MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (June 20, 2009)—Three University of Minnesota cancer scientists were each recently awarded $100,000 grants from the National Institutes of Health for research on pediatric cancer. The three scientists, all with the University's Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School, include:

• Julie Ross, Ph.D., professor and director, Division of Pediatric Epidemiology & Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, will collaborate with David Largaespada, Ph.D., on a laboratory study of folic acid to investigate whether folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may protect against the occurrence of brain tumors in offspring. Largaespada leads the cancer center's Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Research Program.
• Jen Poynter, Ph.D., assistant professor, pediatric epidemiology, will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of genetic changes that occur in pediatric germ cell tumors (the cells that develop into mature eggs and sperm). While the cause of these tumors is unknown, researchers believe they occur during fetal development.
• Anne Jurek, Ph.D., assistant professor, pediatric epidemiology, will examine how well information from questionnaires completed by study participants corresponds to information found in their medical records.

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is part of the University's Academic Health Center. It is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center for cancer research, treatment, and education. For more information, call 612-624-2620 or visit www.cancer.umn.edu.

Media Contact:

Mary Lawson, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 612-624-6165, mlawson@umn.edu