BUFFALO, NY – Brahm Segal, MD, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) was awarded a $169,000 grant from the Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust to develop a vaccine for the prevention and treatment of aspergillus infections.         

Aspergillus infections are a major cause of mortality in highly immunocompromised persons, such as patients with leukemia, advanced AIDS, chronic granulomatous disorder (CGD) as well as recipients of stem cell and solid organ transplants. Novel therapies, including effective immune augmentation strategies, are needed.

"CGD is a rare genetic condition in which white blood cells do not function correctly. These patients suffer from recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. The development of an effective vaccine against aspergillosis could offer long-term protection to these patients," said Dr. Segal, an infectious disease control specialist.

Dr. Segal and his colleagues hope to establish a proof of principle supporting the effectiveness of a vaccine and define the immune response in laboratory setting. These studies will examine how the body defends itself against aspergillus infection and the role of heat shock proteins as a signaling mechanism to activate an immune response. This knowledge could pave the way for future clinical studies.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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