Barry D. Nelkin, Ph.D.

Barry D. Nelkin Ph.D., is a Laboratory Scientist and Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. His interests include Molecular Mechanisms of Thyroid and Lung Cancers. He received his Ph.D., at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Dr. Gianoukakis is a Professor of Medicine of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and an expert in Thyroid Disorders with particular expertise in Advanced Thyroid Cancer and Clinical Trials for Advanced Thyroid Cancer. He directs the Thyroid Clinic and Thyroid Oncology Clinic at Harbor-UCLA where he also serves as Fellowship Training Program Director. Dr. Gianoukakis is a member of the International Thyroid Oncology Group (ITOG) and the Southern California Thyroid Cancer Consortium (SCThyCC).

Gilbert J. Cote, Ph.D., Researcher, is Professor in the Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. In 2010 he was named F1000 Faculty Member of the Year. He is co-author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on molecular and genetic aspects of medullary thyroid cancer.

Maria E. Cabanillas, M.D., Endocrinologist, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Dr. Cabanillas’s clinical focus is metastatic thyroid cancer, and her research interests include targeted therapy for metastatic thyroid cancer, as well as supportive care in cancer. She is a graduate of The University of Puerto Rico Medical School. She completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, and a Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. She has authored many peer-reviewed journal articles.

Naifa L. Busaidy, M.D., is an Endocrinologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She completed postgraduate training at The Royal Hospital and the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. She is the author of numerous research articles and book chapters. Dr. Busaidy is also the recipient of a ThyCa thyroid cancer research grant.

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association Inc. is proud to announce the 14th year of our research grants program, with grants open to researchers and institutions worldwide.

We have already awarded 47 grants totaling more than $1.3 million to researchers in 5 countries: France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States.

ThyCa will award six research grants in 2015, three new grants plus three continuation grants.

One new grant is for research on follicular-cell-derived thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, anaplastic, variants).

Another new grant is for research on medullary thyroid cancer.

For the third grant, research on any type of thyroid cancer is eligible. This grant is named The Ric Blake Memorial Thyroid Cancer Research Grant, in memory and honor of ThyCa co-founder Ric Blake.

Proposals are due by January 31, 2015. Click here for the grant proposal web site, which has more details and information on how to submit proposals.

An independent expert panel of the American Thyroid Association will select the grant recipients. Our thanks to ATA for your support.

ThyCa invites everyone to join us in our quest to find cures and new treatments for all thyroid cancer.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to our Research Funds. Together, we’re making progress toward our dream of cures for all thyroid cancer.

To find out more about the ThyCa Research Funds, the annual Rally for Research, and how to donate, click here.

More than 600 people from the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom attended the 17th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference, making it the biggest yet. The annual conference is sponsored by the nonprofit ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

People from teenagers to seniors, with all types of thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and variants), as well as caregivers, came to Denver, Colorado, on October 17-19, 2014, for more than 100 sessions led by over 70 physician experts, other specialists, survivors, and caregivers.

Top thyroid cancer experts from Duke University Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and many more centers spoke and answered questions. They presented the latest information on treatment, research results regarding diagnosis and treatment, short-term as well as lifetime follow-up, and clinical trials for advanced metastatic thyroid cancer. Two speakers were previous recipients of ThyCa’s Thyroid Cancer Research Grants.

New topics at this year’s conference included Molecular Markers in Thyroid Cancer, and What They Mean for Future Treatment Advances; New Ideas regarding the use of Radioactive Iodine in Thyroid Cancer, New Approaches, New Evidence; and Coping with Treatments and Side Effects of New Targeted Therapies and Chemotherapy, Including Managing Drug Holidays.

The 13th Annual Dinner/Auction Fundraiser held Saturday evening during the Conference was a success, raising more than $35,000 for thyroid cancer research. The evening included a tribute to ThyCa Medical Advisor and American Thyroid Association Past President Bryan Haugen, M.D. This fundraiser helps ThyCa continue to fund thyroid cancer research—now totaling more than $1.3 million. ThyCa will fund additional research grants in 2015.

The 18^th International Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Conference will take place on October 2 – 4, 2015, in St. Louis, Missouri, just after September’s annual Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, the worldwide observance sponsored by ThyCa with support from partnering organizations and individuals.

For more information about ThyCa events, support groups, one-to-one support, free webinars with experts, free handbooks and more materials for patients and professionals, research fundraising, Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and year-round awareness activities, visit our website.