Wafik S. El-Deiry: Grateful this evening for the opportunity to discuss the burden of cancer at an event hosted by Rhode Island Representative Mia Ackerman

Wafik S. El-Deiry recently shared on LinkedIn:

“Grateful this evening for the opportunity to discuss the burden of cancer at an event hosted by Rhode Island Representative and Deputy Majority Whip of the RI House of Representatives Rep. Mia Ackerman. She is a true champion for healthcare causes to improve life for all Rhode Islanders.

Our group from Brown University and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Legorreta Cancer Center was fortunate to discuss progress being made with Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, Minority Leader Representative Michael Chippendale.

We spoke about how RI has high cancer incidence rates that are 10th in the US, across all common and rare cancer types and that some parts of RI such as Kent County have rates as high as the No.1 state for cancer incidence in the US.

Conducting innovative research right here in RI is unraveling the causes, enabling technology-driven screening for early detection and allowing access to the newest advances through clinical trials testing new treatments. Our world class cancer center that serves Rhode Islanders is connecting with our underserved communities and needs to do so much more for impact.

It takes collaboration among researchers and clinicians, philanthropy, federal government, professional society, pharmaceutical and foundation grants, institutional and state support to get the job done as has been done in other states. Rhode Islanders deserve to benefit from research and interventions in the community.

Success means healthier Rhode Islanders, a lower burden of cancer in the state, new discoveries, new treatments, new biotech startups, new jobs, national and international recognition for our state and its institutions.”

Source: Wafik S. El-Deiry/LinkedIn

Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, FRSM, an American Cancer Society Research Professor, is the Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences at the Warren Alpert Medical School and Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University. Dr. El-Deiry discovered p21(WAF1) as a p53 target gene, cell cycle inhibitor, and tumor suppressor that explained the mammalian cell stress response.

This has been the most highly cited original work published in Cell. He discovered TRAIL receptor DR5 as a p53 target, and ONC201/TIC10 as a TRAIL pathway, integrated stress response inducer, and cancer therapeutic with efficacy in diffuse midline glioma and other tumors.  He was named one of America’s Top Oncologists by the Consumer Res Council of America in 2008 and 2009. He is a practicing physician-scientist specializing in colorectal cancer treatment.