STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The 2012 "Young Investigator" grant recipients have been announced by Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc. (ACGT), including its first international awardee.

ACGT (www.acgtfoundation.org) is the nations only not-for-profit exclusively dedicated to cancer cell and gene therapy treatments for all types of cancer. 100% of contributions go directly to research, and fund grants with leading scientists in the U.S. and Canada. ACGT has funded 41 grants since its founding in 2001 by Barbara Netter and her late husband, Edward, to conduct and accelerate critically needed innovative research for all types of cancer.

The ACGT Young Investigator Award funds assistant professors on the tenure track who are conducting independent and innovative cell and gene therapy for cancer research in their own dedicated lab. ACGT grants are typically the first they have received, which later attract additional funding and are critical in helping Young Investigators establish their independence.

ACGT's Board approved two 2012 Young Investigator Awards, pending final contract approval. The award to Alexander Stegh, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neurology, at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, will fund a research study into a potential new treatment for brain cancer. Stegh's study seeks to better understand metabolic vulnerabilities to the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, glioblastoma (GBM), and aims to establish more effective methods of attacking and destroying a cancer that has been particularly treatment resistant.

Douglas Mahoney, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, at the University of Calgary, Canada, is ACGTs first international grantee. His study focuses on oncolytic virus therapy, which, unlike conventional drugs, orchestrates tumor cell death in multiple ways, simultaneously. Virus-based treatment is considered among the most promising gene therapy techniques. Dr. Mahoney and his team will work to engineer next-generation and virus combinations to break through treatment barriers. Although Dr. Mahoneys initial research was on breast cancer, the technique can be used against many cancers.

"It is discouraging to see federal cutbacks in cancer research funding," said Barbara Netter, ACGTs President. "ACGT is stepping into the breach to boost funding for promising research that can deliver cancer cell and gene therapy discoveries like the recently announced breakthrough leukemia treatments pioneered by Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania, one of ACGTs first Clinical Translation grantees."

ACGT has awarded 27 grants to Young Investigators and 14 grants to Clinical Investigators totaling $23.7 million funding innovative basic research and clinical translation. ACGTs Scientific Advisory Council comprised of 16 renowned physicians and researchers, conducts the rigorous review process. Young Investigator Grants range from $250,000 to $500,000 over a 2-3 year period. Clinical Translational Grants range from $500,000 to $1,000,000. Seventeen ACGT funded research projects have been approved for human clinical trials; 11 of which are underway. To donate, please visit http://www.acgtfoundation.org or call 203.358.8000.

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2012 "Young Investigator" Grant Recipients Announced; Funding Cutting-Edge Cell and Gene Therapy Research for Cancer