Fund will help further TGen's Melanoma Research Programs
Phoenix, Arizona, June 12, 2006--The TGen Foundation today
announced the creation of the Kristin Hornaday Fund for Melanoma
Research. Kristin, the daughter of RuthAnn and Tom Hornaday, lost
her battle with melanoma in June of 1993 at the age of 26.
Karen and Bill Clements, who are lifelong friends of the Hornadays,
started the fund, which has already raised over $65,000 to support
TGen's melanoma research programs.
Melanoma is the most dangerous and aggressive form of skin cancer. The five-year survival rate for melanoma decreases dramatically (from 96% to 12%) as the disease progresses from Stage I to Stage IV. It kills more women aged 25-30 than any other cancer. Caught early, melanoma has a cure rate of about 90%. However, there is no proven standard therapy for high risk or advanced melanoma and no new treatments have been introduced in thirty years.
Melanoma investigators at TGen are attacking familial and sporadic melanoma on multiple fronts, furthering TGen's mission to develop earlier diagnoses and smarter treatments. Research initiatives include:
- Investigating how previously identified genes contribute to melanoma progression.
- Studying large numbers of patient samples to improve the detection of melanoma and identify previously unknown drug targets.
- Investigating a 100-gene region to identify a familial melanoma-susceptibility gene.
"Generous people like the Hornadays and the Clements are helping TGen to make an incredible impact on fighting terrible diseases such as melanoma," said Michael Bassoff, president of the TGen Foundation. "The Kristin Hornaday Fund for Melanoma Research will enable our investigators to accelerate the research process and bring breakthroughs to patients faster."
Kristin, nicknamed Kristi by her friends and family, brought joy to all who knew her. She attended Xavier High School where she was president of the student body. She graduated with honors from Denison University in 1988 and was working in sales at IBM when she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 1990. During the next three years she went though periods where she was thought to be cancer free, only to have the cancer return. Outstanding physicians at some of the world's most renowned cancer centers treated her. She married Greg Garrett in November of 1992, but even this storybook romance could not save her from metastatic melanoma.
"Everyone in our family suffered greatly with Kristi's battle with melanoma and we want to help other families avoid similar trauma," said Mr. Hornaday.
For more information or to contribute, visit the Kristin Hornaday Fund for Melanoma Research.
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About the TGen Foundation
The TGen Foundation is a non-profit organization. All donations
made to the TGen Foundation will be used to fund TGen's research
needs for improving the health of humankind as we target new
treatments, therapies and cures for such diseases as autism,
melanoma, pancreatic cancer, brain tumors and diabetes. Donors may
designate their gift as a tribute, either in memory or honor of a
friend or family member. There are many other ways to also support
the TGen Foundation. To discuss specific options with a Foundation
staff member, please call (602) 343-TGEN (8436) or visit http://www.helptgen.org.
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused on developing earlier
diagnostics and smarter treatments. Translational genomics research
is a relatively new field employing innovative advances arising
from the Human Genome Project and applying them to the development
of diagnostics, prognostics and therapies for cancer, neurological
disorders, diabetes and other complex diseases. TGen's research is
based on personalized medicine. The institute plans to accomplish
its goals through robust and disease-focused research.
Media Contact:
Amy Erickson -(602) 343-8522
