Welcome to The Oncological Sciences Center at Discovery Park
Mission
The mission of the Oncological Sciences Center is to eliminate cancer
as a cause of death and suffering. The Oncological Sciences Center builds
in new directions and exciting ways on a foundation laid in place through
decades of discoveries and advances in the laboratories of members of
Purdue's NCI-designated Cancer Center.
Cancer has a grievous emotional toll on patients and their loved ones.
It also creates a significant burden on the workforce and heavily drains
the healthcare system due to the dramatic costs of managing cancer in
its later stages.
There is good news on the horizon: according to the Annual Report to
the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2001, the risk of getting cancer
is declining and survival rates continue to improve.
Additionally, the report states “leaders in the scientific community
forecast an era of unprecedented progress in cancer research.” But
if this research is to have an effect on the incidence of canter and death
rates, it must be translated into high-quality prevention, early detection,
and treatment services for all segments of the population.
The Oncological Sciences Center is poised not only to contribute to that
unprecedented progress but also to redefine interdisciplinary cancer research
and have an effect on economic development to shape the future of cancer
control and treatment in our society.
Reference: Annual Report to the Nation on the Status
of Cancer, 1975-2001. Accessed on July 10, 2005 at http://www.seer.cancer.gov/report_to_nation/1975_2001/.
Initial Projects
The Oncological Sciences Center brings together life scientists, engineers
and experts in communication and human behavior to assault the cancer
problem. The center is dedicated to finding solutions to the problems
we now face in prevention, treatment and the key issue of early detection.
The Center will enable the application of Purdue’s considerable
strength in engineering to help achieve its mission of eliminating cancer
as a cause of suffering and death.
Cancer Prevention, Nutrition, and Control
Involving nutrition and cancer prevention, this initiative focuses on
chemoprevention (using chemical compounds to prevent, stop, or reverse
cancer), dietary preventative agents and smoking cessation programs and
will capitalize on the momentum of Purdue’s NCI-funded Botanicals
Research Center for Age-related Diseases and NCI-funded project on Natural
Inhibitors of Carcinogenesis.
Cancer Biomarkers
Cancer biomarkers can be used for risk prediction, early detection of
cancer and effectiveness of treatment. Using biomarkers within a clinical
setting requires sophisticated tools and collaboration between materials
scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and informatics scientists.
This initiative will focus on the development of new high throughput technologies
and devices that can rapidly analyze exceedingly small amounts of biofluids.
Cancer Nanotechnology
This initiative will design, develop, and implement nanotechnology solutions
for early detection of malignancies and effective destruction of tumors.
Both bottoms up and top down approaches will be used for the development
of nanoparticles, nanowires and nanocantilevers for use in tumor imaging,
biomarker detection and therapeutics.
Novel Engineered Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices
Utilizing the expertise of interdisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists,
this initiative focuses on the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutic
devices using advanced engineering approaches ranging from optical detection,
imaging techniques and methods, bioprobes and related technologies.
Partners
Discovery Park partners of the Oncological Sciences Center include the
Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, the Birck Nanotechnology
Center, and the Bindley Biosciences Center.
Additional partners include the Cancer Center at Indiana University,
the Mayo Clinic, The Chao Center, the Botanical Research Center for Age-related
diseases, and the and Quartek Corporation.
Events
Progress and Problems in Cancer Detection and Treatment - August 16, 2005
Featured speakers include Oncologists from the IU School of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic who will discuss clinical aspects of cancer and collaborative opportunities for basic scientists and engineers.
View the Poster for more information | Register for this event
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