Nurr1 Research

Dr. Thomas Perlmann from the Stockholm Branch reviews his research on Nurr1, an orphan nuclear receptor. Read more here.

Introducing The Office of Intellectual Property

The OIP, which is split between the London and New York Offices, manages the process of protecting intellectual property (IP) that covers the novel findings arising from the Institute’s scientific and clinical research. The following article describes the patent process and why LICR should patent research findings.

Why You Send Your Papers to The Office of Intellectual Property

There are five good reasons why you send your papers to the Office of Intellectual Property, and they can be summed up in the following words: legal requirement, patents, academic review, press releases, and website. Read more here.

Office of Information Technology Relocation

It was Friday the 13th, an inauspicious date, when the email was sent to all LICR staff. On Valentine’s Day, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) would be moving to new quarters in the University of Lausanne, and thus LICR website and email services would be temporarily disrupted. A cool, calm email that heralded the result of an exciting partnership recently established between LICR, several top Swiss academic organizations, and two industrial partners. Read more here.

Vale Dr. Matthew Scanlan - (December 6th 1959 - March 12th 2004)

It is with great regret that we report the sudden death of Dr. Matthew J. Scanlan, who passed away as a result of cardiac failure. Dr. Scanlan joined the New York Branch of Human Cancer Immunology in 1994, and through his outstanding contributions to the Cancer Antigen Discovery, Cancer Vaccine, and Antibody Targeting Programs became an integral member of the global cancer immunology effort. Some of his key contributions included: the identification and characterization of a large number of novel tumor antigens that are currently being explored as targets for cancer immunotherapies; and the development of a pioneering methodology for rapid autologous screening using a novel array-based sero-epidemiological technique, serum-antibody detection arrays (SADA). Quite apart from his professional contribution to the Institute, 'Matt' will also be missed for his consistently cheerful and friendly disposition; a smile and a laugh were never far away when speaking with him. Our deepest sympathies are extended to Dr. Scanlan’s wife, Cynthia, and their two children, Kelly and Christopher, and to his colleagues at the New York Branch.

LICR News

HAVE YOU NOTICED THERE IS A NEW LICR WEBSITE?!
Launched on March 30th, the new website is a more detailed and more dynamic accounting of the research being conducted world-wide by LICR Staff and Affiliates. The website content was compiled by the Office of Communications, with technical assistance from the Office of Information Technology, and writing assistance from Dr. Ellen Puré and a host of others. If your research is not yet featured on the website, please contact the 'OffComm' team so that we can work together to complete all the research pages.
Congratulations to:
San Diego Branch Director, Dr Web Cavenee, on being made a Fellow of the National Foundation for Cancer Research (USA). Apart from the prestige of the award, Dr. Cavenee will receive a grant of USD$250 000 to further his research on defining the genetic lesions in human cancer, determining their physiological significance, and using this information to investigate potential therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Victor Jongeneel, the Director of the Office of Information Technology, who has been named Project Manager of a pioneering partnership between academia and industry to provide computing infrastructure and support for LICR and other academic institutes (see the accompanying article for more information).
LICR in the news:
A study from the New York Branch and their colleagues in the Cancer Vaccine Collaborative received national radio exposure, and coverage by Reuter's Health (amongst other things) for their study showing the first integrated immunological response in patients vaccinated with a recombinant protein.
“Newsweek (International Edition)” featured Drs. Ivan Gout (from the James R. Kerr Program and formerly the London University College Branch) and Andrew Simpson (Director of the James R. Kerr Program, and formerly of the Sâo Paulo Branch) in their article on ‘Brain Gain’; a discussion of the scientific talent of the diaspora being tapped by many countries.
The March issue of Nature Immunology seemed to have been hijacked by the Lausanne Branch, see Volume 5 No. 3 for a review on Notch Signaling from Radtke et al.; an article on NK cell inhibition from Doucey et al.; and a 'News and Views' piece about the NK cell article.

Have any items that deserve attention? Please email the Office of Communications with any ideas or feedback.