The Mesothelioma Treatment and Research Program at the University of Maryland is an internationally recognized center specializing in diagnosis, treatment, and research of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Dr. H. Richard Alexander, Professor, Surgery, and Associate Chairman for Clinical Research, is recognized as a leading international expert in the treatment and research of abdominal cancers including peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and incurable cancer arising from the membranes of the abdominal cavity. It is associated with asbestos exposure. Approximately 1 in 10 people diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in the U.S. come to the Mesothelioma Treatment and Research Center for consultation or treatment.

There is limited research and knowledge of this disease, and treatment options are severely limited. Important research efforts are now underway at the center to discover new and more effective treatments. A recent major discovery in Dr. Alexander’s laboratory showed that specific genes and proteins drive the growth of peritoneal mesothelioma. This breakthrough discovery was published in January, 2011 in Cancer. It is acknowledged as one the biggest advances in peritoneal mesothelioma research in a decade, and will be the foundation for new and more effective treatments for patients with mesothelioma.