OMRF News

OMRF receives $7 million stimulus grant for new research tower

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 10:49:02 -0600

The National Institutes of Health has awarded OMRF $7.03 million to help build out three floors of it new research tower.

The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be used to build out lab, clinic and mechanical space for OMRF clinical investigators studying autoimmune diseases. Tower construction began in 2009 and is expected to finish by January 2011.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100304.asp

OMRF wins 6 awards from Society of Professional Journalists

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:56:51 -0600

At the annual Oklahoma Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists awards banquet on Saturday, OMRF won six top prizes for its public relations materials.

OMRF took first place in the public relations category for its magazine Findings, its annual report and year-end fundraising appeal, which sought donations for cancer research.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100222a.asp

Stillwater professor leaves gift to science education program

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:03:05 -0600

In life, Julia McHale valued learning and considered a good education one of the most precious gifts to give to a child. In death, the retired Oklahoma State University professor left a gift that will help provide quality science education for generations to come.

This month, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received a gift of $34,000 from the estate of McHale, who died last year at the age of 89. The gift, which McHale designated for OMRF’s Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program, brings her total giving to OMRF to $90,000.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100222.asp

OMRF announces partnership with Chinese research institute

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:44:06 -0600

OMRF announced today a new strategic partnership with the Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Chinese Sciences in Beijing.

The institutions will share researchers and equipment in the field of structural biology. The collaboration will include “exchange” visits by researchers at each institution aimed at combining efforts to understand the molecular structure of disease.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100216.asp

The science of love

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:15:34 -0600

Most people associate Valentine’s Day with roses, boxes of chocolates and candlelit dinners. But when researchers used sophisticated imaging technology to look at the brains of people who’d recently fallen in love, another word came to mind: addiction.

“Look at new love under an MRI,” said Yasvir Tesiram, Ph.D., of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, “and the brain looks very similar to someone with an intense craving.”

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100209.asp

OMRF welcomes National President of Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:44:47 -0600

Over the last 43 years, the Oklahoma chapter of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW has given more than $128,000 to OMRF. On Wednesday, the group visited OMRF to see the fruits of its investment.

Twenty-six members, including National President Jan Tittle from South Carolina, toured the facility, met with scientists and spoke with OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100204.asp

Research points to possible links between autism and sensitivity to environmental toxins

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:33:08 -0600

A new study from OMRF has found that worms with an autism-related mutation are more susceptible to environmental toxins such as mercury, copper and paraquat.

The researchers also found that the animals, which lacked a protein in the nervous system known as neuroligin, displayed sensory problems like those found in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100126.asp

OMRF identifies new method that may improve treatment of ovarian cancers

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:33:41 -0600

The problem with killing cancer is that it comes back. But new research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could pave the way for therapies that avoid this problem.

The pre-clinical work has already shown promise in killing ovarian cancer cells. Researchers hope the approach, which stems drug resistance, might also prove effective in treating other forms of cancers.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100118.asp

OMRF named a finalist for national "green" award

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:36:18 -0600

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the Renewable Energy World North America Award.

OMRF is the only Oklahoma institution among the 25 finalists for the national award. The foundation was nominated for its research tower, which is one of five finalists in the category of Building Integrated Renewals.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100115.asp

We need YOU!

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:47:08 -0600

Our research tower project has been nominated for an Excellence in Renewable Energy North America Award, and we need your vote! Pass the word to everyone you know, and help us land this recognition—for OMRF and for Oklahoma.

To vote: www.omrf.org/vote

New discovery points to genetic roots of prostate cancer

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:08:16 -0600

An Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist has helped make an important new finding about the genetic roots of prostate cancer. The discovery could lead to new diagnostic tools to help physicians identify patients at greater risk for the deadly disease.

In the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, OMRF scientist Hong Chen, Ph.D., and a team of scientists from the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center describe their discovery of a genetic mutation that appears linked to prostate cancer.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100111.asp

Harvard researcher returns to his Oklahoma roots

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 09:58:46 -0600

For Oklahoma native and Harvard faculty member Scott Armstrong, M.D., Ph.D., returning to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation was like coming home.

Today, Armstrong presented a lecture to the faculty of OMRF about his research on leukemia. It was a speech that had been more than two decades in the making.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2010/20100105.asp

Resolutions for a healthy 2010

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:14:02 -0600

Lose weight. Eat better. Exercise more.

Sound familiar? If you’ve made some or all of these popular New Year’s resolutions in the past, you probably ended up like the vast majority of Americans, who fail to make good on their January 1 pledges.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091231.asp

OMRF scholarship application deadline nears

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:06:24 -0600

The application period for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s 2010 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program closes Feb. 1.

High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for the Fleming Scholar Program. Students must be Oklahoma residents at the time of high school graduation and at least 16 years of age to qualify. Scholars receive a $3,000 stipend and housing, if needed.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091228.asp

OMRF scientists discover clue to link between estrogen and lupus

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:05:51 -0600

Women are nine times more likely to get lupus than men, and a discovery by an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist might provide a clue as to why.

A paper in the journal Blood by OMRF’s Susan Kovats, Ph.D., describes a role estrogen plays in the development of certain immune cells during inflammation. That inflammation, which is like that caused by infection or tissue damage, plays a key role in the development of the disease lupus.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091222.asp

OMRF helps Bethany woman identify mystery illness

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:08:03 -0600

For a year, Terri Cobb was plagued by inexplicable health problems.

Cobb’s mouth hurt. It was perpetually dry and sometimes it burned. Her joints ached and her eyes lost moisture. Some days, she was just so tired she could hardly get off the couch.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091215.asp

Rainbolt presents $340,000 gift to cancer research

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:49:53 -0600

To benefit cancer research, BancFirst Corp. chairman H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt this week presented checks totaling $340,000 to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the OU Cancer Institute.

The funds represented the proceeds of a dinner and private benefit concert by country music legend Willie Nelson that Rainbolt hosted in celebration of being 80 years old. Rainbolt underwrote the entire event and, in lieu of birthday gifts, asked guests to make donations to cancer research at OUCI and OMRF. More than 600 turned out for the dinner and concert, which was held at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club on Sept. 18.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091211.asp

Nuns make one-of-a-kind gift

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 09:15:54 -0600

Think of holiday gift giving, and the old stand-bys probably come to mind: neckties, sweaters, maybe even a fruitcake. But Sister Adrian Schmidt’s gift probably isn’t on anyone’s wish list. You see, her gift is her brain.

Schmidt is one of 1,100 nuns, priests and monks participating in the Religious Orders Study, a groundbreaking research project aimed at understanding the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The participants in the study, which is now in its 17th year, undergo annual medical and psychological examinations. And all have pledged to continue their service after they die by donating their brains to medical research.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091207.asp

OMRF accepting summer scholar applications

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:34:58 -0600

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is accepting applications for its 2010 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program.

The summer program allows selected students to enhance their research skills by working alongside world-class scientists for eight weeks in OMRF's state-of-the-art laboratories. The application deadline is February 1.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091130.asp

Presbyterian Health Foundation presents golf tournament proceeds to OMRF

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:46:11 -0600

On Thursday, the Presbyterian Health Foundation presented a $10,000 check to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The check represented proceeds from the fourth annual Presbyterian Health Foundation/Research Park golf tournament, which was held last month at the Twin Hills Golf and Country Club. The funds will go to support graduate student scholarships at OMRF.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091123.asp

OMRF offers tips for traveling safely over the holidays

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:11:02 -0600

As the Thanksgiving holiday nears, Americans are preparing to travel far and wide to visit loved ones. But with holiday travel can come health risks.

Whether it’s the common cold, swine flu or lesser known conditions like deep vein thrombosis, there are plenty of ways Americans on holiday can get sick while traveling. Still, a few precautions can increase your odds of staying healthy, said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Stephen Prescott, M.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091119.asp

OMRF scientists exploring novel breast cancer treatment

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:17:07 -0600

Most breast cancer treatments fail to kill the small number of cancer stem cells that exist within the tumor. Consequently, those breast cancer stem cells can grow and multiply, resulting in additional tumors, both at the original site and in other areas of the body.

Led by Robert Floyd, Ph.D., Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists are studying a new method that may inhibit those cells’ ability to grow and spread. Floyd recently received a grant from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to fund the work for one year. His grant was one of only 86 awarded out of 1,546 applicants.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091116.asp

Keating, two others to join OMRF board

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:33:19 -0600

At its semiannual board meeting on Wednesday, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will add three new members to its board of directors. The three new board members are: Cathy Keating, Mark Funke and Bill Crawford.

Former Oklahoma first lady Keating is national co-chair for the Second Decade Campaign for the Oklahoma City National Memorial. She also serves on the board of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091109.asp

Wohl Bass Tournament nets funds for OMRF cancer research

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:42:34 -0600

Western Oklahoma fishing enthusiasts often dip their hooks in Foss Lake looking for a prize catch. But once each fall, the trophy they reel in isn’t just for the biggest fish—it’s funds they raise in the fight against cancer.

This year’s Frank Wohl Memorial Bass Tournament raised $1,420 for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, bringing the grand total to approximately $45,000 since the tournament began in 1986.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091103.asp

Cancer Classic run to benefit OMRF

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:24:02 -0600

Raising money for cancer research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is second nature to everyone in the Putnam City school district. For 34 years, their annual Cancer Drive has spurred friendly competition among schools and taught invaluable lessons in philanthropy.

After years of bake sales, car washes and school carnivals, district officials chose last year to add a 5K run to the Cancer Drive activity list. Despite brutal cold and wind, the first Cancer Classic raised nearly $8,000, which was added to the $2.8 million the district has donated to OMRF since 1976. As always, the money goes directly to OMRF’s cancer research – paying for laboratory equipment and supplies and funding the Putnam City Schools Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, held by Linda Thompson, Ph.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091102.asp

The Biology of Blood-Sucking - Vampire legend may have some medical basis, expert says

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:23:00 -0500

As trick-or-treaters prepare to haunt their neighborhoods in plastic fangs and black capes, the idea of vampires seems fanciful, even cute. But for centuries, these mythical creatures struck very real fear into the hearts of many.

The origins of this legend, says Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Stephen Prescott, M.D., may have a concrete medical basis.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091030.asp

Registration deadline nears for OMRF estate planning seminars

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:34:44 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will offer estate planning seminars for attorneys, CPAs and financial planners on Nov. 2 in Oklahoma City and Nov. 3 in Tulsa. Registration will remain open through Oct. 30.

Featured speaker at both events will be nationally recognized lawyer, lecturer, author and professor Conrad Teitell. In his talk, “Playing the Estate Planning Game,” Teitell will offer his insights on the current estate tax legislation under debate in Congress.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091028.asp

Auxiliary gifts to cancer research at OMRF top $125,000

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:19:59 -0500

At its annual statewide fall conference on Saturday, the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW presented the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with a donation to fund cancer research for the 43rd consecutive year. With its gift of $2,000, the group has now given more than $125,000 to OMRF since 1965.

The Ladies Auxiliary has chapters in more than 80 Oklahoma Cities and towns. Its members raise funds for OMRF through bake sales, garage sales, bingo games and individual donations.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091027.asp

OMRF scientists discover promising new path for treating traumas

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:21:32 -0500

A discovery by scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could help save lives threatened by traumatic injuries like those sustained in car crashes or on the battlefield. The work also holds potential for treating severe infectious diseases and diabetes.

In a paper published online today in the advance edition of the scientific journal Nature Medicine, OMRF researcher Charles Esmon, Ph.D., with co-authors Florea Lupu, Ph.D., and Jun Xu, Ph.D., has cast new light on how proteins called histones can enter the bloodstream and begin to kill the lining of blood vessels, resulting in uncontrolled internal bleeding. Building on this work, Esmon and a team of collaborators have discovered an antibody that could counter this deadly process.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091026.asp

Eastern Star donations to OMRF top $175,000

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:34:13 -0500

The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star presented the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with a donation of $14,000 at its annual statewide banquet Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel. The gift brings the Eastern Star’s overall donations to more than $175,000 since OMRF became the group’s statewide charitable beneficiary in 2002.

“We appreciate long-standing partners like the Eastern Star,” said OMRF director of development Laura Lang, who accepted the check at the Grand Chapter Convention in Oklahoma City. “Eastern Star gifts provide much-needed support to our scientists in their fight against human disease.”

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091020.asp

Charity Navigator gives OMRF its top rating-again

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:18:06 -0500

For the eighth consecutive time, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator.

OMRF is one of only 16 organizations in Oklahoma to earn a 4-star rating on CharityNavigator.org. Of the 115 medical research organizations evaluated nationwide, OMRF ranked 6th overall.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091019.asp

Putnam City's Cancer Classic run to benefit OMRF

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:20:09 -0500

When Jason Hasty started running, he was looking to lose some weight and set an example for his students by pounding some pavement. He had no idea he’d be using his legs to pound cancer, too.

But raising money for cancer research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is second nature to everyone in the Putnam City school district. For 34 years, their annual Cancer Drive has spurred friendly competition among schools and taught invaluable lessons in philanthropy.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091015.asp

OMRF to host estate planning seminars

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:42:28 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will offer estate planning seminars for attorneys, CPAs and financial planners on Nov. 2 in Oklahoma City and Nov. 3 in Tulsa.

Featured speaker at both events will be nationally recognized lawyer, lecturer, author and professor Conrad Teitell.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091014.asp

It's Not Just the Shot - Vaccines spur the body to create its own medicine

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:56:36 -0500

Lines, lines everywhere. Parents and kids, patiently (and impatiently) waiting. But it’s not the hot new video game system they want—it’s the flu shot.

Though many people dutifully roll up their sleeve for their annual flu vaccine, and this year millions will follow suit with the H1N1 vaccine, few know what that shot really accomplishes.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091012.asp

OMRF hosts Tulsa researchers for conference on genetics and disease

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 11:18:45 -0500

Medical innovators from Tulsa and Oklahoma City gathered today for a conference on genetics and disease at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The conference was aimed at building potential collaborations to aid in the fight against autoimmune diseases, cancer and eating disorders.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091009.asp

OMRF anthrax discovery could lead to improved vaccine

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 10:16:10 -0500

When a team of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists set out to improve the anthrax vaccine, they started with a theory everybody thought would work: Break apart the toxins so they can’t enter cells. Problem solved.

But things don’t always work as expected. In fact, the theory doesn’t work at all, according to a paper by OMRF’s Darise Farris, Ph.D., and her graduate student Melissa Nguyen in the upcoming issue of the scientific journal Infection and Immunity. The article was highlighted for special attention by the journal’s editors.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091006.asp

OMRF scientist to present keynote address at national conference

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:10:40 -0500

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Robert Floyd, Ph.D., has been chosen to present the keynote address this week at the 55th annual meeting of the Radiation Research Society in Savannah, Georgia.

Floyd is the Merrick Foundation Chair in Aging Research and heads the Experimental Therapeutics Research Laboratory at OMRF. A member of OMRF’s scientific staff since 1974, he has pioneered the development of ultrasensitive methods to assess the formation of highly reactive oxygen molecules in the body.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091005a.asp

OMRF researchers receive $14.7 million in federal stimulus grant funding

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:36:40 -0500

The National Institutes of Health has awarded 17 grants worth a total of $14.7 million to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The grants are part of the $10 billion in economic stimulus funds that will be provided for medical research through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The grants will fund OMRF research on a wide array of illnesses, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, blood disease and cancer. The funds will be paid out over a two-year period and include three new projects as well as supplements to 14 existing research projects. The awards range from $92,000 to more than $4 million.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20091005.asp

Weight is not the only factor in osteoarthritis

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:25:30 -0500

Obese people are more likely to have osteoarthritis, but a new study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation shows it could be more than just weight that’s affecting joints.

In a paper published online today in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, OMRF scientist Tim Griffin, Ph.D. and researchers from Duke University found that mice that became obese because they could not produce or sense the weight-regulating hormone leptin were not more likely to develop osteoarthritis than normal-weight mice. In contrast, previous research has shown that mice that become obese from being fed a high-fat diet do have increased levels of osteoarthritis, even though they weigh significantly less than the obese leptin-deficient mice.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090929.asp

OMRF researchers uncover genetic clues about nerve cell signaling

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:17:55 -0500

Nerves control everything we do, from how we think and move to how we sleep and learn. But scientists are only now beginning to understand how our genes determine the way nerves function and “signal,” or communicate with, each other.

Researchers at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have discovered the function of one gene critical to proper nerve signaling. The findings, made by OMRF’s Stacey Edwards and Kenneth Miller, Ph.D., appear in the latest issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and the journal selected the study to be highlighted in a separate news article.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090921.asp

New OMRF finding could help improve vaccines

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:32:38 -0500

As a resurgent H1N1 flu virus worries medical professionals and families, more people are looking to vaccines to keep them safe. Now a new discovery by scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could shed light on why vaccines are ineffective in some patients.

In a paper published in the current issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, OMRF researchers Shikha Malhotra, Ph.D., Susan Kovats, Ph.D., and Mark Coggeshall, Ph.D., describe for the first time a crucial part of the process—when immune cells take in the vaccine.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090908.asp

OMRF receives $26 million for two federal research grants

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 11:00:59 -0500

The National Institutes of Health has awarded two grants worth a total of $26.3 million to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for research into anthrax and to help train new scientists. Each grant will allow scientists to continue research started in 2004 and 2005 and keep them working through 2014 on several interconnected projects.

In the first project, a $14.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, seven scientists will spend the next five years exploring the natural immune responses to Bacillus anthracis, the infectious agent that causes anthrax.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090903.asp

Increased oxygen exposure may speed Alzheimer’s

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:27:30 -0500

An elderly patient goes into the hospital for routine surgery. Months later, doctors diagnose her with Alzheimer’s disease. Is this just a coincidence?

No, suggests research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Vanderbilt University and the University of South Florida. In a new study, the scientists found evidence that exposure to high concentrations of oxygen may trigger Alzheimer’s like-disease in laboratory mice.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090902.asp

Back to school: OMRF offers tips to avoid H1N1

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:09:33 -0500

As the school year begins, new cases of H1N1 influenza are popping up daily. With children in such close contact with one another, parents are asking: What can we do until a vaccine is ready? How can we protect children from H1N1?

Plenty, according to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation experts. And most of it is surprisingly simple.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090825.asp

OMRF scientists cast new light on cancer-related genes

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:19:42 -0500

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists have made a new discovery about the role two genes play in the development of certain types of cancer. The findings offer important clues about the causes of breast cancer and certain types of leukemia—and how they may be stopped.

The research appears in the latest issues of two scientific journals: Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Public Library of Science (PLoS) One.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090818.asp

OMRF wins $10 million grant to study lupus

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:13:45 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has received a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the autoimmune disease lupus. The five-year award comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH.

The grant will support research on the genetic origins of lupus, which affects up to an estimated 2 million Americans and about 15 million people worldwide. According to John Harley, M.D., Ph.D., the principal investigator on the grant, the research will build on previous research projects that identified more than a dozen genes linked to lupus.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090813.asp

OMRF researchers link vitamin D deficiency with lupus

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 10:35:25 -0500

Vitamin D has long been renowned for its role in creating strong bones. But research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation suggests that the vitamin could also play an early role in autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

OMRF researcher Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., and Lauren Cole, a graduate student in James’s lab, have found that in people who are genetically predisposed to lupus, a vitamin D deficiency could serve as a catalyst to developing the disease. The finding could potentially be useful in treating lupus, which affects up to 2 million Americans and has no known cure.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090804.asp

New lupus treatment shows promise

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:01:03 -0500

It’s been more than a half-century since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment for the autoimmune disease lupus. So when news arrived this month that an experimental lupus drug had been shown effective in a large-scale clinical trial, patients and caregivers were understandably ecstatic.

“It's the greatest thing in 50 years," said Joan Merrill, M.D., of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Merrill heads OMRF’s Clinical Pharmacology Research Program, where Oklahoma lupus patients are participating in a second trial of the drug (known as Benlysta).

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090727.asp

Oklahoma woman remembers OMRF with timeless gift

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:10:54 -0500

Every moment of every day, clocks were ticking in Frieda Fitzgerald’s home. Wall clocks, desk clocks, cuckoo clocks. They filled the walls and shelves of every room in her house.

It was a collection Frieda and her late husband, H. Douglas, worked years to amass. When H. Douglas Fitzgerald’s days ran short—he died in 1989—Frieda, a retired Oklahoma City receptionist, devoted much of her time to her nephew Timothy Garen, who suffered from muscular dystrophy and, eventually, kidney failure and diabetes.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090713.asp

Obama health nominee has impacted state

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:34:13 -0500

Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., may not be from Oklahoma, but he’s made plenty of impact at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

A world-renowned geneticist, Collins was nominated this week by President Barack Obama to run the National Institutes of Health and is a proponent of “big science,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090710.asp

How I spent my summer vacation - Budding researchers forgo summer break for scientific discovery

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:00:50 -0500

For many students, summer marks a time for rest and relaxation. For sailboats and sunscreen, beachcombing and barbecues.

But don’t tell that to a dozen of Oklahoma’s top high school and college science students. As Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, they’ve opted to trade swimsuits for lab coats so they can help OMRF scientists answer some of biomedical research’s most challenging questions.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090707.asp

Ozone alert days could worsen or jump-start disease in susceptible patients

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:09:26 -0500

It used to be a cure-all in homespun medical advice, but as the mercury reaches the triple digits, “fresh air” might sometimes do more harm than good.

Air pollution, especially evident during recent ozone alerts, might be triggering otherwise dormant genetic conditions, said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Dario Ramirez, Ph.D. Ramirez’s work at OMRF centers on how environmental factors can affect human health, with a focus on lung disease.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090630.asp

Bugging Out: Teachers learn from microbes at OMRF

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:30:08 -0500

For five Oklahoma science teachers, “bugs” have taken on a whole new meaning this summer. As Foundation Scholars at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the group of secondary school teachers is spending four weeks at OMRF studying microbes—tiny, living organisms like bacteria and fungi, many of which cause disease.

With guidance from senior-level OMRF scientists, the teachers assume the role of students to learn lab techniques that they can take back to their schools to share with their students. “The thought of working alongside scientists made me nervous at first, but I’m enjoying this experience,” said Gayla Hatfield, a science teacher at Okemah Middle School. “It is challenging, but the support I get is more than enough to help me learn scientific topics and skills.”

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090622.asp

Honoring his father

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:46:29 -0500

John Saxon III, M.D., had long wanted to do something to memorialize his father, John, a West Point graduate who taught for five years at the U.S. Air Force Academy and was a career Air Force pilot before passing away in 1996.

Saxon also had been planning to do something to benefit the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where he’s been a board member since 2000. But then the idea struck him—why not combine the two?

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090616.asp

Putnam City Schools raise more than $110,000 for cancer research at OMRF

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 15:15:57 -0500

In just 365 days, the students, parents and teachers of the Putnam City School District gathered more than $110,000 for cancer research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Since 1975, the school district has worked with OMRF to pay for cancer research, including funding the Putnam City Schools Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, held by Linda Thompson, Ph.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090603.asp

OMRF chosen as one of nine Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence nationwide

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:46:48 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has been selected by the National Institutes of Health as one of the country’s nine Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence. As a result, OMRF will share in $57 million in grants aimed at producing new treatments for autoimmune disease.

OMRF joins Yale University, Stanford University, Duke University and five other institutions that will pursue projects where lab scientists will work closely with clinical researchers to develop treatments for conditions like lupus and multiple sclerosis. Over the five-year grant period, OMRF will receive at least $4.5 million to fund its work, with the possibility of additional funding for clinical trials.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090526.asp

Five Oklahoma educators named OMRF Foundation Scholars

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:52:14 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has selected five state public school science teachers as 2009 Foundation Scholars.

The teachers will spend four weeks in an OMRF laboratory under the guidance of a senior-level scientist learning lab techniques and developing classic, yet inexpensive, experiments to take back to their classrooms.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090521.asp

OMRF honors scientists, adds board member

Wed, 20 May 2009 09:33:21 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation honored three scientists and added a new board member at its annual spring board meeting and honors celebration Tuesday.

Researcher John Harley, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded the Edward L. and Thelma Gaylord Prize for Scientific Achievement. OMRF named Rodger McEver, M.D., as the Alvin Chang Chair in Cardiovascular Biology and Lijun Xia, M.D, Ph.D., as the Merrick Foundation Distinguished Scientist. Bill Cameron also joined OMRF’s board of directors.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090520.asp

OMRF breaks ground on research tower

Mon, 18 May 2009 15:29:48 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation broke ground today on its new research tower, marking the start of a campus expansion that will nearly double the foundation’s size.

The new tower will not only add 185,000 square feet of laboratory, administrative and clinical research space, but it will be the first medical research facility anywhere to generate a portion of its power through wind. It will do so through 24 wind turbines—uniquely designed in the shape of DNA molecules—that will sit atop its roof.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090518.asp

OMRF researcher finds genetic links for rare and deadly disease

Fri, 15 May 2009 14:12:31 -0500

Working with an international coalition of researchers, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Amr Sawalha, M.D., discovered five genes that could be the cause of Behçet’s disease, a rare and deadly illness.

The new finding could help scientists to better understand the disease and lead to a genetic test to diagnose and potentially provide treatments for the disease.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090515a.asp

OMRF drug wins national award

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:21 -0500

A drug based on discoveries made at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation was honored today at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Each year, the National Organization for Rare Disorders honors individuals and companies for outstanding contributions toward improving the lives of people affected by rare diseases. This year, the group recognized Ceprotin, developed from the work of OMRF’s Charles Esmon, Ph.D., and Naomi Esmon, Ph.D.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090515.asp

OMRF names 12 state students as Fleming Scholars

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:56:38 -0500

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has named 12 Oklahoma high school and college students as Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars for 2009.

The students, chosen from a statewide pool of applicants, will comprise the 54th class of Fleming Scholars at OMRF. This year’s class will spend June and July working in laboratories with senior-level OMRF scientists on ongoing research projects.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090512.asp

OMRF scientists share research and hope with patients and caregivers

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:27:05 -0500

Sometimes, a little hope is all you need

And hope is what the 15 Oklahoma patients, caregivers and Muscular Dystrophy Association physicians and staff who visited the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Friday got when they spoke with scientists about new research and discoveries that hold hope for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of muscular dystrophy.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090511.asp

UCO senior looks to graduation-and the life she almost never had

Tue, 5 May 2009 10:10:37 -0500

On Saturday, University of Central Oklahoma senior Meagan McLain will walk across the stage at commencement. The 24-year-old will shake hands, receive her diploma and toss her cap in the air. And with her newly minted degree in marketing, she’ll think of all that lies ahead for her: a career, a family, a life.

But three years ago, graduation was the furthest thing from the Midwest City native’s mind. Her fever was 106 degrees and her heart was beating 180 times a minute as she fought for her life in the ICU at the Midwest Regional Medical Center. Then she stopped breathing.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090505.asp

OMRF aids CDC in fight against swine flu outbreak

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:02:21 -0500

As international fears of a swine flu pandemic rise, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to combat the outbreak.

Swine flu is a respiratory virus that normally affects only pigs, but it has spread to humans in Mexico, the United States and several other countries. There are already 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. In Mexico, there have been 26 confirmed cases and 7 deaths, although the actual death toll could rise to 149 or higher when final laboratory results become available.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090428.asp

Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma gives $1 million to OMRF for Alzheimer's research

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:24:29 -0500

Members of the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma visited the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Tuesday to donate $1 million to fund a lab dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease research.

The check, from the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, was presented on behalf of the state’s 30,000 Freemasons by Grand Master Richard Massad and Kenneth R. House, President of the Charity Foundation.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090420.asp

OMRF opens its doors to Putnam City junior scientists for a day of learning

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 15:51:39 -0500

Magen Eissenstat didn’t know exactly what to expect when she came to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, but she was pleasantly surprised.

“It was way more fun than I had pictured it,” the eighth grader at Hefner Middle School said. “I kind of thought it would be a bunch of old people, but it was really fun.”

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090409.asp

Mothers from across Oklahoma raise funds for cancer, Alzheimer's research at OMRF

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 10:07:50 -0500

Few relationships endure and prosper for 54 years. But when it comes to mothers and their support of the people and things that mean most to them, long-term commitment should come as no surprise.

For more than a half-century, the Oklahoma Association of Mothers’ Clubs has worked to raise funds to support the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. And on Friday, members of Mothers’ Clubs chapters in nine Oklahoma cities met in Tulsa for their annual convention and to present OMRF with the foundation’s yearly gift.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090408.asp

Fishing tournament to reel in funds for lupus research at OMRF

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:20:55 -0500

Organizers of the Cimarron Bait and Tackle Tournament are hoping to land the big one as they raise money for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The bass fishing tournament, sponsored by the Pump Jack Tavern in Guthrie, will be held April 18, with all proceeds going to lupus research at OMRF.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090407.asp

Governor declares April Sjögren’s syndrome awareness month in Oklahoma

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:57:02 -0500

You may never have heard of Sjögren’s syndrome, but you may very well know someone suffering from the illness.

Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grins) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but Sjögren’s may also cause dysfunction of other organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas and the central nervous system. Patients may also experience extreme fatigue and joint pain and have a higher risk of developing lymphoma.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090402.asp

OMRF to unveil one-of-a-kind research tower

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:43:35 -0500

At a gala event this evening, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will unveil plans for its new “green” research tower. The facility will add 185,000 square feet of laboratory, administrative and clinical research space to OMRF’s campus—and will generate a portion of the energy it uses through 24 wind turbines that will sit atop its roof.

“This tower will be the first medical research facility anywhere to harness the wind to help power its labs,” OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D., said. “It will be a model of energy efficiency and resource preservation. Just as importantly, it will serve as the keystone for the largest expansion in OMRF’s 63-year history.”

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090327.asp

OMRF researchers solve decades-old riddle

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:56:05 -0500

Scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation think they have solved a riddle that has puzzled researchers since the 1970s.

For more than three decades, researchers have debated whether two types of pathogen-fighting cells—known as B1 and B2 cells—come from the same source. At long last, OMRF scientists appear to have found an answer.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090324.asp

Tour of OMRF opens up possibilities for Commerce High School students

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:37:35 -0500

Students from the Commerce High School Science Club took a closer look at the high-tech field of medical research Friday, and they liked what they saw.

The 30-member club, led by science teacher Kim McLain, toured labs at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Friday to get an idea of the kinds of exciting jobs available in scientific research.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090316a.asp

Charity Navigator gives OMRF four stars for seventh straight year

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:05:10 -0500

For the seventh year in a row, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator.

OMRF is one of only 10 organizations in Oklahoma to earn a 4-star rating on CharityNavigator.org. Nationwide, OMRF ranks among the top 25 medical research organizations rated by the group.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090316.asp

First Ladies' Gala to Benefit OMRF

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:04:56 -0500

On March 27, Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry and five former Oklahoma first ladies will host an evening of dinner and dancing. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The First Ladies’ Gala will be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The black-tie affair will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing, music by Larry “T-Byrd” Gordon and the Music People Luv Band, and a unique presentation that will reveal plans for OMRF’s campus expansion.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090310.asp

Harley named to the Association of American Physicians

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:16:11 -0600

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist John Harley, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected as a member of the Association of American Physicians.

Harley, who chairs OMRF’s Arthritis and Immunology Research Program, was one of only 60 physicians nationwide chosen for membership this year. The 124-year-old Association selects members based on excellence in the pursuit of medical knowledge and the advancement of clinical science.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090305.asp

OMRF research finds new cystic fibrosis gene

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:38:10 -0600

Patients suffering from cystic fibrosis will live only as long as their lungs allow.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. As a result, a child born with the disease has a life expectancy of less than 38 years.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090225.asp

OMRF research could curb infections in the elderly

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:23:37 -0600

A discovery by scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation may lead to the prevention of infections in the elderly.

The findings, which appear in the scientific journal Blood, detail how certain proteins in the body direct the creation of new white blood cells. Those cells are made by bone marrow and help the body fight infection and other diseases.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090223.asp

OMRF finds new way to enhance cancer treatment

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:45:32 -0600

Destroying cancer cells is easy. Destroying cancer cells without serious side effects is the difficult part.

But new research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has identified a way of more effectively eradicating cancer cells using low doses of an anti-cancer drug. In a study that will appear in the February 9 edition of the journal Cancer Research, OMRF’s Gary Gorbsky, Ph.D., has found that a newly identified compound enhances the killing power of the Taxol, a drug used in chemotherapy treatments.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090210.asp

OMRF discovers new clues to male infertility

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 10:22:24 -0600

The cause of male infertility in otherwise healthy men is a mystery that has dogged researchers for decades. But new research from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation points to a pair of genetic culprits.

In a paper published in the current issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team of OMRF researchers led by Kevin Moore, M.D., has found two proteins that could play a key role in male fertility. The new finding could have implications both for treating male infertility and developing new forms of male birth control.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090202.asp

OMRF offers unique benefit to employees

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:27:10 -0600

In today’s workplace, insurance and retirement benefits are expected. Health insurance, dental and vision plans are commonplace as well. But at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, employees and their families can take advantage of a unique employee benefit - a breast cancer risk assessment test.

On Friday, 80 women - OMRF employees and spouses - will take the OncoVue breast cancer risk assessment test. This will be the second installment of testing at OMRF. When OMRF first offered the testing in December, the session filled up in less than a day, necessitating a second session. All told, more than 150 women will be tested as part of OMRF’s initiative.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090122.asp

OMRF offers scholarships for state science teachers

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:44:41 -0600

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is offering scholarships for Oklahoma science teachers to participate in OMRF’s 2009 Foundation Scholar Program.

For two decades, OMRF’s Foundation Scholar Program has helped Oklahoma science teachers build their classroom curriculum through hands-on laboratory work and interaction with scientists and other educators. Scholarships provide a $2,000 stipend plus housing (if needed) and $1,000 in laboratory and classroom supplies.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090119.asp

Hiding in Plain Sight: OMRF researchers discover rogue immune cells in healthy adults

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:48:27 -0600

A new study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has discovered that lurking in the bodies even of healthy people are numerous rogue immune cells, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other diseases.

The new findings could be key to developing new ways to prevent and treat autoimmune diseases, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and type I (juvenile) diabetes that, in total, affect up to 24 million Americans.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2009/20090106.asp

American Association for the Advancement of Science selects OMRF scientist as Fellow

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:04:36 -0600

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Jordan J.N. Tang, Ph.D., has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The announcement will appear in the December 19 edition of the journal Science.

This year Tang is among 486 individuals honored nationally as a Fellow by AAAS because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. A presentation ceremony for new Fellows will be held on February 14 at the 2009 AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081218.asp

OMRF seeking patients for arthritis and lupus studies, drug trials

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 10:26:55 -0600

Researchers at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation are looking for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus patients to take part in studies of new treatments for the diseases.

OMRF's Clinical Pharmacology Research Program conducts pharmaceutical studies on rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081201.asp

A Vicious Cycle: New OMRF research sheds light on epileptic seizures

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:46:42 -0600

When an epileptic seizure strikes, it’s almost always frightening: violent, involuntary muscle contractions, often accompanied by a loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy affects more than 3 million Americans, including an estimated 100,000 Oklahomans. In most cases, the cause is not known. But a study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation casts new light on how injuries to brain tissue can cause those seizures to occur and recur.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081124.asp

OMRF welcomes new board members, honors scientists

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:19:54 -0600

Four Oklahomans joined the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Board of Directors at OMRF’s semiannual board meeting Wednesday. Also at the meeting, three OMRF scientists were honored.

Joining the board are Dave Bialis, Ramsey Drake and Cliff Hudson of Oklahoma City and Harold Hamm of Enid.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081119.asp

OMRF seeking scholarship applicants

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:35:19 -0600

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2009 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program. The application deadline is Feb. 1.

High school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors, are eligible to apply for the scholarships. Students selected as Fleming Scholars will work side-by-side in a laboratory with a senior-level OMRF scientist for eight weeks.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081117.asp

OMRF to host lupus lecture in Spanish

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:53:01 -0600

As growing numbers of Latino Oklahomans find themselves facing a lifetime with lupus, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is offering a free Spanish-language seminar to discuss the disease, dangers and treatments. The Spanish-language lecture will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Crossroads Mall.

OMRF rheumatologist and research scientist Juan-Manuel Anaya, M.D., will discuss the disease and its effect on the Hispanic community and provide updates on the latest advances in lupus research.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081112.asp

A Lethal Exchange: OMRF researchers uncover clue in spread of "superbugs"

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:20:54 -0600

A discovery from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has put scientists one step closer to finding a defense against dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sometimes called “superbugs.”

In a study that will be published in the Nov. 18 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, OMRF researchers Philip Silverman, Ph.D., and Margaret Clarke, Ph.D., have obtained the first visual evidence of a key piece in the puzzle of how deadly superbugs spread antibiotic resistance in hospitals and throughout the general population.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081110.asp

Oklahomans meet scientists whose work saved their lives

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 13:42:49 -0600

There was something special about the meeting of scientists Drs. Peter Sims and Therese Wiedmer and Oklahomans Greg Watkins and Sandy Roark at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation on Thursday.

It wasn’t the broad smiles, the handshakes or the conversation – it’s that the meeting almost never happened.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081107.asp

Inaugural Putnam City Cancer Classic to raise money for research at OMRF

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:01:36 -0600

For 33 years, the students, parents and teachers of the Putnam City School District have made cancer Public Enemy No. 1.

If there’s a way to raise money, Putnam City has done it; from carnivals to bake sales to door-to-door fund drives. This year, the schools have added another weapon to the arsenal—a 5-kilometer run/walk.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081105.asp

Fighting the Good Fight

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 13:42:14 -0600

Over the course of a year, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars rolls pennies, packages pastries and collects funds to donate to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

At its annual fall festival conference last month, the group presented OMRF with a check for $7,983 to fund cancer research. This represents the 40th consecutive year the organization has given to cancer research at OMRF. All told, they have raised more than $120,000 for the foundation.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081103.asp

A Deadly Mix-Up

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:47:54 -0500

A new study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has found a potential cause of fatty liver disease, a condition linked to obesity that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and an increased risk of liver cancer.

In a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, OMRF scientist Lijun Xia, M.D., Ph.D., and his research team uncovered evidence that a mix-up between the blood and lymph vessel systems in the small intestines causes deposits of fat in the liver, leading to a condition that resembles the most common form of liver disease in Western countries.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081027.asp

OMRF seeking Sjögren’s patients for study

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:19:54 -0500

Researchers at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation are looking for people who have been diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome or believe they might suffer from the disease.

Sjögren’s is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks the body’s moisture-producing glands, damaging the ability to produce saliva or tears. Common symptoms of the syndrome include dry eyes and dry mouth, and the disease can also cause fatigue, arthritis and memory problems. The disease is thought to affect as many as 3 million Americans.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081014.asp

Reeling in Hope: Frank Wohl Memorial Bass Tournament to raise money for cancer research

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:17:20 -0500

Fishermen and women from across Oklahoma are invited to Foss Lake this weekend and cast their lures to support cancer research.

Saturday’s 23rd Frank Wohl Memorial Bass Tournament will benefit the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Wohl, a fishing enthusiast and businessman from Clinton, died in 1985 of cancer. The tournament was organized the next year to pay tribute to Wohl and turn his favorite pastime into a way to support research in the disease that claimed his life.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081007.asp

The Next Generation: OMRF adds new scientists to spur growth, discovery

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:16:22 -0500

A new wave of researchers has joined the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s scientific staff as part of the foundation’s expansion.

OMRF has added seven new scientists to its staff. In addition, two research assistants have been promoted to faculty-level positions.

For more information: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20081006.asp

Good and Good For You

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:44:59 -0500

New OMRF/Penn State study shows pistachios lower cholesterol, risk of heart disease

Just because it tastes good, doesn't mean it's bad for you.

A new study from researchers at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Penn State University found that people who eat a modest amount of pistachios decrease cellular inflammation, cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease.

Read more at: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080929.asp

For OMRF autism researcher, work is personal

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:17:26 -0500

Understanding how a disorder works is one thing. Understanding how it affects a family can be altogether different.

But James Rand, Ph.D., who holds the H.A. and Mary K Chapman Chair in Medical Research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, knows—and lives—both the research and the real world life of autism.

Rand’s sons, Jeremy, 19, and Marty, 13, both have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

For more: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080916.asp

OMRF adds new patient-oriented Clinical Immunology Research Program

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 11:14:42 -0500

As the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation prepares for a major expansion, it is adding a new research program that will focus on studying and treating patients with autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as understanding how people respond to infections or vaccinations.

The Clinical Immunology Research Program will be headed by Judith James, M.D., Ph.D. The new program is part of a larger initiative at OMRF to increase translational research—work that focuses on transforming discoveries in the laboratory into new diagnostics and treatment for human disease.

For more information, click here: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080902.asp

Seeing double: OMRF adds second research MRI

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:29:08 -0500

In 2004, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation opened the state’s first small-animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility. With an investment of $3.75 million to build the facility, recruit a director and purchase a 10,000-pound magnet, OMRF knew it was taking a chance.

Four years later, that risk has paid off: Researchers from institutions across the state—and beyond—are using the facility an average of 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. To meet demand, OMRF has purchased a second, more powerful MRI to add to the facility.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080819.asp

Memory, depression, insomnia—and worms?

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 13:27:14 -0500

Researchers have spent decades probing the causes of depression, schizophrenia and insomnia in humans. But a new study may have uncovered key insights into the origins of these and other conditions by examining a most unlikely research subject: worms.

The project, which was led by Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Kenneth Miller, Ph.D., examined the way eye-less microscopic worms known as C. elegans shy away from certain kinds of light. The researchers made several key findings, chief among them that exposing paralyzed C. elegans to ultraviolet light restored normal levels of movement in the worms.

Read more here: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080805.asp

Reckless Driving: OMRF discovers gene variant that "cuts the brakes" on immune system in lupus patients

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 14:40:49 -0500

Your immune system may have more in common with a Corvette than you thought.

When a virus or bacteria enters a human body, the immune system revs up to fight and expel the invader. Once the invader is gone, the body puts on the brakes to stop the immune response.

But a new study by Patrick Gaffney, M.D., and Kathy Moser, Ph.D., of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation shows that variation of a particular gene—known as TNFAIP3—may cause the immune system to keep going at full speed long after the threat is gone, causing damage to the body.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.ouhsc.edu/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080801.asp

Texas gridiron star tackling lupus research in Oklahoma City

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:02:54 -0500

When he crossed the Red River to play football at Oklahoma’s Langston University a year ago, James Harding, Jr., expected to meet his most formidable foes on the playing field. Unfortunately, his toughest opponents were lurking inside his own body—diseases that would rob him of a promising athletic career and change every day of his life forever. Luckily, Harding’s move to Oklahoma put him in just the right place to deal with the challenges that lay ahead.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080723.asp

Making summer count

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:58:08 -0500

As OMRF Fleming and Presidential scholars, college students getting a close-up look at real research.

Read more at http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080714.asp

KEEPING GENETIC ORDER - OMRF scientists pinpoint body's system for preventing chromosomal defects

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:45:54 -0500

Scientists have long studied the process of meiosis, the type of cell division that produces egg and sperm cells. But a full understanding of the process, which is known to play a key role in causing birth defects such as Down syndrome, has remained elusive.

Led by Michael Dresser, M.D., Ph.D., a team of scientists from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation last year discovered a new process in meiosis that appears to help prevent formation of abnormal chromosomes. Now, in a paper in the new issue of the journal Cell, the OMRF researchers have shed important new light on this process in which parts of the chromosomes act as a sort of cellular police force.

READ MORE AT THIS LINK: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080707.asp

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:22:10 -0500

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 30, 2008 — A good cup of coffee might be just the wake-up call scientists need to stop multiple sclerosis.

A new study coauthored by Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Linda Thompson, Ph.D., found that mice immunized to develop an MS-like condition were protected from the disease by drinking caffeine. The research appears in the early online edition of the June 30, 2008 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In the study, done in collaboration with Cornell University and Finland’s University of Turku, researchers followed the progress of mice that normally developed an MS-like condition. But the scientists found that when the rodents consumed the equivalent of six to eight cups of coffee a day, they did not develop of the condition.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080630.asp

Role Reversal: Teachers become students at OMRF

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:50:24 -0500

For six Oklahoma science teachers, this summer has provided the chance to put on different shoes: those of students.

The educators, all middle and high-school teachers, were selected from a statewide applicant pool as Foundation Scholars at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. In the four-week program, the teachers work together in an OMRF laboratory, performing experiments and learning laboratory techniques they can take back to their classrooms.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080626.asp

Can you hear me now? OMRF and Hough Ear Institute develop a promising new approach to prevent hearing loss

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:41:45 -0500

Explosions. Jet engines. Bursts of gunfire.

In today’s military, soldiers can be hurt by more than just bullets, and one very sensitive area has been under constant attack—the ears. Even with external hearing protection, the sounds of warfare can damage the sensitive inner ear, or cochlea, and severely reduce hearing.

But a new drug combination, developed through a collaboration of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Hough Ear along with support from INTEGRIS Health, has shown promise in reducing hearing loss. The treatment could have both military and civilian applications.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080623.asp

OMRF cell biologist honored as Oklahoma's first Pew Scholar

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:50:51 -0500

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Susannah Rankin, Ph.D., has been named the state’s first ever Pew Scholar.

After a nationwide competition, Rankin, a cell biologist at OMRF, was named Thursday as 1 of 20 2008 Pew Scholars in Biomedical Research by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the University of California at San Francisco. The honor includes a $240,000 award over four years to support her research.

Read more at this link: http://www.omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080616.asp

OMRF developing promising treatment for brain tumor affecting Kennedy

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:32:27 -0500

When doctors diagnosed Sen. Edward Kennedy with a malignant brain tumor last week, the prognosis was bleak. Experts said the average prognosis for the most aggressive form of this tumor, known as a glioma, was approximately 15 months, while those suffering from slower growing tumors might expect to live two to four years.

At the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a pair of scientists are exploring a promising new therapy that could one day change those grim statistics.

Read the full story at: http://omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080527.asp

The Road To Recovery - Saturday's Star Bike Ride to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:45:30 -0500

Nobody ever said fighting a disease couldn’t be fun.

Since 2001, DeeAnn Simpson has organized the Eastern Star Bike Ride to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis and to raise funds to research the disease at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. And at this year’s edition of the ride, which takes place on Saturday, Simpson hopes that participants will once again partake of the homemade baked goods—including her mother’s cinnamon rolls—awaiting bikers at rest stops.

“It’s not a race,” Simpson said. “It’s just a fun time for families to ride their bikes and help us raise money to fight MS.”

To read more click here: http://omrf.org/OMRF/News_Releases/Releases/2008/20080610.asp