History
Building on patient support group activities carried out by Dr. Israel Barken since 1989, the Prostate Cancer Research and Education Foundation was incorporated in September of 1997, having been founded by Dr. Barken and a group of dedicated patients. Since then, we have increased the number of prostate cancer support groups to six, adding one for men only, one for wives, two for newcomers, and most recently, one for younger prostate cancer patients.

We have held a number of public educational forums. The first two, in 1997 and 1998, were major multi-track weekend events, held at the Town and Country Convention Center in partnership with the American Cancer Society. Since then our forums have been one-day events focusing on specific topics, such as treatment for advanced cancer, and nutrition. Our speakers have been renowned experts from across the nation.

Our Chairman and Medical Director, Israel Barken, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the philosophical and medical leader of PC-REF. He is particularly aware of the importance of dealing with the "whole person", and communicates his ideas effectively, and is sought out as a speaker around the country.

Mission Statement
To provide seed money for innovative prostate cancer research to seek out new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, to provide support to prostate cancer patients and loved ones, and to provide education to the general public with the goal of increasing awareness of prostate cancer, its management and the need for patient involvement in treatment decisions.

Objectives
Support
Grow our support groups and coordinate programs with other existing community organizations. Continually assess the need for new support groups and facilitate their establishment.

Education
To hold at least one high-quality educational forum per year for people concerned about prostate cancer, including prostate cancer patients and their loved ones, and medical professionals.

Research
Search out and identify up to several innovative projects each year that are in need of seed money to provide preliminary results so that major grants and sponsorship can be obtained.
Raise and provide seed money grants for those projects.

Accomplishments
Support
We sponsor the following support groups:

• Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series support group
• Male Talk - a men-only support group
• Prostate Partners - a women-only support group
• Newcomer's group
• Couples group
• North County support group (Rancho Bernardo)
• PC Juniors a young person's (under 65) support group - the latest to be formed

We provide the free MultiGraph service to prostate cancer patients, which displays their complete prostate cancer medical history on one page. As of March of 2005, we have provided over 3000 graphs to over 800 prostate cancer patients.

We provide a computer with a high-speed link to the Internet in our office for use by the public for researching prostate cancer topics.

Education
We held four forums in the years 1997 - 2000.

We provide pamphlets on recommended reading, Internet sites, definitions of research terms, lists of research projects, list of national organizations and resources.

We maintain a lending library of books, audiotapes, and videotapes.

We have published a prostate-healthy cookbook, which has sold out, and we are now publishing a second edition, with all-new recipes.

We publish the "PC-REF Reporter," a newsletter which includes explanations and comments by Dr. Barken on medical articles and recent research.

Dr. Barken speaks to groups and at forums around the country on a variety of prostate cancer issues.

Research
We have pioneered the "seed money" concept for prostate cancer research, providing over $158,000 since 1998 to carefully selected researchers at AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego; University of California, Berkeley; University of Texas; and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, La Jolla.

The method works: A researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch was awarded a $558,750 grant by the Department of Defense for immune system research based on work funded by $85,000 in seed money from PC-REF. This is seed money in action.

We funded preliminary work at AntiCancer, Inc. in San Diego on the effect of bisphosphonates in preventing metastases to the bones. AntiCancer is now carrying that work forward independently, based on early work funded by PC-REF.

Our foundation was also acknowledged for its contribution in funding a study done by UC Berkeley and the Gustave Rousseau Institute in Paris, which was also co-funded by the French NIH. The study demonstrated synergy between cryosurgery and chemotherapy, opening the door to a more effective therapy for prostate cancer patients.

Needs
We need replace antiquated office equipment, including our copy machine, LCD projector, and computers.

We have identified six top projects that taken together, require $186,000 in seed money to get started. They are for work at AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, Boston University, and Johns Hopkins Medical Center. They are Projects 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11 listed on our Research page.

To help fill these needs, please make a donation.

Most of all we need to establish a stable base of funding and endowments to assure long-term continued operation. For planned giving opportunities, such as charitable remainder trusts, bequests, and other forms of contributions, call 619-593-0411 or e-mail John Fistere.