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Exciting News in CFCF Leadership
 Earlier this month, CFCF Board Chair Anne Doyle announced some exciting changes at the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation. Lauren Erb, our Executive Director since 2008, will be stepping into a new role as our first-ever Director of Research.
Our newest team member is Executive Director Ron Hollander. Ron is an experienced health care executive whose strategic skills and collaborative leadership helped propel the Massachusetts Hospital Association to national prominence during his decade+ tenure as its President and CEO. He is energized by our mission and shares the Board's commitment to continuing to build on our strong foundation of research and patient education.
Read the full statement from Anne.
Read Ron's blog.
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CFCF-Funded Researchers Publish New Findings
In a series of projects made possible in part by grant support from the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, a group of researchers recently solved the three-dimensional crystal structure of menin. Menin is a protein encoded by the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene. Patients with MEN1 syndrome have a mutation in this gene. They have an increased risk of developing neuroendocrine tumors in several organs. Other CFCF-funded research projects show that sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can have mutations in the MEN1 gene.
In an article published in the prestigious journal Nature, researchers reported two distinct cases in which menin may either promote or suppress gene expression, depending on the protein with which it interacts. Through structural and functional analysis, researchers provide a mechanistic explanation for how menin can both positively and negatively regulate gene transcription. These analyses are an important step in understanding how the menin protein may promote neuroendocrine tumor development.
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Raising Awareness of NETs in New Jersey
 Hap and Mary Rowan have one mission: to help others fighting neuroendocrine cancers. Their plan is to increase knowledge about neuroendocrine cancers by officially proclaiming November 10 as "NET
Cancer Awareness Day" in their home state of New Jersey.
Hap was inspired to advocate for other patients because of his own struggles obtaining an initial diagnosis. "It took 6 years and 5 doctors for me to finally learn that I had neuroendocrine cancer. My story isn't uncommon. We have to do better than this."
He and Mary organized a meeting with Senator Steven Oroho from New Jersey's 24th District to discuss the significance of raising neuroendocrine cancer awareness. Senator Oroho co-sponsored the bill with Senator Joseph Vitale from the 19th District.
On February 9, Hap and Mary addressed the Senate Sub-Committee for Health and Wellness along with Dr. Diane Reidy Lagunes from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Click here for more.
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