Date: January 27, 2008
About: James Schlipmann - Class of 1976

$160,000 In Grants Help Fund Fight Against Cancer

Source: Quincy Herald-Whig
Author: Kelly Wilson

$160,000 in grants help fund fight against cancer

Sunday, January 27, 2008
By KELLY WILSON

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The James A. Schlipmann Melanoma Cancer Foundation, founded in memory of Quincy native Jim Schlipmann, awarded $160,000 in grants last year to help fight the disease that took his life.

The foundation's efforts fund research, promote education and awareness, and support individuals and families who have been touched by melanoma, the fastest growing cancer in the world.

A two-year $100,000 grant was presented to Dr. Rick Kefford of the Sydney Melanoma Unit for a melanoma vulnerability map research project. Kefford is working with six other investigators worldwide.

The goal is to make available to all researchers and drug developers an interactive tool that will greatly facilitate the planning of new drug design and rational combinations of drug therapies in melanoma clinical trials. Researchers believe a multi-pronged approach is required to make major progress in melanoma drug trials, using a battery of carefully chosen designer drugs.

A $50,000 grant was awarded to the University of Texas Southwestern Melanoma Center to hire and train the first full-time care coordinator for melanoma patients.

A total of $10,000 was targeted to develop resources and educational materials directed toward melanoma patients and caregivers.

Jim's widow, Jean, created the foundation on Dec. 15, 2002, just three days after Jim's death from metastatic melanoma, and on what would have been his 45th birthday.

Since its inception, it has awarded $445,000 in grants.

Schlipmann, of Plano, Texas, says work will continue in 2008 to strengthen the foundation's efforts.

Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.theschlip.com. Various fundraisers are held throughout the country. In Quincy, the Schlip Bowl-A-Thon for Melanoma will take place Sept. 27.

FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

In 2007, the James A. Schlippman Melanoma Cancer Foundation also:

* Contributed financially to the creation of the first-ever Melanoma Tissue Bank Consortium that will provide specimen and associated data resources for research to support improvement of patient outcomes, spearheaded by world-renowned melanoma researcher, Dr. John Kirkwood.

* Worked with the National Cancer Institute on a strategic plan to implement a roadmap for new opportunities in melanoma research.

* Helped in the development/implementation of the National Melanoma Alliance, leveraging the combined strength of melanoma organizations to advocate for a national agenda for melanoma awareness, education and research.

* Provided melanoma patients and their families easy access to clinical trials through the Schlip Melanoma Clinical Trial and Referral Service, powered by EmergingMed.

* Coordinated the development of support groups for melanoma patients and caregivers and grief support groups for those who have lost loved ones from melanoma.

* Partnered with the Cancer Support Project to provide emotional support for cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones.

* Implemented the Schlip Newsletter, a quarterly e-mail newsletter to provide foundation updates and spread awareness.

kwilson@whig.com/221-3391