Cancer Early Detection Boost with Microbubble Technology, Luncheon Feature

Jan. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- PALO ALTO, CA – Scientific progress into early cancer detection will be the focus of a fundraising luncheon and lively high tech interview Friday, February 8, 2013 in Menlo Park with proceeds to benefit Canary Foundation, the only nonprofit dedicated solely to early cancer detection. Hollywood personality and networking rock star Jesse Draper, known for her show“The Valley Girl” will be interviewing Dr. Sanjiv “Sam” Gambhir, MD, PhD, chair of Radiology at Stanford University and director of Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection and Don Listwin, founder of Canary Foundation.

“I’m honored to be the host of the 2013 Canary Foundation luncheon,” said Draper, who grew up in Atherton, CA. “I believe in this cause and all of the good work Don Listwin and Canary Foundation are doing for early cancer detection.

Canary Foundation is spearheading a new promising technology that provides a safe, accurate and inexpensive imaging method to pinpoint cancer’s location, before it has become a large tumor. Draper will interview Listwin and Gambhir on microbubble imaging and how it can help find cancer tumors when they are quite small. This technology uses an enhanced version of the ultrasound devices found in doctor’s offices around the world.  “We are very excited to be sharing the news about this emerging technology with local guests at our annual luncheon,” said Ronica Smucker, Canary Foundation executive director.

Gambhir and Listwin will be sharing information microbubble imaging. Enhanced ultrasound using microbubbles works like this: bubbles are ingested by the patient carrying an agent that attaches to and lights up the tumor, showing its exact location, size and shape. The harmless bubbles and agents clear the body within about a half hour. The process involves no radiation and no new expensive equipment.

The original study for this was a small, underfunded idea that aligned perfectly with the mission of Canary Foundation. Canary Foundation invested in it with the help of Canary supporters who believed in the elegant simplicity. Now the study is moving into clinical trial with patients. “One of the most exciting things about this technology is that it will be applicable to many cancers including ovarian, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer,” explains Smucker. Donations from this event will help advance the enhanced ultrasound imaging method using microbubbles.

About the special guests

Jesse Draper is the creator and host of “The Valley Girl Show” where she interviews start up executives and innovators. She runs the technology blog Lalawag.com and is a regular feature writer for the Mashable, San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, and Glam. Draper has also had a major role in Nickelodeon’s “The Naked Brothers Band”. She was featured recently on the cover of Gentry Magazine.

Draper will be on hand to interview two special guests: Dr. Sam Gambhir and Don Listwin.

Dr. Sanjiv (Sam) Gambhir is the chair of Radiology at Stanford University. He is the Director of the Canary Center at Stanford and a professor in the department of Radiology and Bio-X Program. Dr. Gambhir’s laboratory focuses on merging advances in molecular biology with those in biomedical imaging to advance the new field of molecular imaging.

Don Listwin is a 25-year veteran of the technology industry (previously the CEO of Openwave and Executive Vice President at Cisco Systems) and currently serves on several high tech boards including Calix Networks. After losing his mother to ovarian cancer, he founded Canary Foundation in 2004 to address the lack of tools for cancer early detection. He draws on his business experience to help foster innovation with the Canary Foundation scientific teams and to create bridges between academia and industry.

Listwin made a lifelong commitment to apply his resources and expertise to build the first nonprofit organization solely dedicated early cancer detection.

Canary Foundation is the world’s first non-profit organization dedicated solely to the funding, discovery, and development of tests for early cancer detection. Canary Foundation is dedicated to delivering early detection tests for solid cancer tumors within the next 10 years.