Board of Directors
Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
UCLA Medical School
Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D.
University of Chicago
Brian Loggie, M.D.
University of Texas SW Medical
Robert Ginsberg, M.D.
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Michael Harbut, M.D.
Wayne State University
Roger G. Worthington, Esq.
Dallas, Texas
Robert I. Komitor, Esq.
New York, New York
Susan Vento
St. Paul, Minnesota
In Memorium
Congressman Bruce F. Vento
Bill Powell
Science Advisory Board
Harvey Pass, M.D., Chairman
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Victor Roggli, M.D.
Duke University
Robert N. Taub, M.D.
Columbia University
Lary A. Robinson, M.D.
H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center
Steve Hahn, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D.
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Claire Verschraegen, M.D.
M.D. Anderson/Univ. of Texas
Eric Vallieres, M.D.
University of Washington
Dan Miller, M.D.
Mayo Clinic
Raphael Bueno, M.S.
Harvard/Brigham and Women's
Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D.
University of Chicago
W.Roy Smythe, M.D.
M.D. Anderson/Univ. of Texas
Executive Director
Christopher E. Hahn
Santa Barbara, CA
MARF, inc.
1609 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
tel (805) 560-8942
fax (805) 560-8962
http://www.marf.org
c-hahn@marf.org
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Our Mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease.
July 16, 2001
Nick Abaza, Esq.
Hissey, Keintz & Harron P.L.L.C
16800 Imperial Valley Drive, Ste 130
Houston, TX 77060
Dear Mr. Abaza:
After he was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year,
Congressman Bruce Vento made a public plea for all groups involved with asbestos to unite in the
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation's mission of eradicating
the disease. To asbestos lawyers he said,
"I ask you to expand your role as advocates. You have done good work
in advocacy for your clients, but every mesothelioma patient's first
priority is life. He or she wants to live. You have the resources, wisdom
and compassion. Please help commensurate with your wealth and knowledge."
As members of MARF's Board of Directors and Science Advisory Board,
we write to ask you to answer Congressman Vento's call and join us
now in support of MARF's life-saving work. We have vision and energy,
and we are becoming a powerful force in raising awareness, raising research
funding, and finding a cure for the disease.
Through its first two research grants of $100,000 each, MARF is already
funding two excellent projects. One is at the University of Chicago, studying
the anti-angiogenesis drug, SU5416, which specifically targets a growth
factor present at higher levels in mesothelioma than any other solid tumor.
The other, at Fox Chase Cancer Center, is narrowing in on a tumor suppressor
gene frequently deleted in mesothelioma, and could yield powerful gene
therapies.
For our second round of grants, which will be awarded July 31, we have
ten applications from major cancer research centers for interesting, novel
projects. This demonstrates that MARF is accomplishing its goal of drawing
top-flight researchers to mesothelioma. We will fund two of these projects
this round, at $100,000 each. As our own funding grows, we will be able
to speed the search for a cure by making more and larger research grants.
We are also hard at work on two exciting new ideas. First, we are forming
a Family Advocacy Board. MARF will provide the leadership and financial
and administrative support to create a platform for the people hurt the
most by this disease - the mesothelioma patients and family members themselves
- to organize, be empowered and make a difference. The goal is literally
that some day the patients and their families will take the reigns of MARF.
We are also working on a collaborative project among all the MARF researchers.
As this project develops, it will be expandable to others, and will also
qualify the participating researchers as a "group," eligible
for NIH funding for additional mesothelioma research projects. Again,
this furthers our goal of drawing additional research dollars to mesothelioma.
Finally, we are privileged to announce that Susan Vento has joined our
Board of Directors. Mrs. Vento will help us draw political attention to
the disease and the need for research funding. Also, her talent and years
of experience as a union organizer (school teachers) will be of great
help in organizing and motivating the Family Advocacy Board.
All of these developments show how serious MARF is in its mission to eradicate
mesothelioma, and the tremendous momentum we have generated. We are on
the verge of the critical mass which will establish us as a long-term,
powerful organization. Your firm can help MARF accomplish its mission
- the eradication of mesothelioma as a life-ending disease - by joining
MARF now as a sponsoring Member. Your colleagues from nine major firms
have already become Members (they are listed on the MARF website). We
ask you to answer Congressman Vento's call, and join them in MARF's
life-saving mission.
We appreciate your time and generosity, and would be happy to speak to
you further about MARF. If you would like additional information, please
contact any one of us or MARF's Executive Director, Chris Hahn (805.560.8942,
c-hahn@marf.org), or visit the
MARF website.
Sincerely,
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Raphael Bueno, M.D. |
Robert B. Cameron, M.D. |
Robert Ginsberg, M.D. |
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Steve Hahn, M.D. |
Michael Harbut, M.D. |
Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D. |
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Brian Loggie, M.D. |
Dan Miller, M.D. |
Harvey Pass, M.D. |
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Lary A. Robinson, M.D. |
Victor Roggli, M.D. |
W. Roy Smythe, M.D. |
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Joseph R. Testa |
Eric Vallieres, M.D. |
Susan Vento |
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Claire Verschraegen, M.D. |
Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D. |
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