Leukemia-cluster scientists to receive research money

RENO - Three scientists will use more than $700,000 secured by Sen. Harry Reid to continue research into Fallon's childhood-leukemia cluster.

Dr. William Murphy, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Nevada School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno, announced that the three grant proposals were accepted at the university on Wednesday.

The three researchers to receive the more than $700,000 in grants are Dr. Joseph Wiemels from the University of California, San Francisco; Dr. Mark Witten from the University of Arizona; and Dr. Chris Pritsos of UNR.

At least 17 children have fallen ill with leukemia in Fallon since 1997. Three have died.

The funding was secured in conjunction with efforts by Reid and the organization Families in Search of Truth (FIST), a Fallon-based group of parents of leukemia cluster children, after peer reviews of each proposal determined scientific merit.

Each research group will study a different facet of leukemia, while looking for possible causes. While the studies are specific to Fallon, the data may be used for other research in other cluster cases such as a childhood- leukemia cluster in Sierra Vista, Ariz.., said Murphy. Symposiums on the research will be held annually.

Wiemels will research epigenetic and genetic changes occurring in cells of leukemia patients. Epigenetics is the study of what affects a cell, organ or individual without affecting its DNA sequence (genotype) directly, according to the Webster's Medical Dictionary Web site. The changes may be in response to environmental factors or induced spontaneously.

Witten will study the role tungsten has in the leukemia process. Some of his recent research has focused on the health of lab rats and mice exposed to tungsten.

Although there are tungsten studies being conducted, there have not been any confirmed studies of its effects on leukemia, said Murphy.

"These are each individual pieces of a large puzzle," he said. "This is a continuation of what the (Centers for Disease Control) has done."

Pritsos will study the biology of elements in Fallon drinking water and its effects on oxidative stress and overall immune function.

"Our concentration will be the oxidative stress," he said. "We will study both treated water in Fallon and untreated water."

The correlation of research from scientists in a collaborated effort is unique, said Jeff Braccini, a Fallon parent of a leukemia patient child and treasurer for FIST.

"This is a first," said Braccini. "I think all the studies are good. What's better is the research will be continued in a joint effort, and we will have a center point for research to be shared."

The process began after grant proposals were solicited in a Cancer Research, a journal supported by the American Association for Cancer Research, he said.

"I really believe we can create a lot of momentum from these first three projects," said Murphy in the press release. "That's good news for all the families in Fallon."