DEDICATED TO CURING NEUROENDOCRINE CANCER
MARCH 2016

To all our supporters and followers,

It is a time of great promise and growth as we dramatically expand our outreach and build new partnerships and alliances to accelerate progress in neuroendocrine tumor research and treatment. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation has embarked on a number of initiatives, including a dynamic new collaboration with the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS), international outreach at the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) meetings in Barcelona, and the first of anticipated new additions to our Board of Scientific Advisors (BOSA). 
We're excited to share the details in this month's eUpdate! Thank you for the support that makes this all possible.

Sincerely,  
Ron Hollander, Executive Director

NETRF FUNDS NANETS INV ESTIGATOR
Basic/Translational Science Investigator Award

We are pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Nort h American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society  (NANETS). NETRF is funding a B asic/Translational Sc ience Investigator Award (BTSI), made possible through the generous  su pport of the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation. "This is an exciting and important new partne rship to encourage outstanding young  researchers to make a career commitment to neuroendocrine research that ca n improve the lives and prospects of NET patients everywhere," said Ron Hollander, NETRF Executive Director. 

The purpose of this award is to encourage scientists at the end of their fellowship or beginning of their faculty appointment to pursue basic and/or translational research focused on NETs. This is a two year award and will provide $50,000 in funding each year. Dr. Matthew H. Kulke, Chair of NANETS stated, "This is a welcome and significant step in the collaboration between our two organizations, and one on which we hope to continue building in the future."  Read more
ENETS CONFERENCE OFFERS INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION
Professor Martyn Caplin, Chairman of ENETS, outlines research needs at the 2016 ENETS conference
NET Research Foundation connects with European leaders to explore partnership opportunities and advance our mission

In early March, the NET Research Foundation was in attendance for the first time at the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) Conference, which took place this year in Barcelona. W ith nearly 2,000 people in  attendance, covering a multitude of countries and specialties, the conference enabled us to connect with the world leaders in neuroendocrine cancer treatment and research. Our booth, which displayed NETRF materials, including information on our research grants and the recent announcement of the $15 million gift from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation, attracted substantial interest from conference participants. Ron Hollander, NETRF Executive Director and Dr. George Fisher, NETRF Board of Scientific Advisors Co-Chair, held meetings with a number of  prominent European leaders in NET research to explore ways to collaborate and make significant progress on the path to discovering cures for NETs. 
At the 2016 ENETS conference is (l-r) Professor Bertram Wiedenmann, ENETS Treasurer; Teodora Kolarova, INCA Executive Director; Ron Hollander, NETRF Executive Director and INCA President
While at ENETS, NETRF staff also met with colleagues from the Internat ional Neuroendocri ne Cancer Alliance (INCA).

Said Dr. Martyn Caplin, Chairman of ENETS: "There are pressing needs for research that can help us understand the basic biology of NETs, and help us determine what treatments, sequencing, and combinations work best, and how new options such as immunotherapy can be employed to improve the chances for survival, quality of life and cure. Especially given the lack of public funding for NET research, there is a critical need for organizations such as NETRF and INCA to advocate for and secure support that can help us address these critical needs." Read more
WELCOMING THE NEWEST MEMBER TO OUR BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
Dr. Chrissie Thirlwell,
Royal Free Hospital NET Unit and University College London Cancer Institute

The NET Research Foundation is delighted to welcome Dr. Chrissie Thirlwell,  Senior Lecturer and Consultant in Medical Oncology at the  Royal Free Hospital NET Unit and University College London Cancer Institute, to our Board of Scientific Advisors (BOSA)"Dr. Thirlwell will bring to the BOSA the unique perspective of a clinician and scientist who is at the cutting edge of laboratory research and clinical care in neuroendocrine tumors," commented Dr. Ramesh Shivdasani, Co-Chair of the BOSA. The BOSA provides scientific direction to the NET Research Foundation by offering independent, expert advice. "I was delighted to be invited to join the NET Research Foundation Board of Scientific Advisors," said Dr. Thirlwell. "My job as a neuroendocrine tumor clinician scientist puts me in a unique position to see where the clinical need is for our patients and take this into the laboratory, with the aim of improving outcomes and treatments for all of our patients." Read more

LEXICON SUBMITS APPLICATION TO FDA FOR DRUG TO TREAT CARCINOID SYNDROME
Telotristat Etiprate shows benefits in treating patients with carcinoid syndrome

In August, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reported positive top-line results for their pivotal phase 3 Telotristat Etiprate study in patients with carcinoid syndrome. On March 30, Lexicon submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA, seeking approval for the marketing and sale of Telotristat Etiprate, an oral drug which showed benefits in treating patients with carcinoid syndrome that is inadequately controlled by somatostatin analog therapy. Chair of NANETS Matthew H. Kulke, M.D., presented his findings at the 2015 NANETS Neuroendocrine Tumor Symposium. Read more

 
 
 
F OCUS ON NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER PROGRAM
Hosted by University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center and the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation

Friday, April 15, 2016,  8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Smilow Center for Translational Research

Attend in person or livestream.  Register now!
NVS logo
We are pleased to announce that this eUpdate is supported by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation.

The mission of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation is to fund research to discover cures and more effective treatments for carcinoid, pancreatic, and related neuroendocrine cancers.

NETRF is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To learn more, view our: Audited Financial Statements and IRS Form 990.