David Geffen School-Medicine Laboratory

Now more than ever the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research sees a vital need to focus an independent research effort to develop more effective therapies to improve the quality of life and longevity of patients with these catastrophic diseases. IMBCR president, Dr. James R. Berenson, has spent 28 years working closely on myeloma and bone cancer, and has been privileged to influence the advancement of treatment. This vast experience provides the cornerstone for The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research and our dedication to this specific and crucial mission. IMBCR has assembled a renowned team of expert scientists who are dedicated to our research mission. Along with Dr. Berenson, Dr. Haiming Chen, directs the lab team continuing to lead the way to innovative therapies. With a high-level of understanding of these diseases, our expert team focuses on new and promising therapeutic approaches to help lengthen lives and relieve symptoms for patients. This makes our team unique in the world for having the ability to lead the science to revolutionize treatments, and hopefully someday, discover a cure. The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research believes that there are key scientific areas in need of additional research effort, many of which are not being fully investigated by other laboratories or institutes. These include the following: Investigating the cross-talk behavior between the cancer cell and bone marrow. Current research focuses on killing the cancer cells that have already grown in the bone, or on rebuilding damaged bone. We have worked to understand the symbiotic relationship and found that there is a connection with the bone feeding the cancer. This opens new doors for research that could stop the cancer from growing in the first place by preventing this feeding by the bone. This would be revolutionary in helping curb the progression of the disease.