Monday, March 20th, 2006.

The Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute ("PACHLAB") is pleased to announce the addition of Terry Lynch as a member of its Board of Directors. PACHLAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical research foundation devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of occupational diseases through independent research, collaboration, and education.

Terry Lynch is Vice President at Large of the International Association Heat & Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers and also serves as the Health and Safety Director for the Union. He comes from a proud family of asbestos insulators, which include his grandfather, father, uncle, brother, and many cousins. Mr. Lynch’s son, Jason, now completes the family’s fourth generation of insulators. Over the years, Mr. Lynch has witnessed first hand the ravages of asbestos on the lives of countless Union brothers.

“The suffering must stop,” Mr. Lynch said. “Too many insulators and other working people have died. We have known about asbestos cancer for decades, yet not enough has been done to lift the curse of mesothelioma. We must work with industry, government, doctors, and drug companies to establish research programs that will end the apathy and build hope.”

“I am proud to join PACHLAB,” Mr. Lynch continued. “We will be conducting research in the Punch Worthington lab at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. We have high expectations that our research will lead to novel treatments.” Mr. Lynch will act as a liaison between PACHLAB and construction and shipyard labor unions whose members are at risk for asbestos and benzene- related cancers.

Dr. Cameron, one of PACHLAB’s scientific advisors, stated, “I have agreed to work closely with PACHLAB because it offers a unique approach to collaborative research. Not only will we work with patients, doctors and donors to raise funds for promising new research, we will actually do the bench work studies in-house, either alone or in conjunction with other investigators.”

“‘Punch’ Worthington is a patient of mine who suffers from an asbestos- related cancer,” Dr. Cameron explained. “As a painter-taper, Punch is also at risk for another occupational cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia. We came up with the idea for a research environment that fosters basic research that is often pegged as too preliminary to receive funding from standard sources. This type of research, although highly speculative, also holds the most promise for true innovation.”

PACHLAB’s first project will study immunologic and anti-angiogenic (anti-blood vessel) therapies, both of which have been praised as potential “cures” for mesothelioma. PACHLAB aims to conduct research in its own laboratory and in coordination with other institutions, such as the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

“This is a true 21st Century approach to medical research,” Cameron continued, “And is the brainchild of Punch Worthington who is a true scientist and scholar. Punch believes, for instance, that bringing all the parties involved in asbestos litigation together to support and fund this type of research by donating a portion of legal settlements, will accelerate the long overdue discovery of truly effective therapies for this awful disease. With heroes like Punch, scientists like myself cannot help but take up the challenge.”

Also joining PACHLAB’s Board of Directors is Terry McCann of Dana Point, California. Mr. McCann, who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2005, has led an exemplary life. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in wrestling in 1960. He helped manage the Surfriders Foundation, served on several Olympic Games committees, and was the CEO of Toastmasters International for 25 years.

« Mesothelioma News Main Page.

Posted: Monday, March 20th, 2006 at 5:20 pm; filed under Full Archive, Organizations.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.