National Institutes of Health Grants $2.6 Million to Mesothelioma Researchers

Mesothelioma researchers from the University of Hawaii Cancer Center got a big boost from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this week when they got word they’d been awarded a five-year, $2.6 million grant. The team has been studying the role of the BAP1 gene in human cancer development and cell metabolism, and hopes that the added funding will facilitate understanding of how to make the rare, asbestos-related form of cancer less aggressive.

Hawaiian Team Tops Those Receiving Mesothelioma Research Funding

The mesothelioma research team led by Haining Yang and Michele Carbone have already received previous funding from the NIH, as well as a grant from the Department of Defense. In total, their studies have received more federal funding for mesothelioma research than any other in the United States. 

An announcement of the award on the University of Hawaii website describes Carbone’s previous discoveries about the role of genes in cancer and his work in cancer epidemiology, including studies done in Turkey. He has published work regarding the impact of mutations to the BAP1 gene which he believes increases vulnerability to the impact of asbestos exposure.

New Work Revealed Gene’s Role in Mesothelioma Cell Metabolism

Carbone’s recent work has focused attention on the possibility that mesothelioma patients who have the BAP1 mutation may actually have better overall survival as a result of the way that the mutation impacts the cancerous cells’ metabolism.  That will be work that the new funding will support. 

“We hope that by learning how BAP1 mutations slow down the growth of mesothelioma we find a way to make all cancers less aggressive. Our discoveries, confirmed by numerous research teams in more than 700 research and medical articles, have led to preventive and early detection measures that have and continue to save lives,” he said.

While finding a way to slow and defeat malignant mesothelioma is the goal of ongoing research, those facing a diagnosis need more immediate help. For information that will help you manage your situation contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri