Original Press Release: I searched “University
of Alberta Hospital Press Releases”
Unique and promising
cancer treatment to begin clinical trials at University Hospitals
World class research
licensed to Edmonton-based company
A team of University of Alberta
medical researchers has developed a revolutionary new cancer therapy to induce
the body to create an enhanced immune system to destroy cancer cells. This
promising new treatment will be used in Phase 1 human clinical trials scheduled
for June at the University Hospitals in Edmonton. These trials will include 10
patients, five with advanced brain cancer and five with melanoma (skin cancer).
This breakthrough is the
result of research conducted by Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, a Heritage researcher, and
his research team in the University of Alberta's department of medical
microbiology and immunology. This original and promising work has been done in
collaboration with Dr. Ken Petruk, a professor of neurosurgery with the
University's Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. Dr. Chang's
pre-clinical research was based on the successful rejection of human tumors in
"humanized" laboratory animals (animals whose immune systems have
been developed to resemble that of people). The therapy (immunogene therapy) is
the result of a unique combination of two genes and includes the gene (B7-2),
never before tested in cancer clinical trials. The phase 1 study will target
the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer and a highly aggressive
form of skin cancer, and will evaluate the safety and toxicity of the vaccine.
In making the
announcement, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Oral
Health Sciences, said "Dr. Lung-Ji Chang has had a significant impact on
the University of Alberta since he was recruited 4 years ago. He is an
excellent example of a basic scientist who has applied his knowledge to the
clinical challenges of AIDS and cancer therapy through gene therapy. His work
has brought clinicians and basic scientists together to develop new approaches
to these diseases and he has rapidly brought international recognition to our
Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and our University."
Briana Bio-Tech Inc., an
Edmonton-based biopharmaceutical company, has licensed the research and is
funding the clinical trials and the ongoing research and development for this
promising technology for at least the next three years. The company has
exclusive worldwide distribution rights of this technology.
Mr. Romano Robusto,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Briana Bio-Tech, said, "We are
very excited by the outstanding world-class research underway at the University
of Alberta and with this collaboration. Our company is actively pursuing other
strategic alliances and collaborative ventures in areas of oncology and
neurology."
Dr. Linda Allison,
Vice-President, Medical and Scientific Affairs of Briana Bio-Tech added,
"Briana is very pleased that this important research is moving toward
clinical trials with such close collaboration between Drs. Chang and Petruk. It
also pleases us that the ownership of this technology will stay here in
Edmonton."
Briana Bio-Tech is
focused on the commercial development of proprietary therapeutics and
diagnostic projects for treating cancer and neurological disorders. Briana is
currently negotiating licenses for a number of strategic technologies in
late-stage pre-clinical or early stage human clinical studies.
The University of
Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada's largest research-intensive universities
serving more than 29,000 students.
For more information
please contact:
Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, associate professor,
Medical Microbiology and Immunology;
University of Alberta, 403-492-9821.
Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, associate professor,
Medical Microbiology and Immunology;
University of Alberta, 403-492-9821.
Mr. Romano Robusto,
President and CEO,
Briana Bio-Tech,
403-423-1038 or 514-629-6431
Briana Bio-Tech,
403-423-1038 or 514-629-6431
Sandra Halme, Public
Affairs,
University of Alberta, 403-492-0442.
University of Alberta, 403-492-0442.
Revised Press Release:
Clinical Trials for Unique Advanced
Brain Cancer Tumor(s) and Skin Cancer Treatments (Melanoma) to begin
at University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton
Clinical Trials Research is licensed to
Edmonton-based company Briana Bio-Tech
A team of University of Alberta medical
researchers has developed a revolutionary new cancer therapy to induce the body to create an enhanced immune
system to destroy cancer cells. This promising new cancer treatment will be used in Phase 1 human clinical research trials scheduled for June, 2013 at the University of Alberta Hospital in
Edmonton. These trials will include 10 patients, five with advanced brain cancer tumors and five with melanoma (skin cancer).
This breakthrough is the
result of research conducted by Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, a Heritage researcher, and
his research team in the University of
Alberta's department of medical microbiology and immunology. This original
and promising work has been done in collaboration with Dr. Ken Petruk, a
professor of neurosurgery with the University's Faculty of Medicine and Oral
Health Sciences. Dr. Chang's pre-clinical research was based on the successful
rejection of human tumors in "humanized" laboratory animals (animals
whose immune systems have been developed to resemble that of people). The
therapy (immunogene therapy) is the result of a unique combination of two genes
and includes the gene (B7-2), never before tested in cancer clinical trials research. The phase 1 study will target the
most common and aggressive form of brain
cancer tumor and a highly aggressive form of skin cancer (melanoma), and will evaluate the safety and toxicity
of the vaccine.
In making the
announcement, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Oral
Health Sciences, said "Dr. Lung-Ji Chang has had a significant impact on
the University of Alberta since he
was recruited 4 years ago. He is an excellent example of a basic scientist who
has applied his knowledge to the clinical challenges of AIDS and cancer therapy through gene therapy.
His work has brought clinicians and basic scientists together to develop new
approaches to these diseases and he has rapidly brought international
recognition to our Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and the University of Alberta as a cancer treatment center for advanced brain cancer tumors and skin
cancer (melanoma)."
Briana Bio-Tech Inc., an
Edmonton-based biopharmaceutical company, has licensed the research and is
funding the clinical trials research
and the ongoing research and development for this promising cancer treatment technology for at
least the next three years. The company has exclusive worldwide distribution
rights of this technology.
Mr. Romano Robusto,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Briana Bio-Tech, said, "We are
very excited by the outstanding world-class cancer treatment research underway at the University of Alberta and with this collaboration. Our company is
actively pursuing other strategic alliances and collaborative ventures in areas
of oncology, neurology and cancer
therapy."
Dr. Linda Allison,
Vice-President, Medical and Scientific Affairs of Briana Bio-Tech added,
"Briana is very pleased that this important skin cancer (melanoma) and advanced brain cancer treatment research is moving toward clinical trials research with such close collaboration between Drs.
Chang and Petruk. It also pleases us that the ownership of this technology will
stay here in Edmonton with Briana Bio-Tech.”
Briana Bio-Tech is
focused on the commercial development of proprietary therapeutics and
diagnostic projects for treating cancer and neurological disorders. Briana is
currently negotiating licenses for a number of strategic cancer treatment and cancer
therapy technologies in late-stage pre-clinical trials or early stage human clinical trials research studies.
The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada's largest
research-intensive universities serving more than 29,000 students.
For more information
please contact:
Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, associate professor,
Medical Microbiology and Immunology;
University of Alberta, 403-492-9821.
Dr. Lung-Ji Chang, associate professor,
Medical Microbiology and Immunology;
University of Alberta, 403-492-9821.
Mr. Romano Robusto, President and CEO,
Briana Bio-Tech,
403-423-1038 or 514-629-6431
Sandra Halme, Public
Affairs,
University of Alberta, 403-492-0442.
University of Alberta, 403-492-0442.
Labels: Clinical trials,
Cancer treatment, Brain cancer tumor(s), melanoma, Cancer therapy, University of
Alberta
____________________________________________________________________________________
I found
Google Adwords tool most useful. I plugged in these keywords from the original
press release, checked for global and monthly searches and drilled deeper
around the words that had medium and high monthly searches and then added more
keywords from those ad groups. The reason I added the medium and high search
keywords is that those will optimize the press release more than the low
searched words. It is interesting that University of Alberta is searched the
most rather than with long tail Edmonton or Hospital Edmonton.
clinical trials: added clinical trials research, clinical
research trails
cancer treatment: added cancer treatment centers, cancer
therapy
advanced brain cancer: added brain cancer tumor
melanoma: added skin cancer, skin cancer treatments
university of alberta hospital Edmonton
university of Alberta, University of Alberta Edmonton
I also looked for Youtube videos about the University of
Alberta cancer research and about Briana Bio-Tech but did not find any. This is
something both companies could pursue for further optimization.
