For four years, The Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund has put out the welcome mat, inviting all scientists at Johns Hopkins, in all disciplines, to compete for a grant. The only requirement is that they think have a good idea that could help us understand prostate cancer better. This Fund, blessed by the tremendous generosity of our patients and friends, has raised $30 million. In an era of economic uncertainty and governmental budget woes — despite the increasing number of men diagnosed each year with prostate cancer — this generosity is truly remarkable. Never has this support been more vital.

We are now able to provide $1 million a year to fund proposals from the best and brightest Hopkins scientists in many departments, including Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Pathology, Pharmacology, Epidemiology, and Urology. This year, we received applications from 25 Hopkins scientists, as well as requests for continued funding from last year’s awardees. The applications were reviewed by a scientifi c advisory board composed of distinguished Hopkins scientists and two lay members, R. Chris Evensen and Samuel Himmelrich. This year, we awarded more than $1 million to 13 recipients with new ideas. Some of their work is described in this newsletter.

The 2008–2009 Awardees

Charles Drake, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Oncology

William B. Isaacs, Ph.D.
Irene and Bernard L. Schwartz Scholar
Departments of Urology and Oncology

Marikki K. Laiho, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Molecular Radiation Sciences
Department of Radiation Oncology

William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.
Nancy and Jim O’Neal Scholar
Department of Oncology

Edward M. Schaeffer, M.D., Ph.D.
Virginia and Warren Schwerin Scholar
Department of Urology

Bruce J. Trock, Ph.D.
Carolyn and Bill Stutt Scholar
Department of Urology

Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. and Mrs. Peter S. Bing Scholar
Department of Oncology

Hui Zhang, Ph.D.
Department of Pathology