Notes from H-100:

Center of Excellence in Cancers of the Skin

Late last week I received word from Vice Dean Vivian Lee and the Science Strategy Committee that the proposed Center of Excellence in Cancers of the Skin was one of only 5 Centers of Excellence chosen for funding by the Medical Center after an extensive competition that drew 77 letters of intent of which 18 were invited to submit full proposals.The already-strong reputation of the clinicans and researchers who comprise the COE and the already vibrant translational nature of research conducted in this area at NYU were specifically recognized as contributing factors in making a very tough decision. The COE involves multiple researchers from many departments in addition to Dermatology including Environmental Medicine, Cell Biology, Pathology, Medical and Surgical Oncology and so on, as well as several faculty from the the Dental School. In addition to a substantial financial commitment by the Medical Center for some of the specific activities and cores that were detailed in the proposal, the Development Office will also be asked to assist the COEs in leveraging the Medical Center's investment (and the investment already ongoing by our Department and the NYU Cancer Center) by philanthropic fundraising. While the list of participants is very long, I would like to specifically thank Dermatology faculty who played a central role in creating the proposal including (alphabetically) Miki Blumenberg, Pam Cowin, Prashiela Manga, Iman Osman, David Polsky and Henry Sun, as well as Elise Kelman and Paulina Koudellou, our research and departmental administrators. This was really an incredible team effort that I was (and am) proud to be a part of.

This vote of confidence and affirmation by our colleagues is worth celebrating but also comes with a responsibility to fulfill the promise of our program and to make sure that it is a Center that contributes to NYU's reputation as a world-class academic medical center.

Congratulations:

To Roopal Kundu and her husband Som on the birth of their daughter, Nayana Vashi Kundu, born on Monday, June 30th at 7:16am weighing in at 7 lbs 5 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.

Condolences:

To Dr. Michael Cohen and his family on the passing of his father, Herbert Cohen, after a long illness.

1)     Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: CTCL-mycosis fungoides type
a.     Drug: Infusion medication of a fully human anti-CD4 antibody
b.     Duration (Approx): 12 weekly infusions, 8 week follow up
c.     Patient Population: Refractory/Intolerant to Targretin + 1 other standard         therapy

2)     Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: Stage I and IIA ONLY
a.     Drug: Nitrogen Mustard Formulation-20 mg, 2 diff formulas
b.     Duration (Approx): 10 visits over 12 months (approx 1 per month)
c.     Patient Population: Must be naïve to NM or topical carmustine for 2 yrs

3)     Alopecia Areata
a.     Drug: Alefacept
b.     Duration: 12 weekly injections, 12 week follow-up
c.     Patient Population: Must have 50-95% patchy hair loss

4)     Psoriasis:
a.     Drug: Pt receives either of two medications previously shown to effectively tx         psoriasis
b.     Duration: 23 visits over 64 weeks
c.     Patient Population: 10% BSA +etanercept naïve

5)     Psoriasis:
a.     Drug: etanercept
b.     Duration: 5 yr study-observational post-marketing
c.     Patient Population: naive to etanercept, starts etanercept with         dermatologist, and followed for 5 yrs

For more information, please contact the Dermatopharmacology Unit at: 212.263.5244