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Winter 2015 : A Message from Dr. DePinho

A message from Dr. DePinho

A word from the president

As a dad, I wish nothing more than for my children to grow, thrive and live healthy, long lives. And as a physician-scientist, I’m acutely aware that the risk of cancer lurks within their futures.

With December’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration momentous approval of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil 9 (please see related story), we have a new, powerful weapon to protect our children from the vast majority of cancers related to HPV.

Ensuring its use is a national child care issue.

MD Anderson recently teamed with Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to co-sponsor a discussion on HPV-associated diseases and the importance of vaccination. Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren moderated a panel of scientific, clinical and policy-making experts including Dr. Douglas Lowy of the National Cancer Institute; MD Anderson’s Dr. Lois Ramondetta; and Rep. John Zerwas, an anesthesiologist and a champion of health issues. I encourage you to visit www.bakerinstitute.org/events/1669 to view the entire proceedings.

MD Anderson will continue to lead the conversation with parents, pediatricians, educators and policy makers. We have an enormous opportunity to ensure that our children are vaccinated against HPV and to know that they won’t needlessly experience the devastating impact of related cancers later in their lifetimes. With your support, we’re Making Cancer History^®, for our children, and for generations to come.

"We have an enormous opportunity to ensure that our children are vaccinated against HPV and to know that they won't needlessly experience the devastating impact of related cancers later in their lifetimes."

Ronald DePinho, M.D.

president

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Gardasil 9

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of a new vaccine that targets five additional strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) fortifies a proven cancer prevention weapon, says MD Anderson President Ron DePinho.