Pharmaceutical Professor at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Receives $67,858 Grant from the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund

Memphis, Tenn. (September 13, 2011) – The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is pleased to announce that Ram I. Mahato, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy has received a grant for $67,858 from the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.  The award, which will be distributed over a one-year period, will fund his study titled “Combination Therapy with EGFR and Hedgehog Inhibitor for Treating Pancreatic Cancer.”  Dr. Mahato’s research team includes Stephen Behrman, MD, UTHSC associate professor of Surgery and director of the collaboration between the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund and UTHSC.

 When Herb Kosten was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he and his family found a dearth of information and lack of community resources and support.  They felt isolated as they faced the deadly disease.  After his death, Kosten’s family wanted to help others with pancreatic cancer to find a source of strength and solid information on coping with the disease.  With the goal of providing viable support for these patients and their families, the Kosten family initiated an annual fund-raising tennis tournament in 2004.  The proceeds resulted in a foundation known as the UTHSC Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Support Endowment.

   “I thank the entire Kosten family and the Kosten Foundation for providing financial support for this research project,” said Dr. Mahato.  “Our efforts with Dr. Stephen Behrman will be an amalgamation of laboratory research and clinical practice, and will move this project forward.”

    The researchers in Dr. Mahato’s laboratory have significant expertise in delivering genes and small molecular drugs to different disease targets, including in cancer, diabetes and liver fibrosis.  In this project, they aim not only to reduce tumor growth, but also to attack drug-resistant stem cells to prevent a relapse.  The use of nanomedicines will help reduce toxic side effects which remain a major limitation of current chemotherapy.  Dr. Mahato’s team not only applies pharmaceutical principles to do this, but also applies drug and gene delivery systems with non-toxic novel biomaterials, molecular biology and stem cell biology.  The proposed utilization of human pancreatic cancer tissue for the study will mimic as closely as possible the environment that exists in humans.  The research team hopes that their research will improve the clinical outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

            “All of us at the Herb Kosten Foundation are extremely excited,” said Alan Kosten, brother of Herb Kosten.  “In spite of our accomplishments, the goal has always been to actively participate in an experimental research project with the hope of curing pancreatic cancer.  To see such brilliant doctors (Drs. Mahato and Behrman) so hopeful about the possibilities of this project, is the main reason for our excitement.”   

Pictured above are Dr. Ram Mahato, Alan Kosten, Dr. Stephen Behrman and Jeffrey Goldberg.