6 Currents Shark Pride Pictured from left at the check presentation ceremony are Ronald J. Chenail, Ph.D., executive vice president, provost, and chief academic officer; George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., president emeritus; Michelle A. Clark; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Harry K. Moon; Irving Rosenbaum, D.P.A., Ed.D., M.P.A., vice president for operations, Health Professions Division; Susan Horovitz Maurer, J.D., founding partner at Panza Maurer; and Ken Dawson- Scully, Ph.D., M.Sc., senior vice president for research and associate provost. Nova Southeastern University (NSU) received $963,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help detect genetic differences among women that may make some more vulnerable to cancers and other diseases. The funding will enable NSU’s Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy to acquire advanced diagnostic equipment essential for early detection. “I’m beyond thrilled to announce we have these federal dollars headed to NSU for the purchase of cutting-edge instruments that will be used for the early detection of cancers and other diseases,” said U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, M.A., a breast cancer survivor who introduced the EARLY Act—legislation designed to increase breast cancer education and awareness that became law as part of the Affordable Care Act. “These funds will support critical research to help us recognize and understand genetic differences that may make some patients more likely to develop cancers and other diseases and enable doctors to intervene sooner with treatments,” said Harry K. Moon, M.D., FACS, FRCSEd, NSU president and CEO. “Early detection and treatment are the most important factors in improving outcomes and reducing mortality. And NSU is uniquely positioned, now with the right, cutting-edge equipment, to provide these powerful and life-changing insights.” The NIST supports innovation, technological advancement, and better standards of measurement and maintains a national clearinghouse of genetic and other information. NSU believes research enabled by this federal funding will provide new measurement techniques, uniform and standardized methods to evaluate data, and evidence-based recommendations for early detection and diagnosis. It is estimated that 50 percent of human cancers are caused by environmental factors, and individual reactions to toxins vary based on genetic differences. The role of environmental toxins, particularly pertaining to cancers, is well established, but they also can affect cardiac and brain health. “South Florida is home to a rich blend of people representing multiple cultures, countries, and socioeconomic groups,” said Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D., dean of the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy. “Through genetic and other analysis, NSU scientists will explore how differences among people at the cellular level may contribute to their likelihood to develop cancer and other diseases. Understanding our differences will lead to better diagnoses, as well as better treatment options and outcomes.” Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Florida, with more than 17,000 women diagnosed with the disease on average annually. NSU ADVANCES EARLY DISEASE DETECTION WITH KEY FUNDING Scan for additional information.
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