Author Archives: NAWRB

Tomorrow’s Housing Market

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The risk management landscape for real estate professionals seems to be transitioning to a new stage with changing economic trends including relaxed lending rules, lower unemployment and gas prices, all likely
resulting in an uptick in the housing market. The evolving valuation world will now be faced with the new
Collateral Underwriting (CU) procedures. Depending on one’s perspective, CU is either a blessing or a curse. How will these changes impact real estate professionals ability to successfully perform their duties while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to missed opportunity, malpractice insurance claims or licensing complaints?

Easy Money

While the factors that led to the “Great Recession” were numerous and complex, it would not be an overstatement to include the all-too-available mortgage dollars, relaxed borrowing standards and minimized industry oversight that allowed the unscrupulous to take advantage of the situation and further compromise the financial and housing markets. Many professionals and members of the public otherwise made decisions that contributed to the financial woes. The government and industry responses were numerous and a combination of helpful, confusing or painful, depending on one’s professional perspective. Dodd-Frank, UAD, HAMP, the AMC appraisal format and other regulatory intervention (often resulting in large fines and sanctions) did have some effect on calming the market. One ancillary consequence of the recession was a significant increase in professional liability insurance claims against real estate professionals which includes appraisers, agents, title agents, mortgage brokers and even real estate attorneys. Another was a purging of professionals from the licensing roles, most notably appraisers, whose licensed numbers are reduced up to 20 percent in some locations.

Nevertheless, the economy has improved as has the housing market, according to many sources. Trulia’s Q4 2014 Housing Barometer states that three of its five indicators—existing home sales excluding distressed sales, home price level and delinquency plus foreclosure rate—are all moving back towards “normal.” (Their other two indicators are new construction starts and employment amongst the millennial 25-34 year old age group which did not show significant improvements). CoreLogic’s November National Foreclosure Report states that there was a decrease of over 35 percent of homes in the United States in some stage of foreclosure between November 2013 and November 2014.
Further optimism results from factors including FHA lowering insurance premiums for low income and first time buyers, Fannie and Freddie lowering down payment requirements, and declining fuel prices. It is perhaps the lowering of down payment requirements that brings about the most hand-wringing. Many see this as a way to bring buyers back in the market to ease the credit crunch. Others see it, along with proposed bank deregulation in our new House and Senate, as déjà vu all over again inviting abuse and the return to the problems of the previous decade.
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Contracting Opportunities: Find the Right One for Your Business

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Our last issue featured an article about the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act which secured sole source authority for the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program. How does this legislation affect a WOSB? What level of effort does a WOSB firm need to invest to make this legislation profitable and low risk?

The Basics
Agencies and prime contractors (usually large businesses who hold a contract with the government) have a variety of socio-economic goals established for them by the Federal Government. These goals include WOSB, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), and Small Business (SB). Some examples of goals for Federal Agencies to meet when soliciting contracts are:

Remember, although the percentages may appear small in the chart, the dollar amounts associated with these percentages are huge when applied to the Agencies such as the Department of Defense or Department of the Interior. Additionally, each prime contractor who is classified as a Large Business (based on either number of employee or three years of annual revenues) is required to have a Subcontracting Plan approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Agency Contracting Officer. The goals in these Subcontracting Plans can be substantially higher than the goals for the agencies. (I worked with a prime contractor who was required to subcontract 79 percent of their subcontracting dollars to small businesses). This leads to two strategies for market consideration– does the WOSB want to work directly with a government agency as a prime contractor or work with a prime contractor as a subcontractor? Or both?
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Recap of IMN’s 3rd Annual Single Family Rental Investments Forum

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Hundreds of real estate professionals flocked to Scottsdale, Arizona for IMN’s 3rd Annual Single Family Rental Investments forum. The event highlighted private equity, REITs, note buyers, bond investors, and fix & flippers.

With a fluctuating market, it is important to reevaluate the relevancy of housing processes and how to approach them. The three-day forum tackled this sentiment with workshops that analyzed how lucrative current methods of gaining revenue are and provided a fresh new perspective on methods in need of updating.

The diverse workshops catered to many real estate backgrounds which made it a popular event choice for attendees. Hot topics included underwriting issues, flipping vs. holding, and different aspects of single family rentals. In addition to attracting attendees nationwide, NAWRB members Ivy Melton and Heidi Robinson were also in attendance.

In particular, the aspect of flipping vs. holding properties was one of the focal points of the forum. According to RealtyTrac, flipped homes in the third quarter of 2014 represented 4 percent of all U.S. single family home sales, equating to 26,947 properties. Although this may seem sizable, RealtyTrac reports that this is “down from 4.6 percent in the second quarter of 2014 and down from 5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2013 to the lowest level since the second quarter of 2009.”
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Recap of Inman’s Real Estate Connect Think outside of the box

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As a NAWRB Chairwomen, I enjoy attending real estate conferences around the country. I decide which one rises to the top every year. Since it is only February, one might call me bold to claim Inman Real Estate Connect New York is the best conference of 2015, but it will be hard to top.

The speakers on the panels were superb. They were leaders in their fields, but more importantly, they covered diverse areas of business. Brad Inman, the publisher of Inman News, started day one proclaiming that his goal for the 2015 conference was to attract the brightest and most innovative people with expertise outside of real estate. He wanted the panelists’ advice to cross-over into innovative business development for real estate professionals. In other words, he wanted to force attendees to “think outside of the box” in real estate. Inman’s idea was supported by Mike Ferry who stated that most real estate agents rarely take advice from sources outside their circle of influence, which limits growth and
innovation. I believe Brad Inman reached his goal. This conference transformed my business perspective and opened my eyes to new growth opportunities.
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NAWRB’s Inaugural Conference Testimonials

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Dear Desirée,

I want to thank you for the invitation to participate in the 2014 National Association of Women in Real Estate Business (NAWRB) conference. You have an impressive organization that provides a powerful network not only for your membership but for organizations such as Freddie Mac. I probably gained more by attending than what I had to contribute. Three words come to mind when I think about my participation with the NAWRB October 2014 conference. They are: Communication, Relationships and Diversification.

Communication: There was an informative speech from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who sits on the House Finance and Banking committee, regarding the impacts of the Dodd Frank Section 342, OMWI regulation on the real estate and finance industry. There were powerful panel discussions on how to do business with GSEs, Federal and State Government Agencies including the SBA, FDIC, CFPB. I also heard loud and clear some of the issues, concerns, recommendations and ideas from your membership related to doing business with GSEs and other agencies. This is valuable information that I am hoping to continue to relay back to our business units.
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U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell Introduces Legislation S. 2693 – The Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2014

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Bill would improve access to lending, business training and federal contracting for women-owned businesses

Senator: ‘This legislation will help break through the 21st Century glass ceiling’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, joined Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and John Walsh (D-MT) in introducing legislation this week aimed at giving women entrepreneurs equal treatment when it comes to starting and growing their own businesses.

The “Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2014” (S. 2693) would improve access to lending and increase business counseling and training services for women entrepreneurs, and give women-owned businesses the same level of access to federal contracts as other disadvantaged groups.

“Women make up half of the population, and we have a lot of ideas that could become great products and spur our economy,” Cantwell said. “This legislation will help ensure women entrepreneurs get the right tools they need to turn those ideas into new businesses and create jobs.”

The legislation adopts recommendations from a recent Senate Small Business Committee report that showed significant barriers for women looking to start or grow their own business. The report highlighted how women-owned businesses represent a $3 trillion economic force and support 23 million jobs, but still face significant barriers compared to their male-owned counterparts.

Women entrepreneurs account for just $1 out of every $23 in small business lending, despite representing 30 percent of all small companies. They are also more likely to be turned down for loans or face less favorable terms than men, according to the July 23 report, 21st Century Barriers to Women’s Entrepreneurship.

To address those gaps, the legislation would:

  • Expand and improve the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan and Intermediary Lending programs to reach more women borrowers who need up to $50,000, as well as reauthorize the SBA Intermediary Lending program – now a pilot program – to provide more women access to loans between $50,000 and $200,000. The legislation would allow Microloan lenders to increase lending capacity from $5 million to $7 million and improve the program to better meet borrowers’ needs through more flexible terms and expanded technical assistance. Women often face difficulty in getting right-sized loans that fit their needs, according to the report, and this will help fill a gap not met by traditional private lending. The Microloan program targets new and early-stage small businesses as well as borrowers with limited credit history who can’t receive financing from a traditional lending institution.
  • Allow sole-source contracting for federal contracts awarded through the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program, which would put women-owned businesses on equal footing with other disadvantaged groups in the contracting process. The legislation would change current law, and aims to help the federal government meet its goal of awarding 5 percent of contracts to women-owned businesses – a goal that has never been reached since it was established by legislation 20 years ago. When this goal is not reached, women-owned companies miss out on $4 billion in federal contracting opportunities each year.
  • Increase funding for the Women’s Business Center program to expand and improve counseling and training services to reach more women entrepreneurs, especially in low-income areas. The program, overseen by SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, issues grants to nonprofits that provide these services. The centers assist 150,000 clients annually, and helped women to access more than $25 million in capital in fiscal year 2013. The centers help address the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face, such as less capital to invest and responsibility for child care or elder care. The legislation would reauthorize the program through 2019 and nearly double the annual funding authorization. It also would establish clear metrics to measure each center’s success.
  • Require data on women-owned small businesses by establishing a 2015 deadline for an SBA study to identify industries in which women-owned small businesses are under-represented. The original deadline was 2018.

“Small businesses are at the heart of America’s economic engine. We need to ensure that our women entrepreneurs have the right tools available to help them succeed,” Cardin said. “I’m proud to support the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act, which gives women a fair shot at helping improve our economy and strengthen the middle class through small business ownership.”

“Women are an essential part to growing our economy and creating jobs, but they are wholly underrepresented as business owners and contract and loan recipients,” Shaheen said. “By addressing the challenges women entrepreneurs and business owners face, we will give women, job seekers and our economy the tools they need to grow and succeed.”

“Our economy desperately needs to grow more small business start-ups,” Baldwin said. “This legislation invests in job creation, supports our American entrepreneurial spirit, and will help strengthen the economic security of women and their families.”

“This bill will ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to capital and opportunity,” Walsh said. “By making sure today’s leaders have the resources to start their own businesses, we will encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to pursue their goals, strengthening Montana’s economy and creating jobs.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the most powerful job creators we have,” Gillibrand said.“And the fact is, women are increasingly the new family breadwinner. Women are the primary income earner for a growing share of homes across America. The key to a growing economy, and the key to an American middle class that is built to thrive in the 21st century is women. When we equip more working women with the tools and the opportunities to achieve their best in the economy, and their best for their family, that’s when America’s middle class will thrive again. Without a doubt, if given a fair shot, women will be the ones who ignite our economy and lead America’s middle class revival.”

The Women’s Small Business Ownership Act has received strong support from key stakeholders including Women Impacting Public Policy, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the Association of Women’s Business Centers, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Venture Capital Association, and 32 community development organizations from 20 states.

-Press Release from U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

New Research Shows Funding Challenges Persist for Women-Owned Businesses

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The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) released a new research report outlining the differences between men and women business owners, regarding the scale of business growth, amount and sources of financial capital, and the relationship between the two. Unfortunately, the statistics on funding for women-owned businesses, whether it concerns bank loans, angel investments, or VC funding continue to discourage. As the government’s only independent voice for women entrepreneurs, the NWBC’s two-fold mission is to conduct and support groundbreaking research that provides insight into women business enterprises from startup to success, and to share the findings to incite constructive action and policy. To that end, the NWBC saw the need tackle the thorny issue of funding and women owned businesses once again. The NWBC just released a new research report looking at current trends in female entrepreneurship and funding with an eye towards spurring discussion and finding solutions. Here are some of the most salient highlights from their work:

Access to Capital and Women Entrepreneurs
Access to capital continues to be a major issue for all, but especially for women entrepreneurs. The NWBC research suggests there is a direct correlation between access to capital, and company growth in terms of employment for both men- and women- owned businesses: women-owned firms exceeded their growth expectations, while men-owned firms had much greater growth in revenue.

Men-owned firms used significantly more capital than women, particularly with respect to equity from external sources such as venture capitalists and angel investors. Only 20% of all angel-backed companies were women-led in 2013. The NWBC’s research concludes high growth women-owned firms may be an underutilized tool for economic growth; increased access to capital is important because more money for the business will undoubtedly maximize their potential to contribute to the economy.

Overcoming The Fear Factor
When it comes to broadening the pathway to success for women business owners, women who are sole owners should consider finding a business partner who has previous startup experience. The NWBC’s research findings suggest firms with team ownership and/or owners with previous startup experience typically have higher amounts of capital and were more likely to have high growth potential. This research also revealed women-owned firms were also less likely to apply for credit when needed because they feared being turned down.

Anecdotally, many successful business owners were rejected repeatedly by banks before ultimately obtaining a loan. It is important for women to ask, and to keep asking. From the standpoint of risk aversion, a number of studies have similarly identified the fear of failure as a major impediment to the launch and growth of women-owned firms. For example, at NWBC’S March 2014 public meeting, Divya Nag—one of STEM’s youngest woman entrepreneurs—discussed Stanford’s StartX accelerator. She noted that only 5% of founding teams with women reapply when rejected as compared to 65% for all-male founding teams. The NWBC concludes that it is essential that entrepreneurs believe in their product, be able to communicate how it fulfills an unmet need in the market and continue to tell that story despite rejection.

Beyond the Boys Club: Reasons Men Receive More Capital
Research and other supporting research show, men and women approach debt differently, including the application process. Since women had lower growth expectations than men, it is possible they pursue less capital at the outset. Also women are more likely to have characteristics that are associated with lower amounts of capital in general—these include less previous industry experience, less previous startup experience, and lower credit scores, being a sole owner, and being home-based. However, these trends occur even among women-owned firms with high growth potential. One of the biggest differences seen was with regards to the amount of outside equity used. The presence of women is notoriously low on the investment side, e.g. as angel investors. Increasing women’s presence on the investment side (e.g. as angel investors) might help ameliorate some supply-side issues.

The Role of the Banks, Incubators and Accelerators
There is substantial opportunity for financial institutions to ramp-up their efforts to target and increase lending to women entrepreneurs. The NWBC concludes that one particularly effective strategy to maximize the potential of high growth oriented women entrepreneurs would be incentivizing accelerators and incubators to address the specific needs of and support women entrepreneurs. In addition to financial resources, this would allow women to get the tangible startup experience they need, the help with the business growth planning process and offer the added benefit of social networking—possibly resulting in team ownership.

Tackling the Problem on Both Fronts
Ultimately, it looks like there is both a demand-side and supply-side issue. It’s important for women business owners with high growth potential to set themselves up for success financially—but also for institutions and individuals offering financing to work with growth-oriented women to maximize their potential. The NWBC would like to see more women entering the investment side, as angel investors or as part of a screening committee at a venture capital fund.

There is no doubt that great strides have been made in the women’s entrepreneurship movement, but there is clearly more work to do. Change or action doesn’t happen without impetus. If we continue to build on the progress that has already been made women, women-business owners and the economy as a whole will benefit tremendously.

“New Research Shows Funding Challenges Persist for Women-Owned Businesses” was originally published on ProjecteEve.com.

The National Women’s Business Council continues to be a leading voice in advancing the women’s entrepreneurship agenda with a strong focus on providing key insights and solutions to increasing economic gains for women business owners. The NWBC has identified four priorities: Access to Capital, Access to Markets, Job Creation & Growth, and Data Collection. The NWBC will be highlighting the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs through several research efforts, including: undercapitalization as a contributing factor to business failure; Supplier Diversity Initiatives and Supply Chain Analysis; and Women’s participation in accelerators and incubators.

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Annual Convention (CHCC)

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Entrepreneurs, advocates for small businesses, community leaders, and government officials were all present at the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Annual Convention (CHCC) in Garden Grove, California. The convention celebrated the history and triumphs of the CHCC while establishing a strong dialogue between the Hispanic business community, business advocates, and government members.

From an author to a National Director of a government agency, panelists and speakers came from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some featured speakers included Nely Galán, Media Entrepreneur and Founder of the Adelante Movement; Antonio Gonzalez, President of SVREP and WCVI; and Maria Salinas, Chairwoman of the Board at ProAmerica Bank. All workshops and panels at the convention were free and open to the public. The main workshops were divided into two groups: Procurement and International Trade. Attendees filled the seats for both groups of presentations as the panelists presented their in-depth PowerPoint presentations.

To further promote business success, the convention featured a procurement matchmaking session with participation from top companies such as Southern California Edison, Wells Fargo, Verizon, and State Farm. Attendees had the opportunity to view the business profiles of the companies they were matched with before scheduling a meeting. The meetings established connections between attendees and their matched companies so that a future follow-up could be secured to pursue contracting opportunities.

With the strong advocacy for the Hispanic business community, it was fitting to highlight real life business success stories during the Business Success Stories Live Luncheon sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Hosted by celebrities Liz Hernandez of Access Hollywood and actress Ana Ortiz, the luncheon was a motivational way to inspire attendees to maintain their determination no matter the circumstances.

The Annual Convention wasn’t completely relegated to business workshops and presentations though. The CHCC added elements of fun and excitement with the Latina Pavilion, and awards ceremonies followed by various forms of entertainment, which created a loud and lively atmosphere. The Latina Pavilion featured a panel of successful Latinas who provided their perspectives on life, careers, and accomplishments. The Pavilion also showcased a fashion show and Biz Expo, which featured over 70 exhibitors and opportunities for networking.

The final two days of the convention concluded with a White Party celebration, CHCC Awards Gala dinner, live entertainment from popular comedian Felipe Esparza, and the Abel Sanchez & Si Se Puede Band, which features musicians from legendary bands such as Malo, Tierra, and Tower of Power. The live entertainment pumped up the crowd as the CHCC Awards honored recipients of the Latina Hall of Fame Awards and Regional & Statewide Hispanic Business Awards. The CHCC Annual Convention was a success that empowered the Hispanic business community with its lively blend of educational and entertaining sessions.

2014 Florida Realtors Conference

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The focus of the 2014 Florida Realtors Conference was productivity, profitability, and professionalism for the more than 2,500 Realtors® that attended in Orlando. In addition to informative training sessions and countless networking opportunities, the conference included a lively Carnaval theme with a concert series that had bodies moving and hands clapping. Attendees had the opportunity to sit-in on more than 30 education sessions, some of which were attended by NAWRB Member Renee Marie Smith, Esq.

A Session Recap by NAWRB Member Renee Marie Smith, Esq.
When Dodd Frank passed, many of us were scratching our heads trying to understand its impact. The Education Session on Dodd-Frank—Why Washington Made Us Change, which included panelists Grant Simon, Dana R. Ward, Michael E. “Mickey” Godat, and Nashad Khan was very helpful. This law is over 1,500 pages of complex legalese. The panel selected isolated topics from those pages to summarize instead of trying to outline the entire law. I highlighted three of these topics.

One: Changes to Debt to Income Ratio in Lending
The crafters of the law saw it as the “answer” to the out of control lending problem; lowering the DTI limits the exposure for overleveraged primary lending. The law phases in the lowering of DTI for lending over the course of seven years so practitioners must revise their underwriting requirements each year to comply. At the end of the seven year phase, DTI will be limited to 43% of revolving debt and loans.

Two: The Power of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
This is now the most powerful agency in the U.S. It can investigate, enforce and initiate lawsuits with its own powers and eliminated the need to inter-bureau investigations. If the CFPB appears, you can have a civil and criminal case filed against you. It is funded by fines and imposes a fiduciary duty on all parties involved in consumer lending (including agents). There is no statute of limitations to prevent investigation either.

Three: Pitfalls of Affiliated Businesses
Marketing arrangements are subject to review and fines for failing to properly include disclosures. You can be held financially responsible for your partners’ actions even if you aren’t involved. If you have a joint venture and/or an appearance of an affiliated business, you must learn about the closing disclosure language. CFPB went to a company to investigate one report and stayed for years only to fine them for failure to properly include disclosures. Fines can range from $5,000 up to $1 million a day.

To summarize, when I walked out of the Dodd Frank education session, I agreed that lending in the U.S. was forever changed and not so sure for the better. However, it is the law and if you choose real estate as a profession, learning how to comply in your area is needed. When in doubt disclose, discuss, and decide on the most conservative method of handling consumer loans that come through your office.

Women’s Cancers: Basic research seeks new ways to attack cancer

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Advances in immunotherapy
Peter P. Lee, M.D., chair of cancer immunotherapeutics and tumor immunology at City of Hope, is pursuing several projects that are part of a what he calls integrated immunotherapy. This concept advances the idea that effective cancer treatment must address each phase or action of the body’s complex immune system.

In one project, Lee is studying the role of stromal cells, which make up connective tissue. He has found that stromal cells support cancer by attracting and modulating immune cells. His team is currently developing three-dimensional microculture systems to study the interactions among stroma, cancer and immune cells in tumors, with a goal of learning how to disrupt cancer’s support system and restore immune function.

Lee is also advancing the use of spectral imaging. Using powerful new technology, Lee is able to see two- and three-dimensional images of the location of cells, making it possible to understand how immune cells and cancer cells interact within the tumor and sentinel nodes (lymph nodes found under the arm, and often the first site of metastasis for breast cancer). One of the leaders in this sophisticated imaging technique, Lee recently led a worldwide webinar to teach other researchers about spectral imaging.

A novel way to target cancer
Yuan Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medical oncology, is studying how tumor cells use nutrients to grow and proliferate, and how this process differs from normal cell metabolism, so that she can selectively target cancer cells. Yuan is collaborating with David Ann, Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology, who found that some types of breast cancer cells lack a specific enzyme and, as a result, need the amino acid arginine to grow.

Together, their research demonstrates how to deprive these cells of arginine and suppress tumor growth. Yuan seeks to translate this novel research to the clinic, where it will be the focus of a first-of-its-kind study for women with breast cancer.

How genes help cancer spread
Emily Wang, Ph.D., associate professor of cancer biology, focuses her research on understanding how microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression to promote or prevent cancer. She has found that breast cancer cells secrete specific miRNAs that dictate gene expression in healthy cells at potential metastatic sites for breast cancer.

Wang’s studies also showed that treatment with a miRNA inhibitor significantly delayed metastasis — suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat metastatic breast cancer. Wang is collaborating with Yuan to translate these findings to the clinic.

Photo: City of Hope’s fight against breast cancer, shown here, includes immunotherapy and an exploration of gene silencing.

Molecular imaging and disease
Tijana Jovanovic-Talisman, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine, recently joined City of Hope to advance her research using super resolution microscopy. Jovanovic-Talisman is using this sophisticated imaging method to see and quantify proteins on the cell membrane and inside cells. On a biological level, this method allows Jovanovic-Talisman to better understand protein signaling, both in normal cells and in cells affected by disease. She is also collaborating with other researchers at City of Hope to design new compounds to target cancer cells.

In one effort, Jovanovic-Talisman is studying the tumor marker called nucleoporins 88, which is overexpressed in solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancers. She is currently designing mimics, down to the nanometer scale, of the biological processes that are occurring in cancer and healthy cells. These models will be used to further understand how nucleoporins 88 causes cancer and to test drugs that target the molecule.

The quest for a novel therapeutic
Linda Malkas, Ph.D., associate chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology and the deputy director of basic research, is focused on identifying compounds that selectively target cancer. Previously, Malkas found a target in cancer cells, called cancer-associated proliferating cell nuclear antigen, that plays a role in DNA repair and helps cancer survive and proliferate.

Now, she is collaborating with City of Hope’s molecular chemists to modify small molecules that selectively block the antigen. Together, they have created a highly active synthetic compound called AOH1160. Recent animal studies have shown that AOH1160 is effective at inhibiting tumor growth. This exciting new compound could lead to a novel therapeutic for women fighting breast cancer.

Silencing genes to target cancer
Carlotta Glackin, Ph.D., associate professor of neurosciences, studies a protein called Twist1, which is overexpressed in many aggressive cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers. She is working to develop targeted therapeutics that inhibit Twist1 and stop cancer.

In collaboration with John Rossi, Ph.D., Lidow Family Research Chair and chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology, Glackin is exploring the use of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) bound to nanoparticles to deliver gene-silencing materials to tumors and block the expression of Twist1. Glackin studied this approach in cell lines and found that it was effective. Now, she is studying this therapeutic in animal models, and hopes to open a clinical trial at City of Hope. Glackin’s research provides another promising approach to therapy that could bring healing to so many women battling cancer.

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Next: Part 2: Studies of risk and prevention