EphB4 Cancer, EphB4 Mesothelioma, Meso Treatments, Press Releases

Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 Aim to Cure Mesothelioma

UA Local 761 Plumbers and Pipefitters Organizer, Adolf Navarro and Business Manager Greg Lewis, kick off the day at their sponsored station of the 2020 Aim to Cure Mesothelioma sporting clay event. Thank you Local 761!

The Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 did it again and pulled off a very successful year end fundraising event for 2020! We cannot thank the team at DC16 enough for putting the event together during these unprecedented times. With the unwavering support and leadership of DC16 Business Manager, Rodney Cobos and Organizer, John Ferruccio we held a safe event that was enjoyed by our friends and supporters! We must also thank DC16’s Doug Marian, Doug Wilson, Jerry Trevino and Jerry Elliott for all of their help and support in planning the day.

UA Local 342’s Retired Business Agent, Stephen Mikich, Retired UA International Pipe Trades Representative, Jim Kellogg, Current UA International Pipe Trades Representative, Derrick Kualapai, HVAC Representative, Mat Hattich and Business Manager Che Timmons. Thank you Local 342 for making the trek to Southern California to sponsor the event in a huge way!
UA Local 709 Sprinkler fitters, Business Manager Todd Golden and President Rick Vasquez, finish off a great round of sporting clays at their sponsored station of the 2020 Aim to Cure Mesothelioma sporting clay event. Thank you Local 709 for coming out, great shooting out there!

Once again, the event was held at the Moore N Moore Sporting Clay facility in San Fernando, CA and netted approximately $70,000 for mesothelioma research! We saw the largest turnout on record for this event with more than 140 supporters coming out to make a difference, including UA International Pipe Trades Representative, Derrick Kualapai. Representing the Foundation at the event were Retired UA International Pipe Trades Representative, Jim Kellogg, Founding Board Member, Jerry Neil Paul, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Parkash Gill and Assistant Executive Director, Shane Rucker.

Foundation’s, Jim Kellogg and Dr. Parkash Gill, enjoy themselves after a great day of comradery with friends and supporters at the 2020 Aim to Cure Mesothelioma Clayshoot.

After a great day in the Angeles National Forest we had a delicious lunch before John Ferruccio thanked everyone who attended and highlighted how impressed he was by the huge turnout for the event.

Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 Director of Organizing, John Ferruccio, once again put on a fantastic event. We cannot thank John, Rodney Cobos, Doug Marian, Doug Wilson, Jerry Trevino and Jerry Elliott for all they do to ensure we have successful events year after year. Thank you DC16!!

John then turned the mic over to Jerry Paul who thanked everyone for coming out and expressed how excited he was for Dr. Parkash Gill, of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, to share his update.

The Foundation’s Founding Board Member, Jerry Neil Paul thanks the event sponsors for their overwhelming support and lets them know the amazing progress being made at the USC Norris Comprehensive Center.

You may recall that the FDA had previously approved Dr. Gill’s mesothelioma treatment, EPh B-4, for clinical trials after development at his lab at USC/Norris. However, the FDA has now approved EPh B-4 to be used in combination with Mercks PD-1 Immunotherapy drug in a new FDA approved Phase I clinical trial. The two successful, non-chemo drugs, that together attacks both the Mesothelioma solid tumor and at the same time cuts off the vessels that feed the tumor. Dr. Gill has plans to expand clinical trials beyond USC Norris, with plans to talk with UC Davis and expand from there nationally.

Dr. Parkash Gill, the Foundation’s Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, tells supporters the amazing news of the FDA approving the treatment he has been working tirelessly on. He noted the amazing promise the drug has shown in clinical research and that the combination of EphB4 and PD-1 immunotherapy drugs are being used together in approved FDA clinical trials!

With the Foundation’s administrative costs underwritten by The Paul Law Firm, 100% of the event’s net proceeds will go towards mesothelioma cancer research. With these sizable donations we can be assured that Dr. Gill’s clinical trials at USC/ Norris Comprehensive Medical Center will be moving in the right direction. Thank you to all who participated and made the events a success!