UNT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER APPOINTS TOP CANCER RESEARCHER AS DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Cancer research and treatment has reached a new milestone at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth with the arrival of Dr. Ronald H. Goldfarb as the chairman of the UNT Health Science Center's Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Microbiology/Immunology departments.

A New York native, Dr. Goldfarb comes to the health science center from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), where he was Deputy Director for Basic Research and Director of the Program in Cancer Metastasis and Cell Biology. He had also served as Director of the UPCI Program in Experimental Therapeutics, and Professor of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Nationally and internationally recognized as a leader and scientist in cancer research, Dr. Goldfarb coordinated basic research programs investigating tumor immunology, cancer molecular biology and carcinogenesis, and cancer metastasis and cell biology. He has published more than 100 articles, edited five volumes of books and journals, chaired grant review panels and serves on the editorial board of journals related to cancer growth and progression and immunology.

He has been highly effective in securing funds for cancer research from the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and foundations and private industry sources. Dr. Goldfarb brought in excess of $2.6 million in total direct costs and $1.1 million in total indirect costs to the UPCI.

"While widespread research has been done to determine the development, prevention and control of cancer, our investigations focus on cancer invasion and metastasis. This has impact on developing new approaches for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as for education," said Dr. Goldfarb. "Research is a powerful education tool, and my primary role as a teacher will benefit from my research insights."

Dr. Goldfarb's initial goal as chairman will be developing a new identity for the department he is leading, including the creation of a new department name ‹ the Department of Molecular
Biology and Immunology ‹ that is a more appropriate description of the department's scope and focus. He is also exploring the development of an Institute for Cancer Research at the health science center.

"Dr. Goldfarb's arrival will allow the health science center to play a pivotal role in the cancer research and treatment arena," said Dr. David M. Richards, president of the health science center.

Dr. Goldfarb's arrival coincides with the arrival of Dr. Gregory Marino, who will focus his efforts on the clinical side of cancer treatment. Dr. Marino comes to the health science center from the Western Washington Medical Group's Department of Hematology and Oncology, and will practice with the health science center's Physicians and Surgeon's Medical Group.

Dr. Goldfarb received his bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Herbert H. Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, N.Y., and his doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. He is a member of professional scientific societies including the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association of Immunologists, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Society for Cell Biology.

Dr. Goldfarb previously directed the Cancer Research and Development area for Fortune 100 corporation, Pfizer, Inc., where he was involved in drug discovery based on cancer metastasis, tumor immunology and genes that could cause normal cells to become cancerous.

Editor's Note: A photo and full curriculum vitae (CV) are available upon request.