DATE: 5/3/05

CONTACT: David Gangemi; (864) 656-6463

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

Clemson to host S.C. Alliance for Cancer Chemoprevention Symposium

CLEMSON -- Many South Carolinians are concerned about what kind of foods they need to eat in order to strengthen their immune systems to help prevent cancer. This will be one of the topics discussed at the S.C. Alliance for Cancer Chemoprevention Symposium May 17–18 at Clemson University’s Madren Center.

“The symposium is for anyone who has an interest in cancer prevention or cancer treatment,” said David Gangemi, director of Clemson University’s Institute of Nutraceutical Research (INR).

The program will begin May 17 with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a “Luau Dinner” at 7 p.m. Director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory at Tufts University Dr. Jose Ordovas will be the keynote speaker following dinner.

A continental breakfast will begin the day at 8 a.m. on May 18. “Luncheon by the Lake” will be from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the Madren Center’s Outdoor Pavilion. The program will wrap up at 3:45 p.m.

Pre-registration is $40 and $20 for graduate students. Registration at the door is $50 and $25 for graduate students. There is no charge for participants who only want to attend the conference and not participate in lunch or dinner.

Other speakers will include: Dr. Tom Wagner, director of the Cancer Research Institute, Greenville Hospital System; Dr. Irene PrabhuDas of the Department of Health and Environmental Control; Dr. James Hebert of the University of South Carolina; Dr. Joseph DiPiro, executive dean of the S.C. College of Pharmacy; Dr. Panos Kalaritis of IRIX Pharmaceuticals Inc.; and Dr. Bharat Aggarwal of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Texas.

To pre-register, mail a check made payable to SCACC by May 11 to Diane S. Wise, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. 29208. For further information, contact Wise at (803) 777-0285 or Karen Woolsey, Clemson University, at (864) 656-3015. A block of rooms has been reserved at the James F. Martin Inn at the Madren Center on the Clemson University campus. To reserve a room, call (864)654-9020. Nearby motels are also available.

Ordovas received a Ph.D in Biochemistry from University of Zaragoza in Spain. His research focus is molecular biology, nutrition and genetics; and lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease risk. He has written numerous publications. Newsweek recently published an article about Dr. Ordovas regarding diet and genes and the future of medicine.

Clemson University’s Institute of Nutraceutical Research (INR), the S.C. Research Authority, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina make up the S. C. Nutrition Research Consortium.

The mission of the consortium is to reduce the incidence, delay the onset and decrease the severity of cancer, especially in South Carolina, with the emphasis on nutrition, natural products and pharmaceutical chemistry.

“One focus of this partnership is on industry-wide problems and economic development in rural South Carolina,” said Gangemi. “The goals of INR are to help South Carolina industries provide greater confidence in produce quality and effectiveness, to enhance consumer demand for South Carolina nutraceutical products, and to develop economic opportunities for rural communities in the state.”

There will also be a student poster contest with prizes of $100 to $200.

Clemson University is hosting the event.

END