John Bissler, MD, and his research team study a disease in children and adults called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which predisposes patients to an unusual type of renal tumors. The team aims to use a newly developed model to study whether anti-hypertension drugs already approved for use in children will prevent tumors and the disease.
Dr. Bissler, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has received a grant totaling $637,501 from theU.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to study renal tumor treatment options. The award will be used to support a project titled, “Prevention of TSC Renal Disease,” and will be distributed over three years.
Dr. Bissler is also chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. He is a nationally known expert on tuberous sclerosis complex and directs the Tuberous Sclerosis Center of Excellence at Le Bonheur. His research is conducted at The Children’s Foundation Research Institute, a partnership of UTHSC, Le Bonheur and the Children’s Foundation of Memphis.
“We hope to identify a treatment that could prevent the renal abnormalities from developing,” said Dr. Bissler. “This is significantly more desirable than working toward treatments for tumors that are already large. Because patients are usually identified before renal tumors are seen, prevention treatments offer the greatest hope.”
The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, the contracting element of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, provides support to the Command headquarters and affiliated organizations. For more information, please visit https://www.usamraa.army.mil/index.cfm.
The Children’s Foundation Research Institute is a non-profit laboratory-based and clinical research organization created to promote the health of children. Created by the Children’s Foundation of Memphis, UTHSC, and Le Bonheur, it is the home of both basic science laboratoriesand clinical and translational research facilities.