Bruce Millring Boman, MD, PhD, MSPH, FACP

Christiana Care - Academic Medicine

Director, Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Biology
Center for Translational Cancer Research Helen F Graham Cancer Center

Academic Appointment:
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
Professor of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University

Education:
B.A., Biochemistry, Hamline University - 1972
M.S.P.H., University of Minnesota School of Public Health - 1973
M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School - 1976
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Station de Recherché de Virologie (1976-1977)
Medical Oncology Subspecialty Fellowship, Mayo Clinic (1980-1982)
Ph.D., Mayo Graduate School of Medicine - 1982
NIH Research Fellowship in Biochemical and Molecular Epidemiology, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute - (1982-1984)

E-Mail: BrBoman@ChristianaCare.org

Biography:
With the advent of recent and exciting new opportunities in the study of regulatory pathways, mutations, and colon carcinogenesis, I am interested in the signaling pathways, including molecular and cellular mechanisms of crypt homeostasis in the large intestine as well as the investigation of the stem cell origin of colorectal cancer (CRC). I am particularly interested in small genetic elements, called microRNAs, which are involved in the genesis of colon tumors, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs were discovered only a few years ago and are now known to be major genetic control elements that turn on and off gene expression. Many of these small regulators play a key role in driving normal cells to become cancerous. A second interest is in cancer stem cells, especially those of the colon. Another major research focus involves characterizing normal and malignant colonic stem cells in order to understand their role in the origin of colon cancer. Using specific markers that recognize colonic stem cells, our laboratory can identify and isolate colon cancer stem cells. Research on cancer stem cells holds great promise in developing new diagnostic markers and curative treatments for advanced forms of this deadly malignancy. A third research focus is in use of mathematical modeling to study kinetic mechanisms that lead to development of stem cell overpopulation that drives tumor growth. This research uses a systems biology approach to integrate kinetic models, microarray expression profiling, proteomics, bioinformatics and signaling pathway analyses to identify molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in normal colonic epithelial homeostasis and how dysregulation of these mechanisms contribute to the development of colon cancer.

RECENT PRESS

Health experts to address issues in education, research, practice
January 26, 2012--DHSA will hold its inaugural Global Health Symposium on Saturday, Feb. 4 at CCHS. The program will focus on education, research and practice, with presentations on topics ranging from refugee health clinics and relief medicine to anthropological approaches to the study of global health.

Christiana Care issues a call to men to prevent domestic violence
January 24, 2012--Christiana Care, a National Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health, has been working for years to help women who are victims of domestic violence at an annual event that offers resources, education and support.

After Holiday Eating Marathon, Jefferson Dietitian Offers 10 Tips to Get Back on Track and Kick Start New Year's Weight Loss Resolution
January 4, 2012--Celebrating the New Year goes hand-in-hand with creating resolutions to get healthy and trim - especially after weeks of holiday marathon eating. Dietitian Emily Rubin, R.D., L.D., with the Division of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, says you can stay committed to being healthy and fit by following these 10 tips.

Procedure saves teen after rare carotid trauma
January 4, 2012--Neurointerventionalist Gregg Zoarski, M.D.'s recent surgical grand rounds lecture on carotid artery injuries focused on how to repair traumatic injuries to these vital vessels that supply blood to the brain.

Medical students delighted with Delaware branch campus Christiana Care is participating in Jefferson Medical College�s Delaware Branch Campus program, underscoring the transformative role the health system plays in medical education.
December 23, 2011--This achievement specifically spotlights our core competency in providing clinical education to third- and fourth-year medical students. Christiana Care has a long-standing relationship in providing first-rate medical education to students from Jefferson, one of the country's top-rated medical collleges.

Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) Network celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month.
December 22, 2011--Earlier this month the Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) network celebrated its one-year anniversary. The Healthy Kids Delaware network has been working to address health and wellness needs of children throughout New Castle County.

Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice
December 14, 2011--Registration is now open for Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center's (JCIPE) 2012 conference: Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice. The conference will be held on May 18-19, 2012 at Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of this conference is to showcase scholarly work and works in progress advancing interprofessional education and/or practice. This conference reflects on innovative implementation and evaluation strategies of the interprofessional competencies.

Nemours participates in Partnership for a Healthier America Summit
December 8, 2011--The Partnership, of which Nemours is a founding member, has a mission of supporting First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign by working with the private sector to fight childhood obesity. The theme that emerged at the summit, a gathering of leaders from business and industry, academia, nonprofits and government, was: "Make the healthy choice the easy choice."

DHSA plans workshop on collaborative education for clinicians and scientists
December 8, 2011--DHSA will host "Creating Clinical and Research Teams for the Future: Workshop on Collaborative Education for Clinicians and Scientists" on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at the Ammon Education Center of Christiana Hospital. This workshop focuses on developing skills to write educational grants. The program will include information on how to obtain educational grant funding, set goals and evaluate an educational program, and develop an application for the DHSA Education Pilot Award.