in their lifetime. Forcing them to wait patiently is the same as saying that there is little hope for them to conquer the diseases that are taking their lives away. Researchers agree that early detection of cancer is the key to controlling the growth of the disease. Determining the markers that will predict the type, growth rate and strength of all forms of cancer is the best strategy for patients and health care professionals as they decide on which treatments to use to battle this disease. Friends of Susan is funding cutting edge research to find those markers now. Learn more via FriendsofSusan.org, or connect with Friends of Susan via Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE Friends of Susan