John Kuo, MD, PhD receives first HEADRUSH research award
April 30, 2008

John Kuo, MD, PhD was recently awarded the first HEADRUSH Brain Tumor Research Professorship at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Comrpehensive Cancer Center.

“This is really a testament to [HEADRUSH founders Chris and Brandi Funk],” said Dr. Kuo, chair of the Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center brain tumor clinical trials group, and co-director of the multidisciplinary brain tumor clinic. ”It’s a celebration of what they have been able to do in a very short period of time. I am very honored to receive the award.”

Shortly after being diagnosed with a grade 2/3 glioma in 2001, Chris Funk, with his wife Brandi, wanted to give back to the cancer community. They formed HEADRUSH, a non-profit organization whose mission is to significantly improve the future of brain tumor research, treatment, and survivorship through the HEADRUSH Brain Tumor Research Professorship at the Carbone Cancer Center.

“This is a dream come true,” said Chris Funk during the award presentation.. “We never expected to have this happen as fast as it has.”

In four years, HEADRUSH and the HEADRUSH Event Team raised enough money to endow a three-year research award at the Carbone Cancer Center.

“Chris and Brandi Funk have taken phenomenal initiative following the diagnosis of Chris,” said Minesh Mehta, MD, program leader for imaging and radiation sciences at the Carbone Cancer Center. “They’ve done more than anyone might’ve conceived could be done in the hands of a bright and energetic couple to advance brain cancer research.”

Dr. Kuo, assistant professor of neurological surgery and human oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, was selected to receive the award in part due to his research on cancer stem cells. Dr. Kuo and colleagues in his brain tumor research lab are studying cancer stem cells to unlock clues about why brain cancer rapidly recurs despite aggressive surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The long-term goal of their research is to translate advances in understanding cancer stem cell biology into novel, more effective therapies.

Commenting about the incredible support they’ve received to make the HEADRUSH award possible, Chris Funk said, “It’s things like this that help everyone be able to make a difference in the world and it’s people like Dr. Kuo who have the incredible intelligence and incredible determination who can make that change.”

HEADRUSH raises funds through an annual fall event that increases awareness of brain tumors and their impact, while enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. This year’s event will be Saturday, September 27th, 2008, at Blue Mound State Park, Blue Mounds, Wis.

More about John Kuo

A Cancer Center member within the Imaging and Radiation Sciences program, Kuo's research goal is to understand tumorigenesis of brain tumor stem cells (BTSC) by molecular comparison with normal neural stem cells. BTSCs can initiate tumors with high efficiency in a mouse xenograft model, and are hypothesized to drive tumor recurrence in humans. Molecular analysis of known cell signaling/developmental pathways, and a de novo screen for BTSC-specific genes are being pursued for identifying candidate BTSC tumorigenesis genes.

More about HeadRush

HEADRUSH is a non-profit organization whose mission is to significantly improve the future of Brain Tumor research, treatment, and survivorship.  HEADRUSH was originally created in 2004 by Chris and Brandi Funk.  Chris is a young 30-something living with brain cancer; he and his wife wanted to put together an annual event that would “give back” to their community and also create brain tumor awareness.

HEADRUSH proceeds directly benefit the UW Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center.  A HEADRUSH Brain Tumor Research Professorship has been officially established in the Department of Human Oncology and the first recipient of a three-year Research Award is being named.