April is National Cancer Control Month, an annual observation encouraged by Presidential proclamation. It also has been named National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.
The National Cancer Institute estimated that about 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer in 2023. It also estimated more than 600,000 Americans died of cancer in 2023. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis, followed by prostate cancer, and lung and bronchus cancer; there are more than 100 types of cancer, according to the NCI.
This month we focus on innovative Purdue University people, organizations, and startup companies creating the next giant leaps in cancer diagnostics and treatments. All of them work with Purdue Innovates to develop their work and bring it to the public.
Purdue innovators and Purdue-related companies dedicated to fighting cancer.
The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization works to bring cancer-related innovations to the market. Experts vet, protect, and help to license innovations developed and validated by faculty in the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery.
Built to power basic discovery, the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) was established in 1976 and is recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its scientific leadership. It holds the distinction of being one of only seven NCI-designated Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers in the nation.
Committed to improving all lives affected by cancer and ultimately conquering the disease, PICR brings together some of the best investigative minds in the world, persistently engaging in cutting-edge transdisciplinary research that advances the world’s understanding of cancer, fuels the development of novel solutions and educates and empowers the diverse health workforce of tomorrow.
Purdue University is home to substantial drug discovery/development talent and infrastructure within the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery (PIDD). PIDD provides a collaborative platform that brings together biologists, chemists, pharmaceutical scientists, veterinary clinicians, and engineers in order to translate basic discoveries into new diagnostics and therapeutics that will directly impact patient care.
Through PIDD-affiliated core facilities, Purdue faculty have identified novel disease biology, discovered and developed numerous drugs in a variety of disease areas, and launched more than 40 new biotech startup companies. In fact, PIDD has helped to advance 27 drugs into clinical testing that has resulted in 3 FDA approvals so far. These FDA approvals include diagnostic and treatments for lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
Overall, Purdue faculty-discovered drugs have been tested in 386 clinical trials at more than 5500 trial sites worldwide.
MEDIA CONTACT
Email: Steve Martin // sgmartin@prf.org
