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Working To Raise Awareness & Funds For Neuroendocrine Cancer Research!
The Dean Paras Foundation, Inc. is a philanthropic foundation, founded to honor the memory of Constantine A (Dean) Paras, a Graduate BioMedical Engineering student, Researcher and Teaching Assistant at Vanderbilt University.
The Dean Paras Foundation's dual purposes are to fund:
Neuroendocrine cancer research.
A graduate fellowship in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University.
Neuroendocrine cancer research.
A graduate fellowship in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University.
About Neuroendocrine TumorsThe endocrine and nervous systems are essentially about communication. The endocrine system sends messages throughout the body using hormones that regulate mood, growth and metabolism. The nervous system uses electrical impulses to transfer information about movement and sensation.
The neuroendocrine system includes both, and so neuroendocrine cells have features of both the endocrine and nervous systems. These cells can receive signals from the nervous system and trigger the release of hormones into the blood. This system regulates key functions throughout the body. These cells are found in many places including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines), and pancreas. |
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Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare cancers that arise when these cells begin to grow abnormally. Unlike most cancers, they tend to grow very slowly. Since a neuroendocrine tumor arises from cells that produce hormones, the tumor itself can produce extra hormones, causing illness. Many symptoms of neuroendocrine tumors are caused by hormones the tumor secretes. Because the symptoms can be varied and vague, they are easily misdiagnosed.
The genetic basis of NETs is largely unknown. Recently scientists have deciphered the genetic code for some pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. (PNETs)
The genetic basis of NETs is largely unknown. Recently scientists have deciphered the genetic code for some pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. (PNETs)
About UsIn loving memory of Dean, we strive to raise awareness and funds for neuroendocrine cancer research. We are also working to raise funds so that other biomedical engineering graduate students can pursue their studies with a graduate fellowship scholarship at Vanderbilt University in his name.
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