Monday, January 28, 2008
Blake Peterson said he was a failure. He said knew it, and he was not afraid to admit it. But failure has not stopped Peterson from trying to discover a drug for cancer.
“Research is primarily about failure,” Peterson said. “When you run experiments, it’s important to keep in mind if you get one out of five right, you are doing pretty well.”
Blake Peterson recently got hired by the University as a professor in the Department of Medicinal Cemistry to do cancer research. A lot of his research involves discoveries in novel drug delivery.
Peterson said it would be egomaniacal to believe he, or any one researcher, could create the cure for cancer. More than 300 types of cancer exist, and each has a potentially different cause. But Peterson said he hoped to develop fundamental principles that would be used in creating a cure.
The University of Kansas recently recruited Peterson from Pennsylvania State University. Peterson was selected as one of two Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholars. One of Chancellor Robert Hemenway’s top priorities is for the National Cancer Institute to designate the University as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Hemenway said Peterson’s work would help the University receive that designation.
Hemenway said Peterson was an excellent researcher, but he did not necessarily expect Peterson alone to find the cure for cancer. Like Peterson, Hemenway said he thought the cure would be discovered in small increments.
“I don’t think you have an ‘aha’ moment where everything falls in place,” Hemenway said. “He will contribute his knowledge and expertise to an all-consuming question, how do we best treat a disease like cancer?”
Peterson said he knew from a young age he wanted to be a scientist. He said as a child he enjoyed tinkering with chemistry sets and exploring nature. He said he chose cancer research specifically because cancer was the number three medical killer behind heart disease and stroke.
“It’s pushing the frontiers of knowledge,” Peterson said. “It’s hard to find someone who has not had a friend or family member with cancer, and it’s not going to go away soon. So certainly, there is a real demand for new ways to treat cancer.”
Peterson said he came to the University because the chemistry department was more focused on the interface between chemistry and biology than the department at Pennsylvania State was and other universities trying to recruit him. Peterson works in the pharmaceutical chemistry department and said the University having this department was an incentive for him to come.
Peterson said if he did find a cure for cancer, it would generate a large amount of money for the University because it would own a percentage of the value of that drug. He also said his research was beneficial to students because it will be a new opportunity for students to receive lab experience.
Peterson’s wife, Becca, said the University went out of its way to make her family feel welcome, and that was why she wanted to move to Lawrence.
The Peterson’s have two daughters, Karenna, 6, and Callia, 3. The University hired Becca as an executive assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Rebecca said Blake’s best attribute was his fearlessness. She said he loved to do exhilarating activities, including racing his car sometimes.
“He’s just fun,” she said. “He is a very driven man, but what I love most, is that he is willing to try new things. He’ll do anything twice.”
—Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
Ceremony dedicated to new addition of research ...
The new additions for SBC was introduced to the public with a ...
New professor gets $5 million bioscience lab
The University contributed $5 million for the construction of a two-story research ...
Chancellor expands cancer research program
Cancer drugs discovered at new lab
Better equipment helps researchers test cancer killing meds.
University counts down to cancer center
National Cancer Institute designation could help bring top researchers to Kansas.
Chancellor and governor discuss the University’s “New ...
Deferred maintenance, expansion of the School of Pharmacy and a National Cancer ...
Atkinson to serve as interim chancellor
Barbara Atkinson will continue in her role as Executive Vice Chancellor of ...
Hemenway prepares for up-coming transition
Hemenway has worked to make the June 30 transition as smooth as ...
Editorial: New Hemenway salary too much
The Regents need to adjust former chancellor's salary or explain why it ...
New drug could reduce nicotine’s harm
Researcher uses federal recovery act grant money in hopes of helping smokers ...
Leaving a lasting legacy
As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...
University plans for worst after Regents' suggested ...
Driven to Cure
A new license plate design will be available by this fall. The ...
KU gets grant to research bird flu
A KU researcher has received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department ...
Foundation uses pink bus to bring awareness ...
The Susan G. Komen On the Go vehicle made a stop at ...
Kansas goes pink to raise awareness, funds
At Sunday’s game, the Jayhawks will wear pink jerseys in support of ...
Students stay up all night to fight ...
The 12-hour relay has raised $20,000 so far, but organizers hope for ...
Capitol hosts graduate research
Graduate students from state universities present their findings on cancer, environment and ...
Chancellor Hemenway reflects on decade of goals
New ovarian cancer drug tested
The University Cancer Center just ran a clinical trial for the breakthrough ...
Anti-evolution stance hurts University recruitment
Chancellor approved for raise for 2009 year
The Chancellor’s was approved for raise for the 2009 fiscal year.
Department of chemistry offers unique undergraduate opportunities
The summer program gives students exclusive research experience and the ability to ...
School of Pharmacy ranks top five in ...
KU receives money to further cancer and Alzheimer’s research among disease cures ...
Saturday's game is about more than volleyball
The Jayhawks for a Cure match will raise money for cancer research.
Medicinal chemist receives fellowship
Doctoral student’s research on cancer lands her an award, while she deals ...
Hemenway stays with University
Kansas University Endowment Association provides funding for former chancellor to take sabbatical, ...
Team discovers potential cancer-fighting technique
Researchers found chemical reactions in fungi that may help to fight cancer-causing ...
Professors turn research into profit
Beyond tending to responsibilities of teaching at the University, some professors stay ...
Roundworms used in cancer research
The research, which is being performed by Erik Lundquist and Lisa Timmons, ...
Living in Remission
Months of treatment and uncertainty surrounding their disease has enabled some students ...
KU alumnus donates money for cancer research
KU researchers take legal action for patents
The KU Center for Research is filing the lawsuit because of disagreements ...
Hemenway spends days researching
After retiring, the former chancellor works in the Hall Center working on ...
National Science Foundation funds grant for nanotech ...
Tiny whispering gallery mode resonators detect microscopic particles and can help in ...
Brownback reveals stimulus plan
The $105 million University Economic Growth initiative will help fund research at ...
Folmsbee: There will never be a cure ...
Claims that a cure for cancer will be discovered are unrealistic, but ...
Patents not pending for the University
Research patents are having an increase at the University and research are ...
Chancellor announced in Topeka
The Kansas Board of Regents chose Bernadette Gray-Little as Hemenway's replacement.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Cancer research recruit finds a new home
It is not always the reporters mistake. Some times it is a mistake made by the copy desk.
Cancer research recruit finds a new home
Dr. Peterson joined the MEDICINAL chemistry department not the pharmaceutical chemistry department. This is a pretty major error on the reporter's part.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID