Michael Cher, M.D., the Dr. Donald J. and Dorothy Jaffar Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Urology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will play a major role in determining Department of Defense research grants funding high-impact prostate cancer studies.

Dr. Cher will serve as chair of the 2017 Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program Impact Peer Review Panel in November, in Washington, D.C. The panel will review grant proposals for the largest award the DOD grants for prostate cancer research.

"The Department of Defense has an extensive cancer research program. I was honored to be asked to chair the review panel for one of the most prestigious DOD prostate cancer research awards," said Dr. Cher, who also serves as chief of Urology for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. "I look forward to working with the other clinicians and scientists on the panel to help select the most worthy proposals."

The Prostate Cancer Research Program prioritizes research that distinguishes aggressive forms in men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, develops strategies to prevent disease progression, develops treatments and addresses mechanisms of resistance for metastatic prostate cancer, and develops strategies to optimize physical and mental health of men with prostate cancer. Focus areas for funded research include biomarker development, genetics, imaging, mechanisms of resistance, survivorship and palliative care, therapy, and tumor and microenvironment biology.

Department of Defense Impact awards support high-impact, potentially high risk, studies addressing a central question or problem in prostate cancer.