Dec. 20, 2005 (Vol. 3, No. 3) The Life of Science E-newsletter is a quarterly publication of cancer research and health-care advances from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Read it online at: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/fhcrc-enews/2005-12/ Computer-research revolution gets big boost A $1.5 million gift from Bob and Pat Herbold will help the Hutchinson Center build one of the best computational-biology programs in the world. Private donations such as this play an essential role in improving cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. For more information, go to: Article 1 » Article 2 » Fighting fat to reduce cancer In a bold effort to reduce cancer deaths, the National Cancer Institute has chosen the Hutchinson Center to help lead a nationwide research initiative to better understand the links between obesity and cancer. The Center is one of four research centers participating in the study; it will also serve as the coordinating hub. Center researchers are world leaders in understanding the interplay of diet, exercise and disease prevention. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2005/oct20/sart1.html Heavy smoking increases breast-cancer risk Older women who have smoked for 11 or more "pack years" face a 30 percent to 40 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer as compared to women who have never smoked, according to a new Hutchinson Center study. A pack year is the lifetime equivalent of smoking a pack a day for one year. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2005/oct6/sart2.html Aspirin may cut esophageal cancer Aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce esophageal-cancer risk for people with Barrett's esophagus, according to a recent Hutchinson Center study. The precancerous condition associated with chronic heartburn affects an estimated 1 million to 2 million Americans. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2005/nov17/sart1.html The challenges of HIV superinfection A new Hutchinson Center study shows that having HIV and getting reinfected with a different strain of the virus — once thought a rare occurrence — may be quite common. These findings underscore the challenges in developing an AIDS vaccine. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2005/nov3/sart1.html Private contributions fund many life-benefiting programs at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. For more information about how you can help make a difference, please visit http://www.fhcrc.org/donating » We want to hear what you think! Give us feedback on the Hutchinson Center e-newsletter by emailing us at enews@fhcrc.org. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. For information on Fred Hutchinson's privacy policy, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/termsofuse_privacypolicy.html ISSN 1541-7433 Copyright 2005 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center P.O. Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109-1024 http://www.fhcrc.org