The Quest for a Cure

Hannah Cheek conducts research as part of the Jimmy V-NC State Cancer Therapeutics Training Program.

Basketball coach Jim Valvano's place in Wolfpack history is legendary, as is his strength and fortitude in taking on cancer. During his famous ESPY Awards speech in 1993 – less than two months before his death – Valvano delivered a rallying cry in the battle against cancer: "Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up." The V Foundation, established by Valvano after his diagnosis, has raised more $70 million for cancer research, a remarkable legacy to his energetic drive to make the world a better place.

When the V Foundation recognized in recent years that fewer and fewer young Americans were showing the scientific promise needed to pursue careers in cancer research, the Foundation took action. Acknowledging today's heightened need to train tomorrow's leading cancer researchers, the V Foundation and NC State joined together to create the Jimmy V-NC State University Cancer Therapeutics Training Program. A $1 million grant from the V Foundation initiated this important partnership.

In addition to honoring the great Jim Valvano, the program speaks to Jimmy V's celebrated charge by encouraging and helping undergraduate scientists prepare for careers in cancer research. The program places high school, undergraduate and graduate students in NC State research labs involved in cancer therapeutics, inspiring them to consider related careers.

The partnership will initially fund 15 to 20 students, who will work in dedicated labs with graduate and post-doctoral students as mentors. "This unique program will give a variety of students a broad look at cancer and expose them to real research projects engaged in all stages of cancer therapeutics," says Dr. John Cavanagh, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences professor of molecular and structural biochemistry and project lead. "The most effective way to get students excited about the prospect of going into scientific research is by letting them get their hands wet and do real science - that's what this program is all about."

This hands-on approach gets students directly involved in work in areas like finding new chemotherapy treatments that attack only cancer cells and discovering effective ways of treating certain infections in cancer patients. The funding also supports resources for an undergraduate research lab. We think Jimmy would be proud that NC State has no intention of giving up in the fight against cancer. 

Dig Deeper:

• The Picture of Good Health