First-Time Federal Funding for Mesothelioma Research

According to a recent press release on mesothelioma research, the Department of Defense (DoD) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program was appropriated $50 million in the Defense Appropriations Bill that the President signed in mid-November.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) is excited to announce that, for the first time, mesothelioma will be included as a research priority within the DoD's Medical Research Program, to begin February 2008. As a candidate research area within the program, mesothelioma investigators are eligible to compete for funding through the program's 2008 grant cycle.

"The Meso Foundation has been working with fifteen senators, led bySenator Max Baucus (D-MT), advocating the federal government to respond to the mesothelioma crisis through a commitment of new federal research dollars," said Chris Hahn, Executive Director of The Meso Foundation. "Our advocacy efforts in this area for the past several years finally paid off."

Federal medical research projects must be of clear scientific merit and have direct relevance to military health. Military relevance is a key feature of the Investigator-Initiated award, a connection that will not be difficult for mesothelioma researchers to establish for their grant applications.

There is a long history of asbestos exposure in military service, and a significant elevated risk of mesothelioma in the military population. In fact, approximately one third of mesothelioma cases have been shown to involve Navy and shipyard exposures. Given the long latency of the disease, even if exposures are reduced, mesothelioma will continue to affect the veteran and military population for decades to come.

This funding opportunity can serve as a vital resource to the mesocommunity and is another crucial step toward advancing the research andtreatment of mesothelioma. The Meso Foundation strongly encouragesmesothelioma investigators to consider submitting applications for fundingin 2008, as the interest and engagement shown by the community will likelybe a factor in whether mesothelioma is included as a candidate in future years.

New Clinical Trial to Test Effectiveness of Vorinostat (Zolinza) on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

The National Institute of Health Clinical Center has started to test the efficacy of vorinostat and the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with pleural malignant mesothelioma. The trial is testing for toxicity levels and any side effects that may come about.

Dr, Raffit Hassan is the protocal chair of the, “A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (L-001079038) in Patients With Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Previously Treated With Systemic Chemotherapy,” and can be contacted via the National Cancer Institutes's website.

Experimental Mesothelioma Treatment Tested in Clinical Trial at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital

There is currently an experimental mesothelima treatment being tested in New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. The researchers are trying to determine if oxaliplatin and gemcitabine will help patients who have been diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma or malign pleural mesothelioma.

There are certain conditions that patients need to be aware of and for those wanting to learn more, they need to visit http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/stu92728.html. Patients can also learn more about Dr. Robert Taub who is an expert in the field of experimental treatments for mesothelioma by visiting www.nyp.org.

New York Mesothelioma Lawsuit Proceeds to Trial on Behalf of New Jersey Victim

The New York mesothelioma lawsuit involving Joel Rosenberg, one of many New Jersey mesothelioma victims who have filed mesothelioma lawsuits in New York City, is proceeding to trial.

Mr. Rosenberg, who died at the age of 64, was a life-long electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("IBEW"), Local 3 (www.local3.com). His father, also an electrician for IBEW, died from mesothelioma in 1981. Electricians, such as Mr. Rosenberg and his father, sustained asbestos exposure from a variety of sources including the cutting and splicing of wire and cable that was insulated with asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a rare asbestos cancer, which occurs primarily in the lining of the pleura (surrounding the lungs) and the peritoneum (surrounding the abdominal cavity). There are only approximately 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed annually; in comparison approximately 160,000 case of lung cancer are diagnosed each year.

Mr. Rosenberg was diagnosed in New Jersey with pleural mesothelioma in April of 2006 and later received mesothelioma treatments including specialized chemotherapy. Prior to his death in May 2007, Mr. Rosenberg gave sworn testimony, by videotape, which will be shown to the jury at trial. The Rosenberg lawsuit is being continued by Mr. Rosenberg's widow, Sharon Rosenberg, who is also a plaintiff in the case. The companies expected to stand trial include manufacturers of products causing asbestos exposure, contractors who used asbestos materials at work sites, and at least one premises owner who specified the use of asbestos materials.

The New York and New Jersey Mesothelioma Attorneys from Levy, Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP ("LPK"), www.lpklaw.com, have represented victims of mesothelioma in lawsuits for more than 25 years and represent the Rosenberg family.

Read more about the New York Mesothelioma Rosenberg Lawsuit.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Moves to Trial

Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP filed an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit on behalf of a New Jersey woman who was exposed to asbestos as a result of her husband and children performing brake work. The woman was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002 and died from her illness shortly after mesothelioma treatments were attempted at Virtua West Jersey Hospital. The suit is set to go to trial this summer.

Brake dust, containing asbestos, can be released when a brake disk or drum is removed from a vehicle. The dust is frequently invisible to the naked eye, but if the brakes contain asbestos, then the dust released from the brakes will contain asbestos.

During the trial, it will be argued that the brand predominately used for the brake work was asbestos-containing Bendix brakes. The victim was unknowingly exposed to asbestos as a result of her laundering the dusty clothes and the used rags that were used by her husband and children after they performed the brake work in the garage and driveway of their New Jersey home from the 1960s through the 1980s. The victim would shake out the dirty clothes and dusty rags and then launder them without any realization that she was neither in any danger nor that she was being exposed to asbestos-laden dust.

This lawsuit is coming on the heels of a new set of recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency in March 2007 entitled, “Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers” which is similar to guidance that EPA has been distributing since 1986. The EPA states in this publication that by using the recommended practices, home mechanics can minimize potential exposure to asbestos and reduce their potential risk of developing asbestos-related disease.

To read the entire article, please see Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit filed by New Jersey Mesothelioma Attorneys Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LPP, Moves to Trial.

9/11 Death Toll Rises 6 Years Later

In an article put out by The Associated Press last week poses a new question for 9/11 survivors - how many will they be added to the list of victims?

Family members of ground zero workers who died after breathing in toxic dust from the collapsed World Trade Center say they want their relatives officially recognized as victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The official list of victims increased by one, nearly 6 years after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. A New York attorney, Felicia Dunn-Jones, who died of lung disease months after the attack, probed her family members to find out what distinguished her death from the scores of others attributed to the aftermath.

According to the article, the city medical examiner's office said that her death was the only Sept. 11-related fatality it has been asked to review and definitively link to the twin towers' collapse. In the future, the medical examiner will review any case if a family makes such a request.

This raise in death-toll, to 2,750, nearly 6 years later poses questions in the minds of family members who have since lost someone who could possibly be added to this ever-increasing list. It's up to Chief Medical Examiner Charles Hirsch to decide whether to reclassify any deaths.

Family members want their loved one to be honored as an official 9/11 victim and at least two families are seeking re-examination. These cases include a police detective who became sick and died in 2006 of respiratory diseases and Deborah Reeve who also died last year of an asbestos-related cancer from the toxic dust at ground zero.

Since Dunn-Jones fled the collapsing towers from her office a block away and her death is being added to the official list of victims, another question is posed against the city, will there be lawsuits accusing the city of negligence for failing to protect workers and residents from toxic air at the site.

Are you or a family member a possible victim of 9/11? Get representation by New York and New Jersey asbestos attorneys, Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP.

Submit your case for review.

Asbestos Lurks on CSUN Campus

At California State University, Northridge, 21 buildings have been identified to have asbestos contained materials within them.

Twenty-one buildings on campus have asbestos in their tile floor, thermal pipe insulators, or other forms of pipes. Notices have been sent out to faculty members and notification letters have been placed by the entrances each of the buildings. Areas with asbestos-contaminated pipes have stickers or placards on them to identify the asbestos.

If a person comes into contact with asbestos fibers, it can be brought home with them, by remaining in their shoes, clothes, skin and hair, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, it could take 10 to 40 years or more for an asbestos-related problem to pop up.

The Environmental Health and Safety Department has no plans to remove the minerals any time soon. In its current condition, the asbestos-containing material, supposedly does not pose any health risk. The asbestos poses a serious health risk when it is deteriorating, disturbed, or damaged.

Have you been exposed to asbestos in the workplace and want more information? Read more on asbestos exposure.

The Search For Better Asbestos Removal Technology

Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a Project Summary for the Alternative Asbestos Control Method. In this draft report, alternatives for the demolition process for buildings containing asbestos are evaluated. Two years ago, scientists and engineers from EPA’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory and the Dallas regional office compared the current process of demolishing a dilapidated, asbestos-containing structure with a new method called the Alternative Asbestos Control Method (AACM).

The pilot cleanup project was successfully completed in May 2006 at a secure location at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. The location offered scientific side-by-side testing of the current asbestos removal procedures and the Alternative Asbestos Control Method (AACM).

Last month, EPA’s Office of Research and Development released for public and peer review a 205-page draft report titled “Comparison of the Alternative Asbestos Control Method and the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants Method for Asbestos-Containing Buildings”.

Preliminary findings show the AACM procedures to be protective for clean up of many asbestos-containing buildings.

Read the Project Summary for the Alternative Asbestos Control Method Demonstration Project #1 at Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

According to NYNjMesothelioma.com, in the United States, asbestos is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma. Read more about asbestos exposure.

New York Supreme Court Permits Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit to Go to Trial Against Cable Manufacturer, Okonite Company

A New York Supreme Court Justice has ruled that the asbestos exposure lawsuit of a former Elizabeth, New Jersey resident will move to trial, denying a motion for summary judgment filed by a cable manufacturer, The Okonite Company.

Leonard Shafer died at the age of 73 from mesothelioma. He was first exposed to asbestos working as an electrician at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the 1950s. Evidence submitted by Shafer’s mesothelioma trial attorneys to the Court proves that, as early as January 10, 1941, Okonite was approved to sell asbestos-containing armored cable to the Navy. At the time of the approvals in 1941, cable manufacturers were required, under Navy Specifications, to include asbestos in heat and flame resistant, armored cable. However, military records establish that, in September 1941, cable manufacturers were given a choice whether to use asbestos or glass fiber. Despite the asbestos hazards to health, Okonite continued to sell to the Navy asbestos-containing armored cable.

Carmen St. George, a mesothelioma trial attorney in the New York and New Jersey offices of Levy Phillips & Konisberg, said that, "Mr. Shafer's death from mesothelioma could have been avoided if these companies would have acted responsibly and warned about the health hazards of asbestos. Justice Freedman's ruling properly places the factual issues surrounding Mr. Shafer's asbestos exposure where it belongs -- in the hands of the jury."

If successful, the Shafer mesothelioma case may pave the way for other litigants to proceed against Okonite for asbestos exposures into the 1950's.