May 13 2009
The Keck School of Medicine of USC announced a $5 million gift from the Ellison Medical Foundation to support cancer research under the direction of David B. Agus, an oncologist and cancer researcher who joined the Keck School faculty on April 1 as a professor of medicine.
Agus will serve as principal investigator for the Molecular Technologies in Cancer project. The initiative will focus on molecularly targeted therapy, which holds promise as a new paradigm for cancer treatment.
The Ellison Medical Foundation is a nonprofit founded by entrepreneur Lawrence J. Ellison, CEO of the Oracle Corp. The foundation is dedicated to supporting new, creative research that might not be funded by traditional sources.
“It is my pleasure to work with Dr. Agus and his research associates in developing new technologies to help patients with cancer,” Ellison said. “I believe his unique approach to medical oncology will help better control many of the diseases impacting mankind today.”
Agus’ research in proteomic technology seeks to integrate clinical trials, pre-clinical studies and molecularly targeted therapy — which focuses on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer — to predict which patients will likely respond to a specific anti-cancer therapy. He will lead a team of researchers at the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine.
In addition, Agus will direct the new USC Westside Prostate Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary center in Beverly Hills that is focused on care for patients with prostate cancer.
Prior to joining the Keck School, Agus served as the director of the Spielberg Family Center for Applied Proteomics and research director of the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He and his research team have focused on factors influencing the development and progression of cancer.
In the laboratory, Agus conducts research focused on understanding the biology of cancer and the development of new drugs and treatments for cancer. He also uses new technologies in the field of proteomics and nanotechnology that reveal valuable information regarding “on” and “off” switches of the cancer and ultimately a more complete understanding of the various factors that influence cancer development, progression and response to treatment.
Agus has published numerous articles and received several awards in the fields of cancer research and drug development. He graduated cum laude with honors in molecular biology from Princeton University and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his medical internship and residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital.