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PANDA Honors... 2009 Panda Honoree
Dr. Fayez K. Ghishan

Dr. Fayez K. Ghishan is a beacon of light and hope to the families and children of Arizona. As Director of the Steele Children’s Research Center and Head of the UA Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Ghishan has led the UA Steele Center and its physician/scientists in discovering better ways of treating and preventing pediatric illnesses through research.

Originally from Jordan, Dr. Ghishan attended medical school at Ankara University in Turkey. He went to England for officer training at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. From there, he went to Pennsylvania State University to complete his residency in pediatrics. He finished his pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Iowa.

In 1979, Dr. Ghishan joined Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. In 1982, he was voted the Amos Christie Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Vanderbilt pediatric housestaff. He was named Director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Vanderbilt in 1986 and Vice-Chair for Research in 1989. In 1995, he was recruited to The UA as Head of Pediatrics and Director of the Steele Center.

Dr. Ghishan has made extraordinary contributions to the science and practice of pediatric gastroenterology. He has authored more than 350 publications including original articles, editorials, abstracts, book reviews and chapters. He cloned a human intestinal sodium-phosphate transporter gene and has extensively characterized the structure, function and regulation of a variety of other sodium-phosphate transporters.

In 1996, the NIH granted Dr. Ghishan a prestigious MERIT Award. This funding mechanism is awarded to fewer than 5% of NIH investigators and targets researchers who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity during their previous research endeavors. The award provides the opportunity for 10 consecutive years of federal support. In 2004, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition awarded Dr. Ghishan its highest honor, the Shwachman Award, for life-long scientific and educational contributions to the field. In 2008, Dr. Ghishan received an unprecedented second MERIT Award, funding his research through 2018.

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PANDA 2010 Funding

PANDA

Children’s Cancer Immunology Program

We invite you to join us in funding Project 2010 - the PANDA Children’s Cancer Immunology Program - a program that is on the cutting-edge of offering a promising option to fight cancer. Children fighting cancer face tremendous odds. Despite advances in survival rates, chemotherapy and radiation are toxic, causing short-term suffering and long-term complications.

The PANDA Children’s Cancer Immunology Program will fund research for a new option of treatment—immunotherapy. Immunotherapy re-programs a child’s own disease-fighting cells to recognize his or her own individual cancer cells and prevent them from multiplying. Scientists believe that a child’s own immune system may become an effective way to treat cancer or to prevent relapses.

Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis at the Steele Children’s Research Center heads a team of physician-scientists conducting research in pediatric immunotherapy. Dr. Katsanis and the Steele Center are one of the few research centers in the country conducting pediatric cancer immunology research and developing novel immunotherapy treatments against cancer.

The PANDA Children’s Cancer Immunology Program will fund the:

• Development of promising, individualized anti-cancer vaccines to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer

• Advancement of cancer research—transitioning successful laboratory research to human clinical trials

• Recruitment of scientists to the Steele Center to further the expansion of pediatric cancer immunology research

With your generous support, the PANDA Children’s Cancer Immunology Program can potentially change the way we treat pediatric cancer in the future!   

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Friday, December 11, 2009

 

 

 

 

Desert Sportsman’s
Playing “FORE” PANDA
Golf Tournament

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Camelback Golf Club

10:30 a.m. - Registration
12:00 p.m. - Shotgun Start
Cocktails, appetizers, and awards to follow.

Sponsorship, Foursomes and Individual Golfers welcome.
(click graphic above for more info)

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Thank you to our Past Corporate Sponsors:
Apothecary Shops, Desert Sportsman, Longbow Golf, and Riley, Carlock and Applewhite Attorneys at Law

Charity Charms

Charity Charms has created two wonderful sterling silver charms for PANDA using our logo and the Steele Children's Research Center logo. When the charms are worn, and people ask about it, the wearer can spread the word about PANDA's mission.

The charms come with the signature "clip on" clasp so they can be attached to jewelry items, key chains, zippers, dog collars and more. This makes them universal for women, men, children, and even a pet!

The charms were generously underwritten by The Withycombe Foundation to create this sustainable fundraiser for the Steele Children's Research Center through PANDA. When you purchase the PANDA or Steele Charm, PANDA receives 75% of the cost and 25% for any other jewelry or gift items.

You can now find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, year round, for every occasion...and the Steele Research Center through PANDA will continue to benefit.

Purchase your charms today.