Board of Directors
M. Ann Abbe
Arlington, Texas

Mathew Bergman, Esq.
Seattle, Washington

Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
UCLA Medical School

Michael Harbut, M.D., M.P.H.
Wayne State University

Ulf Jungnelius, M.D.
Pfizer, Inc.

Susan Vento
St. Paul, Minnesota

Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D.
Nevada Cancer Institute

Roger G. Worthington, Esq.
Dana Point, California

In Memoriam
Congressman Bruce F. Vento

Science Advisory Board
Harvey Pass, M.D., Chairman
Karmanos Cancer Institute

Steven Albelda, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania

Raphael Bueno, M.D.
Harvard/Brigham and Women's

Raffit Hassan, M.D.
National Cancer Institute

Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D.
University of Chicago

Dan Miller, M.D.
Emory University

Lary A. Robinson, M.D.
H. Lee Moffit Cancer Institute

Victor Roggli, M.D.
Duke University

W. Roy Smythe, M.D.
Texas A&M

Robert N. Taub, M.D.
Columbia University

Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D.
Fox Chase Cancer Center

Eric Vallieres, M.D.
Swedish Cancer Institute

Claire Verschraegen, M.D.
University of New Mexico

Executive Director
Christopher E. Hahn
Santa Barbara

MARF, inc.
1123 Chapala Street
2nd Floor
PO Box 91840
Santa Barbara, CA 93190-1840
tel: (805) 560-8942
fax: (805) 560-8962
http://www.marf.org

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Our Mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease.

VIA TELECOPY (202-228-1229) and U.S. MAIL

February 25, 2005

The Honorable Arlen Specter
711 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Re: Commitment to Mesothelioma Medical Research

Dear Senator Specter:

On January 11, 2005, in a hearing on the asbestos trust fund bill, you advised a mesothelioma patient (Billy Speicher) that you would investigate the National Cancer Institute's commitment in finding a cure for malignant mesothelioma. What has your staff discovered?

We have researched the issue as well. The results have not been comforting. We have previously provided your office with this research, which shows that compared to other tumors the NCI's investment in mesothelioma medical research is disproportionate and woefully inadequate. We would be pleased to discuss this problem, and the solution, with you and your staff.

Please advise. In the meantime, we attach for your review (again), a letter we sent to your office from the nation's leading scientists and medical doctors advocating the creation of a federal mesothelioma research and treatment program.

On a personal note, we are pleased to learn you are receiving the best available medical care for your Hodgkin's disease and that your spirits are high and your resolve is strong.

Sincerely,

Roger G. Worthington
Founding Director

cc: Seema Singh

Enclosures


*** POSTED FEBRUARY 25, 2005 ***