Asbestos Workers Union Joins New Medical Foundation's Quest for Cure of Asbestos and Benzene-Related Cancers

The Pacific Heart, Lung and BloodInstitute ("PACHLAB") is pleased to announce the addition of Terry Lynch as amember of its Board of Directors. PACHLAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medicalresearch foundation devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment ofoccupational diseases through independent research, collaboration, andeducation. Terry Lynch is Vice President at Large of the International AssociationHeat & Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers and also serves as the Health andSafety Director for the Union. He comes from a proud family of asbestosinsulators, which include his grandfather, father, uncle, brother, and manycousins. Mr. Lynch's son, Jason, now completes the family's fourth generationof insulators. Over the years, Mr. Lynch has witnessed first hand the ravagesof asbestos on the lives of countless Union brothers. "The suffering must stop," Mr. Lynch said. "Too many insulators and otherworking people have died. We have known about asbestos cancer for decades,yet not enough has been done to lift the curse of mesothelioma. We must workwith industry, government, doctors, and drug companies to establish researchprograms that will end the apathy and build hope." "I am proud to join PACHLAB," Mr. Lynch continued. "We will be conductingresearch in the Punch Worthington lab at the David Geffen School of Medicineat UCLA. We have high expectations that our research will lead to noveltreatments." Mr. Lynch will act as a liaison between PACHLAB and constructionand shipyard labor unions whose members are at risk for asbestos and benzene-related cancers. Dr. Cameron, one of PACHLAB's scientific advisors, stated, "I have agreedto work closely with PACHLAB because it offers a unique approach tocollaborative research. Not only will we work with patients, doctors anddonors to raise funds for promising new research, we will actually do thebench work studies in-house, either alone or in conjunction with otherinvestigators." "'Punch' Worthington is a patient of mine who suffers from an asbestos-related cancer," Dr. Cameron explained. "As a painter-taper, Punch is also atrisk for another occupational cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia. We came upwith the idea for a research environment that fosters basic research that isoften pegged as too preliminary to receive funding from standard sources.This type of research, although highly speculative, also holds the mostpromise for true innovation." PACHLAB's first project will study immunologic and anti-angiogenic(anti-blood vessel) therapies, both of which have been praised as potential"cures" for mesothelioma. PACHLAB aims to conduct research in its ownlaboratory and in coordination with other institutions, such as the DavidGeffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "This is a true 21st Century approach to medical research," Cameroncontinued, "And is the brainchild of Punch Worthington who is a true scientistand scholar. Punch believes, for instance, that bringing all the partiesinvolved in asbestos litigation together to support and fund this type ofresearch by donating a portion of legal settlements, will accelerate the longoverdue discovery of truly effective therapies for this awful disease. Withheroes like Punch, scientists like myself cannot help but take up thechallenge." Also joining PACHLAB's Board of Directors is Terry McCann of Dana Point,California. Mr. McCann, who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in2005, has led an exemplary life. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in wrestlingin 1960. He helped manage the Surfriders Foundation, served on severalOlympic Games committees, and was the CEO of Toastmasters International for 25years.