Duke researchers receive 'V' grant

CARY -- The V Foundation for Cancer Research has awarded its 2009 Translational grants to elite researchers across the United States, including two from Duke University. Translational grants transform basic scientific discoveries into clinical applications such as new diagnostics and treatments.

Translational research serves as a bridge between lab bench discoveries and the patient bedside. Information collected at the patient bedside can circle back to the laboratory to fuel additional discoveries. These grants are $600,000, three-year commitments. This year's eight recipients range in concentration from lung cancer to leukemia and pulmonary carcinoma.

The Duke researcher/physician recipients are Saiaowen David Hsu and Anil Potti for development of a paraffin-based assay to predict patients with early stage colorectal cancer at high risk for recurrence.

To learn more about The V Foundation and to find out how you can get involved, call 1-800-4JimmyV or log onto www.jimmyv.org.

Clean Energy class graduates

DURHAM -- Clean Energy Durham will graduate its 2009 class of home energy "Super Trainers" at 6:30 p.m. tonight at 807 E. Main St. in the city's Department of Community Development conference room.

Four volunteer Super Trainers have completed their training in a series of hands-on, do-it-yourself techniques for saving home energy. The new trainers, trained by Clean Energy Durham staff, will teach energy conservation techniques to neighborhood volunteer leaders. The neighborhood volunteers in turn teach their neighbors.

"We call it the pay-it-forward system," said Tom Higgins, Clean Energy Durham's Energy education director.

For more information, visit www.cleanenergydurham.org.

Contact Mark Donovan at mdonovan@heraldsun.com or (919) 419-6655. E-mail news of interest to our readers to news@heraldsun.com.