Karmanos Cancer Institute Announces Staff Changes
DETROIT, March 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, announced today leadership changes that are effective immediately.
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Ann G. Schwartz, Ph.D., MPH, assumes the position of Deputy Center Director and Executive Vice President of Research and Academic Affairs. Dr. Schwartz served as interim President and CEO of Karmanos prior to Dr. Bepler's arrival. She also served as the Associate Center Director for Population Sciences at Karmanos since 2002. Her research focuses on the genetics underlying lung cancer risk. She has an M.S. in Biology from Wayne State University, an MPH in Environmental Health from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Terrance Albrecht, Ph.D., continues as the permanent Associate Center Director for Population Research. Dr. Albrecht joined Karmanos in 2003 and most recently led the Communication and Behavioral Oncology program. She also served as co-leader of the Population Studies and Prevention program. During her time at Karmanos, she has conducted in-depth analyses of the way oncologists communicate with patients to make the work of researchers and scientists even more effective.
Patricia LoRusso, D.O., is the Director for the new Center for Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. LoRusso developed the Phase I program at Karmanos, one of only 14 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Phase I programs in the United States and Canada, and the only such program in Michigan. Dr. LoRusso is recognized as an international expert in early phase clinical research. She has been awarded prestigious grants from the NCI and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and serves as Co-Chair of the NCI's Investigational Drug Steering Committee.
Anthony Shields M.D., Ph.D., continues as the Associate Center Director of Clinical Research. Dr. Shields is a well-recognized physician-scientist who works in the area of anti-cancer drug assessment. He earned his Ph.D. in cell biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and M.D. from Harvard University. His principal expertise resides in the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate the selective pharmacologic and physiologic effects of new anti-tumor agents.
Wei-Zen Wei, Ph.D., is the new Associate Center Director for Basic Research. Known as a passionate and tenacious researcher, Dr. Wei has worked on cancer-fighting vaccines since 1996 to help prevent HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for 20 to 30 percent of cases and is characterized by tumors that grow faster and are more likely to recur. Her lab was the first to develop the HER2 DNA vaccine, which was tested in the laboratory on tumors that no longer responded to other HER2-positive breast cancer therapies. The vaccine helps to educate the immune system to recognize HER2-positive cancer cells, helps destroy the cells and prevents them from spreading.
"I'm honored to work with these brilliant and talented physicians and scientists," said Dr. Bepler. "Their lifelong commitment and drive to fight cancer is a testament to the scientific and medical professions. It's this level of expertise that continues to move the Karmanos Cancer Institute closer to being one of the top 10 cancer centers in the country."
About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. Karmanos is southeastern Michigan's most preferred hospital for cancer care according to annual surveys conducted by the National Research Corporation. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.
SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute
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