Philip Burroughs is a committed philanthropist based out of Mechanicsville, MD

Category: Cancer Research

Philip Burroughs Common Myths Surrounding Philanthropy

Common Myths Surrounding Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a way to improve our planet and society. Many people love to use the term, but few people truly know what philanthropy actually is. Because of this, philanthropy has gotten something of a bad reputation. There are so many different myths surrounding the topic today, and in order to help dispel some of those myths, I’m going to see if I can set the record straight.

Charities Only Serve the Poor

Many people quickly assume that the term charity means you are giving money to the poor. While a great deal of charitable organizations do focus on providing assistance to those who are in unfortunate financial situations, not all charities exclusively work with the poor. The amount of diversity between charities is quite impressive. Charity specialities range anywhere from health services to scientific research. If you’re interested in donating to a charity that doesn’t benefit the poor, there are several options for you.

Charitable Giving Only Happens Because of Tax Incentives

You’ve probably all heard of the myth that the world’s billionaires donate heaps of money in order to reap even more through tax incentives. Not only is that myth flat out false, but the world’s wealthiest people are not necessarily the most charitable. In fact, more low-to-middle-income citizens donate to charity than wealthy citizens. That’s right, these low-income households are donating to charities more than wealthy households, and they don’t often take advantage of the US’ tax incentive system. Believe it or not, but many people give to charity because it is the right thing to do.

Supporting a Charity is Easy

As much as I wish this was the case, finding a single charity to donate to and support can be rather difficult. Not only are there over one million registered charities in the US, but finding compelling statistics to know exactly where your money is going is not always easy. Finding a worthwhile, trusted charity to donate to requires research. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to do that research, but if you take the time to do the leg work, it will be well worth it. Utilize sources like GiveWell to find charities that are actually effective.

Philip Burroughs Bill Gates

Bill Gates Donates $100 Million to Help Find a Cure For Alzheimer’s

There is no question that Bill Gates is one brilliant individual. Fortunately, if there is one by-product from a man that has made billions it would be the fact that he is actually one generous person. His latest useful endeavor is to donate $100 million towards research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

It goes without saying that Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. At last count, it had stolen the memories and intellect of over 47 million Americans. Those statistics continue to rise simply because there is no known cure for the disease. Luckily for us, Bill Gates is trying to change that.

For Gates, the main focus of this most recent act of philanthropy is to fund the Dementia Discovery Fund, which is a group dedicated to some of the more out-of-the-box ideas behind why this disease is so consistently devastating. This group is also dedicated to looking at the immune system of the brain for clues on how this disease is able to flourish. Perhaps most interestingly, this is the first time that Gates has donated money to fund research into a noncommunicable disease. Normally, the Microsoft tycoon usually has done a lot of work through his foundation regarding HIV, Malaria and Polio just to name a few.

For scientists, finding a cure to a devastating disease is practically the holy grail. Individuals can spend whole careers dedicated to studying just one disease. Funding for the development of new drugs for a disease can be a serious roadblock to an already daunting process. This is one of the reasons why Gates’ donation is so important.

Another reason is because of the immense amount of failed trials regarding the new drugs for treating this disease. Gates knows there have been many failed trials, so his funding will go to helping new trials to development. He is also hoping that a new emphasis will be placed on Alzheimer’s research simply because there are currently very few drugs that treat the disease specifically, only drugs that treat memory loss or confusion.

Scientists know there are a lot of biomarkers that can be found in individuals that later develop Alzheimer’s. One of the things Bill Gates hopes his donation will do is spur researchers to look outside the box and spur the development of medications that can taken as a preventative measure. For instance, you wouldn’t give someone Lipitor to prevent a heart attack; it would already be too late. With Gates’ donation, there is none too soon now a much better chance that new drugs will develop to make Alzheimer’s a thing of the past.

Philip Burroughs The World’s Most Philanthropic Individuals

The World’s Most Philanthropic Individuals

Philanthropy, as I’ve mentioned multiple times before on this website, is crucial. It is necessary that we come together whenever we can and help each other out. Without philanthropy, several organizations and charities couldn’t exist, and that would leave the world in a worse state than it already is. These generous people donate their time and money to give to a cause bigger than themselves, and that is an incredibly noble gesture. That being said, I figured I would round off a few of the world’s most charitable people.

 

Bill Gates

For anybody who knows Bill Gates and how much money he is worth, this may not come as much of a surprise. However, even for those of you who are already familiar with Bill Gates’ philanthropic endeavors, you may be surprised to know just how much he has actually given away. To date, Gates has given away $27 billion dollars. That’s an incredibly large amount of money. However, he is most famous for co-founding and running the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation distributes grants to organizations and initiatives designed to make the world a better place.

 

Jon Huntsman Jr.

While he may not be a household name like Bill Gates, Jon Huntsman Jr. is just as philanthropic. As a survivor of both prostate and oral cancer, Huntsman Jr. has dedicated his life to donating to cancer research centers in the hunt for a cure. He has donated over $1 billion and has even joined Warren Buffett’s The Giving Pledge, and institution founded by Buffett that is comprised of the world’s wealthiest billionaires for the sole purpose of donating most of, or all, of their wealth.

 

Pierre Omidyar

Much like Hunstman Jr., Pierre Omidyar is not necessarily a well-known figure; however, eBay, the company he runs, is incredibly popular. Back in 1998, Omidyar and his wife founded the Omidyar Foundation which has donated millions to a variety of charitable causes and organizations, including human rights, energy and technology. What’s more, Omidyar has even sold 10% of his shares in eBay to several unknown charities. That comes to a whopping $270 million.

Philip Burroughs Celebrity Philanthropists

Celebrity Philanthropists

Celebrities. There is something about them that makes us stop and listen. Maybe it is their wealth, influence or profession; perhaps it is merely the fact that our society is told to revere these individuals as special. And while certain celebrities can prove to be very talented or innovative, the truly special celebrities are those that give to charity and are heavily involved in philanthropy. And so, I figured I would list a few celebrities who are using their popularity and fame for good.

 

Bono

This may come as a surprise to nobody, considering that Bono is known more for his charitable efforts than being the frontman of U2. Bono has contributed to a variety of charitable organizations and institutions, however his biggest philanthropic endeavor goes towards the fight against AIDS in Africa. Using his passion for helping others, Bono helped found ONE, a major advocacy organization aimed at combating poverty and AIDS in Africa. The organization currently has 7 million members and, through its efforts, has managed to save the lives of tens of millions of people. Bono’s most popular organization is RED, which he helped co-found in 2006. RED specifically fights AIDS by teaming up with some of the largest brands across the globe and offering specially designed products whose proceeds benefit the organization.

 

John Legend

Not many people know that popular musician John Legend is quite the philanthropist. He has been most vocal about assisting developing nations to become self-sufficient as well as bolstering student education. Legend founded the Show Me Campaign, which aims at giving young students the power and confidence to become successful professionals.

 

Emma Watson

Emma Watson is mostly known for her role as Hermione Granger in the popular Harry Potter film series. And it seems as if she is just as magical off-screen as she is on-screen. Watson has donated to several charities from around the world, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Small Steps Project and Millennium Purpose. Watson is best-known for her fight for female rights and feminism. As a co-founder of the popular HeForShe movement, Watson is certainly vocal about gender equality. The HeForShe campaign is designed to inspire boys and men to become advocates for women’s rights.

 

This is only a small list of celebrity that are using their popularity and influence for charitable causes. Perhaps I will feature even more in the future. Until then, do not forget that you do not need to be a celebrity to give back.

Philip Burroughs Relay For Life

Relay For Life

I am a heavy proponent of the American Cancer Society and all that the organization does. One of its largest fundraising efforts is the Relay For Life. For those that do not know, the Relay For Life is an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Although the event is held by the American Cancer Society, the relay has gone global. According to the ACS’ official website for the relay, over 5,200 communities in 27 countries contribute their time and efforts to the relay. The relay itself can last anywhere from 6-24 hours, and each team participating in the event is instructed to have at least one member on the designated track at all times, in order to symbolize the never ending battle that cancer patients must face daily.

 

Throughout its 31 year history, the Relay For Life has had 3.5 million members, and has managed to accrue a whopping $5 billion.

 

How Did it All Start?

In 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, in an effort to help the American Cancer Society raise money, walked and ran for 24 hours straight on a track in Washington. After all was said and done, Klatt, through the contributions of spectators and friends, had raised $27,000 for the ACS. Little did Dr. Klatt know that he would be starting a worldwide phenomenon. The first official Relay For Life was held the following year at the Stadium Bowl and went on to raise $33,000.

 

The Relay For Life is incredibly important to me, and millions of other people the world over. Cancer is a terrible disease, and no person should have to go through what cancer patients do. While a full-blown cure has not yet been discovered, and we have no clue if or when we will find one, we must not give up hope. By contributing to the Relay For Life, or any cancer research fundraising event, you are helping our collective society find a cure.

If you are interested in participating in the Relay For Life or even interested in donating, visit the American Cancer Society’s official website and find the next event near you!

Philip Burroughs Detecting Cancer More Efficiently

Detecting Cancer More Efficiently

Cancer is never easy. It can be a difficult illness to deal with, and the fact that there is no known cure makes the road even more challenging. And as scientists work day and night to develop a long-lasting cure, others are working on an equally important aspect of cancer: detection. And a group of researchers and scientists seem to have made a significant development in early detection of cancer.

 

According to a report from Digital Trends, researchers from UCLA and USC have developed a program that can not only detect if a patient has cancer, but where that cancer is located. Aptly titled the CancerLocator, the program can detect and track cancer by analyzing a sample of the patient’s blood.

 

With so much attention focused on battling cancer (and rightfully so), diagnosis can easily be overlooked. But it is just as important to detect the disease. The earlier it can be detected, the better the chances of survival. And while CancerLocator’s ability to detect cancer is impressive, its potential to offer more effective treatments is even more groundbreaking.

 

How Does it Work?

By saying that CancerLocator works by analyzing blood is a gross oversimplification. In reality, there is so much more to the process. CancerLocator measures the amount of methyl groups located in cells after they die, which signal whether or not they are cancerous. And since cells have different gene expressions, CancerLocator can use this information to detect the cancer’s location. In the same Digital Trends article, Project Researcher Wenyuan Li explains the technical aspects of the process, stating, “Using the large amount of DNA methylation profiles of various tumor types in the public database, we can identify the DNA methylation signatures that differentiate multiple cancer types as well as normal plasma.”

According to the official press release from UCLA, CancerLocator had an accuracy rate of 80 percent, far better than various other methods.

Could CancerLocator change the future of cancer research? Only time will tell, but I am incredibly eager for what the future holds.

Philip Burroughs Managing Pancreatic Cancer

Managing Pancreatic Cancer

As one of the world’s leading causes of death in the world, cancer is a terrible affliction. What’s worse, is that there is not one, but several different forms of the deadly disease, making finding a cure for each incredibly difficult. Pancreatic cancer, in particular, is the eighth most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. And although there is no sure, universal cure, there may be hope yet for those suffering from the disease.

The protein known as S100P is frequently found in pancreatic cancer patients, and essentially spreads cancer throughout the pancreas. Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, with the help of Dr. Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic of the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, have potentially discovered a way to prevent the harmful protein from even being activated.

According to an article from Independent, the project, which was funded by the Worldwide Cancer Research charity, featured a bevy of scientists. In the article, two of the scientists involved in the project described the process of finding a potential cure. Apparently, Dr. Stewart Kirton of the University of Hertfordshire designed structures of new drugs based on an asthma prevention drug called Cromolyn, which were then synthesized by Dr Sharon Rossiter.

Later, the scientists used molecular biology in order to screen 93 different synthetic compounds for their ability to suppress S100P. The screening found 18 potential drugs, which were then tested for their toxicity on cancerous cells. Although the compounds did not kill the cancerous cells, they did manage to prevent migration, which is ideal for chemotherapy, as it slows down the cells, making them easier to attack.

Now, the scientists will spend the next few months looking over the most promising drugs and alter them, in an attempt to limit the amount of side-effects. The authors are hopeful that even though this breakthrough may not lead to a cure, it may make pancreatic cancer a manageable disease.

If these scientists can truly make pancreatic cancer manageable, it could affect the lives of millions the world over. More than 53,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, with a staggering 43,000 dying from the disease. Hopefully this treatment can allow those suffering to have a healthier, more optimistic future.

I’ll be sure to update you should there be any breakthroughs or developments in this story.

Philip Burroughs Diabetes Could Lead to Cancer

Diabetes Could Lead to Cancer

For anyone living with diabetes, whether it be type 1 or 2, you know how much of a serious affliction it is. Although the disease can be highly monitored, typically preventing any severe damage, diabetes is not something to be taken lightly. And if a new study is anything to go by, the metabolic disease could be even more dangerous than previously thought.

A study conducted by the International Prevention Research Institute (IPRI), based in Lyon, France, revealed that diabetes could actually lead to cancer. The study, which involved over 1 million patients from Italy and Belgium, found that 50 percent of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes the previous year. The findings were presented at the European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam.

Those who had already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had a deterioration in the disease which was linked to to a seven-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer.

According to experts, it is possible that the treatment for diabetes is what increases the chances of pancreatic cancer. This is an intriguing development mainly due to the fact that, while diabetes is very common in the UK (3.5 million cases), pancreatic cancer is not. In fact, there are only approximately 10,000 cases diagnosed annually.

Researchers conducting the study say that more must be done to develop earlier tests for pancreatic cancer in order to discover the disease before it can get out of hand.

The IPRI’s Alice Koechlin gave her insight into the situation, stating, “Doctors and their diabetic patients should be aware that the onset of diabetes or rapidly deteriorating diabetes could be the first sign of hidden pancreatic cancer, and steps should be taken to investigate it.” Chief Executive of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, Maggie Blanks, expressed her excitement over the discovery. “The association between pancreatic cancer and type 2 diabetes has been an area of interest to researchers for several years, so it’s great to see studies generating new and potentially very valuable information which could alert clinicians to the need for further investigation in certain patients,” she said.

As an advocate for various cancer research organizations, I am incredibly excited to see advancements in any field related to cancer. With these recent developments, we can understand these terrible afflictions even more and hopefully, someday, eradicate them completely.

Philip Burroughs IBM’s Watson to Study Genomics For Cancer Research

IBM’s Watson to Study Genomics For Cancer Research

One of humankind’s deadliest diseases is cancer. It is not only deadly for the amount of victims it claims, but for the fact that there is still no known cure. While certain treatments like chemotherapy can be used in the fight against this terrible affliction, they do not always succeed. That is why IBM and genetic research company Illumina are teaming up to use IBM’s Watson to take cancer head on.

Watson is a cognitive technology that was designed for the sole purpose of analyzing data and answering some of the world’s toughest questions. The two companies have come together to create Watson for Genomics. Watson for Genomics hopes to both simplify and create an industry standard for genomic data interpretation in cancer research.

Scientists who are using Illumina’s BaseSpace Sequence hub and tumor sequencing process will now be able to analyze the information collected much faster. According to an official statement from IBM, Watson for Genomics will essentially read through a breadth of academic research as well as genetic files produced by Illumina’s TruSight Tumor 170 and create a report that researchers can use in mere minutes. The TruSight Tumor 170 is a solid tumor profiling panel created to detect several variants across 170 genes.

All of this is tremendous news for cancer research. Understanding genomics is a crucial element to fighting cancer. Recent studies suggest that by understanding the genomic element of a tumor, physicians can better tailor a specific treatment to a patient, instead of applying a general treatment, which may not provide any help.

In the same statement, President and CEO of Illumina, Francis deSouza, noted his thoughts on the incredible potential of the team up. “To enable precision cancer medicine on a large scale, we need new tools to overcome the data barriers of genomic research,” said deSouza. “With a comprehensive assay of Illumina and the power of Watson, we hope to deliver a rapid turnaround of the genomic alteration results.”

As Watson continues to grow and learn, its implementation into genomic research can do wonders for cancer research. Hopefully, this team up can prove fruitful and create the long-awaited cure for cancer.

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