Leiomyosarcoma Direct Research Foundation

Scientific Advisory Committee

The Scientific Advisory Committee for LMSarcoma Direct Research Foundation (LMSdr) is a well rounded representational group, comprised of dedicated volunteers who have extensive knowledge of leiomyosarcoma and expertise in either the medical, pharmaceutical, research or patient support professions.

The Foundation’s Executive Committee appoints the Scientific Advisory Committee members, who serve only in an advisory capacity to the Foundation. At the request of the Executive Director, the Scientific Advisory Committee reviews grant applications and offers to the Board of Trustees their individual recommendations on which grants to award. Committee members may also be called upon to give their advice on other matters when their guidance may be beneficial to aid the Board of Trustees or the Executive Committee in making the best possible decisions.

We are grateful to the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee, all of whom donate their time and talents to our Foundation and mission.

Scientific Advisory Committee Members

Suzan Vrijaldenhoven, MD
(Netherlands)
Dr. Suzan Vrijaldenhoven started her research on leiomyosarcomas in 2002 at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in collaboration with Professor Matt van de Rijn, a pathologist at Stanford University. In April 2004 she moved to the US and became a member of the van de Rijn lab, where she worked as a research fellow and studied gene expression profiles in leiomyosarcomas by means of cDNA and tissue micro arrays. In April 2006 Suzan returned to the Netherlands to continue her career in oncology research.

Meg Thorburn, DVM, MPVM, PhD.
(Canada)
Dr. Meg Thorburn has a PhD in Epidemiology and is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology University of Guelph, Department of Population Medicine. Meg teaches graduate courses in basic and quantitative epidemiology. She has over 40 papers published in scientific journals; serves on the Editorial Board of an Elsevier journal; and is a reviewer for at least 10 other journals. She has served as research reviewer for several granting agencies. Meg is also an LMS survivor.

Jen Smith, BS, DVM
(Ohio)
Dr. Jen Smith is a veterinarian who specializes in oncology and chemotherapy research. Jen has an extensive knowledge of LMS through her work in assisting her sister Dawn in the fight against leiomyosarcoma. Dawn Peragallo was an LMSdr Board of Trustees member.

Amy Rovi, BA
(Pennsylvania)
Amy has had numerous scientific, marketing and management positions with two global pharmaceutical companies since 2000. She is currently Founder/President of Medivor, LLC, a medical writing and consulting firm. Amy is the daughter of/advocate for Bernadette M. Hollis, who was diagnosed with LMS in June 2006.

In Memoriam

Doreen Kossove, MSc, MD, DABP
(California)
Dr. Doreen Kossove worked in research and as a practicing pediatrician. She educated and guided patients since 2001 on the ACOR LM-Sarcoma List Group. Dr. Kossove was author of the comprehensive educational website named, Leiomyosarcoma is a Rare Cancer.