October 30, 2009 Media contact: Marta Debski
E-mail: mdebski@med.umich.edu
Phone: 734-764-2220

Era of Hope Award granted to U-M doctor

Five-year grant propels study of breast tumor suppression

Meet the expert:
Xiaochun Yu, M.D., Ph.D.

Learn more:
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A University of Michigan physician was selected for the Era of Hope Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of Defense to further studies of breast cancer prevention. 

Xiaochun Yu, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine and genetics at the University of Michigan Medical School, was awarded $3.7 million to expand research on new mechanisms associated with DNA damage response, treatment of breast tumors and prevention of tumor development in women who carry mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These genetic mutations are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Ranked in the top percentile of young cancer scientists in the United States, Yu is “clearly one of the best and brightest in the BRCA field,” members of the Era of Hope Scholar Award review panel said.  “Dr. Yu’s research has enormous potential to have a major impact on understanding the mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis and for possibly developing effective chemopreventive approaches. One could predict that he will be a future leader of the BRCA/DNA damage field and, by extension, in breast cancer research.”

“This award confirms our past work on analysis of the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2,” Yu said.  “It gives me a golden opportunity to continue to do good science.”

The Era of Hope Scholar Award, granted by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, will be distributed over a five-year period.

The BCRP promotes research focused on eradicating breast cancer and challenges the scientific community to design innovative research that will foster new directions for, address neglected issues in, and bring new investigators to the field of breast cancer research. In addition, the BCRP focuses its funding on innovative projects, particularly those involving multidisciplinary or multi-institutional collaborations and alliances that have the potential to make a significant impact on breast cancer.  For more information, visit http://cdmrp.army.mil/bcrp/.