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Making Rounds

Dr. Zbigniew Wszolek

Neurologist Honored for Parkinson's Research

Dr. Zbigniew Wszolek, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, recently received two honors for his work in Parkinson's disease research. He is the recipient of the 2005 Annemarie Opprecht - Foundation Award, which is given to promote medical research in the field of Parkinson's disease on an international level. Wszolek and his colleagues found that a mutation of a specific gene plays a central role in developing pathology characteristic of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Wszolek also was selected by Parkinson Society Canada as the 2005 Donald Calne Lectureship recipient. The lectureship recognizes a distinguished neurologist or neuroscientist of international reputation who works primarily in Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Edith Perez

Cancer Specialist Receives funds for breast Cancer research

Mayo Clinic oncologist Dr. Edith Perez was awarded a one-year grant of $250,000 by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to continue her ongoing breast cancer research program. This is the sixth year that Perez has received funding from the BCRF. The grant comes on the heels of an announcement of a breakthrough treatment for breast cancer, the results of seven years of research led by Perez. In a joint paper published in October in the New England Journal of Medicine, along with co-author Dr. Edward Romond of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), Perez showed trastuzumab (Herceptin) therapy to be superior to standard treatment, reducing recurrence of cancer by half, and improving overall survival. Perez holds several roles within the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the only multicenter clinic in the nation to receive the National Cancer Institute's highest designation as a comprehensive cancer center for its entire program. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation supports scientists at leading medical centers worldwide whose research is focused on preventing and curing breast cancer in our lifetime.

Bone Marrow Transplant Program's New Certification

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has certified the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program of Mayo Clinic, Nemours Children's Clinic and Wolfson Children's Hospital to perform unrelated donor marrow/stem cell transplants for children and adults. The transplant program has participated with the NMDP as a donor collection center since 1994 and continues to do so. Prior to this certification, patients seen at Mayo and Nemours who needed a transplant but did not have a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) — matched sibling donor were referred to other facilities. Now, patients will have the option of remaining at Mayo or Nemours for their transplants.

Simple Success Diabetes Program

This comprehensive outpatient program teaches diabetics how to manage their disease. Health care professionals teach a series of four classes totaling 10 hours in a supportive, small-group environment. Insurance companies may provide coverage. Classes are held at the St. Luke's Hospital campus. For class dates, times and other information, please call (904) 296-3733.