In 2005 alone, thousands of Americans-including about 740 Floridians-will succumb to some form of cancer of the kidney, and many more will receive the frightening news that they have the deadly disease, according to data from the National Cancer Institute. In many instances, cigarette smoke will be a prominent factor in how the disease developed, but no one knows exactly why.

A group of Mayo Clinic investigators in Jacksonville are looking to discover the mysterious correlation between smoking and kidney cancers so that more effective patient treatments can be developed, and they are moving forward thanks to support from the James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program.

With a $1 million grant from the Program, the Mayo group has launched a comprehensive, four-part program investigating a broad range of topics that cover the medical research spectrum: from studies at the molecular level to clinical research that will improve the quality of life for kidney cancer patients.

"This research funding has allowed us to form a multidisciplinary group to attack the complex, smoking-related disease of kidney cancer, for which there are very limited effective treatments," says John A. Copland, Ph.D., the senior investigator of the Mayo group, who is using genomic technologies to identify therapies targeting the genes involved. "Legislators and the governor have done an extraordinary service by promoting medical research that can impact the health of Floridians, the nation, and the world."

Though their ultimate research goals will take years to accomplish, the investigators say that the state funding is a critical first step. With state funding, they will be able to collect important data that demonstrates the potential benefits of their research. From there, they will be in a better position to obtain long-term support from NIH and other major funding agencies.

Click the following link to veiw a group photo of the Mayo Clinic team working on this grant: Team Photo