Dr. Cook earns American Cancer Society Scholar Grant

What does it take to outsmart cancer? Research.

Leah Cook, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology, was honored on Feb. 13 as a recipient of a $792,000 American Cancer Society (ACS) Scholar Grant.

The grant which took effect on Jan. 1 of this year, adds to the combined 186 grants that the University of Nebraska System and UNMC have received from the society since 1953. These grants total more than $22.5 million and contribute to the organization’s mutual goal of leading the fight for a world without cancer. It is one of only two ACS awards currently granted to faculty members at UNMC.

Dr. Cook’s research work focuses on prostate cancer with a special emphasis on prostate cancer that is metastatic to bone.

“Prostate cancer is very common in men over 60 years of age, and it can be treated even if it metastasizes to lymph nodes,” she said. “However, if prostate cancer metastasizes to bone it is typically incurable and leads to early death.”

The new research funded by the American Cancer Society will attempt to:

• Improve the killing of prostate cancer by PMNs (active white blood cells);
• Identify the mechanism that PMNs use to accomplish the killing of prostate cancer cells; and
• Determine if PMNs can be used to prevent tumor bone remodeling.

“The technical goal of my research is to develop effective treatments for men with metastatic prostate cancer,” Dr. Cook said. “Additionally, the proposed research will provide insight into immune regulation of prostate cancer and has the potential to present novel therapeutic targets for improving outcomes of bone metastatic prostate cancer.”

Andy Link, health systems manager for ACS, presented Dr. Cook her certificate during a ceremony at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

“Since 1946, the society has supported researchers at pivotal points in their careers, giving them the support they need to keep research going and take their ideas from dream to reality,” Link said.

“Dr. Cook is taking a novel approach to address one of the most important challenges of metastatic prostate cancer, and that is the cause of pain in bones,” said Steven Hinrichs, M.D., chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology. “We are fortunate that this highly talented scientist is willing to devote her career to addressing a critical problem in cancer care.”

The American Cancer Society Extramural Research program currently supports research and training in a wide range of cancer-related disciplines at more than 200 institutions. With an investment of more than $4.9 billion since 1946, the ACS is the largest private, not-for-profit source of cancer research funds in the U.S., and has funded 49 researchers who have gone on to be awarded the Nobel Prize. The program primarily funds early career investigators, giving the best and the brightest a chance to explore cutting-edge ideas at a time when they might not find funding elsewhere.