Co-Director, Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research at Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute - Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
A partnership between the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Baystate Medical Center. We are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to biomedical research. Our mission is to develop innovative approaches to diagnose, monitor, and treat disease. The structure of the PVLSI provides the resources required to identify needs in the clinical pipeline as well as the ability to rapidly implement changes that meet the needs of the dynamic landscape of healthcare.Our approach is to leverage the innovation of scientists, in both life sciences and engineering, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst together with the clinical experience of clinicians at Baystate Medical Center to develop creative solutions to pressing needs in healthcare. Our primary focus is on cancer, diabetes, and obesity as these are the major diseases confronting our population.Funding for research at the Institute comes from a variety of federal, state, and private organizations. We collaborate with businesses to conduct sponsored research and speed commercialization of new technologies. We also depend on the support of the patient community who are essential partners in the quest for more effective treatments that will improve our health and well-being.