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Viktoria Pearson/LVN photo Dr. William Murphy, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Nevada School of Medicine, speaks Wednesday regarding three proposals that were awarded grants to study Fallon's leukemia cluster. at the University of Nevada, Reno campus.
RENO - Three researchers will use more than $700,000 secured by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid to continue research into Fallon's childhood leukemia cluster.
Dr. William Murphy, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Nevada School of Medicine for the University of Nevada, Reno, announced the three grant proposals that were accepted at the university on Wednesday.
The three researchers who will receive the grant money are Dr. Joseph Wiemels from the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Mark Witten from the University of Arizona and Dr. Chris Pritsos of UNR.
At least 17 children have fallen ill with leukemia in Fallon since 1997. Three have died.
Dr. William Murphy, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Nevada School of Medicine for the University of Nevada, Reno, announced the three grant proposals that were accepted at the university on Wednesday.
The three researchers who will receive the grant money are Dr. Joseph Wiemels from the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Mark Witten from the University of Arizona and Dr. Chris Pritsos of UNR.
At least 17 children have fallen ill with leukemia in Fallon since 1997. Three have died.
The funding was secured in conjunction with efforts by Sen. Harry Reid and the organization Families in Search of Truth (FIST), a Fallon-based group composed of parents of leukemia cluster children, after peer reviews of each proposal determined scientific merit.
Each research group will study a different facet of leukemia while looking for possible causes. While the studies are specific to Fallon, the data may be used for other research in other cluster cases such as a childhood leukemia cluster in Sierra Vista, Ariz.., said Murphy.
Wiemels will research epigenetic and genetic changes occurring in cells of leukemia patients. Epigenetics is the study of what affects a cell, organ or individual without affecting its DNA sequence (genotype) directly, according to the Webster's Medical Dictionary Web site. The changes may be in response to environmental factors or induced spontaneously.
Witten will study the role tungsten has in the leukemia process. Some of his recent research has focused on the health of lab rats and mice exposed to tungsten.
Symposiums on the research will be held annually.
Each research group will study a different facet of leukemia while looking for possible causes. While the studies are specific to Fallon, the data may be used for other research in other cluster cases such as a childhood leukemia cluster in Sierra Vista, Ariz.., said Murphy.
Wiemels will research epigenetic and genetic changes occurring in cells of leukemia patients. Epigenetics is the study of what affects a cell, organ or individual without affecting its DNA sequence (genotype) directly, according to the Webster's Medical Dictionary Web site. The changes may be in response to environmental factors or induced spontaneously.
Witten will study the role tungsten has in the leukemia process. Some of his recent research has focused on the health of lab rats and mice exposed to tungsten.
Symposiums on the research will be held annually.
Although there are tungsten studies being conducted, there have not been any confirmed studies on the effects of tungsten, said Murphy.
"These are each individual pieces of a large puzzle," he said. "This is a continuation of what the CDC has done."
Pritsos will study the biology of elements found in Fallon drinking water and its effects on oxidative stress and the overall immune function of the body.
"Our concentration will be the oxidative stress," he said. "We will study both treated water in Fallon and untreated water."
"These are each individual pieces of a large puzzle," he said. "This is a continuation of what the CDC has done."
Pritsos will study the biology of elements found in Fallon drinking water and its effects on oxidative stress and the overall immune function of the body.
"Our concentration will be the oxidative stress," he said. "We will study both treated water in Fallon and untreated water."
The correlation of research from scientists in a collaborative effort is unique, said Jeff Braccini, a Fallon resident, parent of a leukemia child and treasurer of FIST.
"This is a first," said Braccini, "I think all the studies are good. What's better is the research will be continued in a joint effort and we will have a center point for research to be shared."
The process began after soliciting grant proposals in a research journal supported by the American Association for Cancer Research, "Cancer Research," he said.
"I really believe we can create a lot of momentum from these first three projects," said Murphy in the release. "That's good news for all the families in Fallon."
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at pearson@lahontanvalleynews.com.
"This is a first," said Braccini, "I think all the studies are good. What's better is the research will be continued in a joint effort and we will have a center point for research to be shared."
The process began after soliciting grant proposals in a research journal supported by the American Association for Cancer Research, "Cancer Research," he said.
"I really believe we can create a lot of momentum from these first three projects," said Murphy in the release. "That's good news for all the families in Fallon."
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at pearson@lahontanvalleynews.com.
