HOUSTON -- (November 30, 2007) -- Botox® may reduce benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, said a Baylor College of Medicine physician-scientist.

Dr. Christopher Smith, an assistant professor of urology at BCM, said a National Institutes of Health multi-center study will examine the shrinking effects of Botox® on these patients. He will lead the BCM portion of the study.

"Lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from BPH can be secondary to enlargement of the gland and/or due to increased muscle tone within the gland," said Smith. "The prostate becomes compressed against the urethra, causing the symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency and decreased force of stream."

BPH is a common disorder in men over the age of 50. Read more about BPH.

"Research has shown that nerves are a major source of prostate growth," said Smith. "They release chemicals and growth factors that have a direct influence on the maintenance and growth of prostate tissue."

Botox® is a commercial preparation of botulinum toxin A that works by preventing nerve impulses from reaching the muscle.

"In animals and humans, injecting Botox® can shrink and relax the prostate so that the urinary systems from the BPH are decreased," said Smith. "This has been show to be effective in both large and small prostates."

"So now we're not just looking at the cosmetic upside of Botox®," Smith said. "We're investigating whether this potent therapeutic agent can have a positive impact on improving the quality of life of men suffering from BPH symptoms."

Those interested in taking part in this study can contact Sebrina Tello at stello@bcm.edu or 713-798-8106. The study will be funded by the National Institute of Health. For more information on this trial and others in the department, visit http://www.bcm.edu/urology/?PMID=4989.

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HOUSTON -- (November 28, 2007) -- Gayle Slaughter, Ph.D., assistant dean for graduate education in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring during a Nov. 16 ceremony at the White House. The award cited her commitment, leadership and pioneering work on BCM's Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) Program, which was developed for undergraduates considering a science career.

"Everyone who receives this award feels that it not only acknowledges our contributions but those of many other people who have helped us along the way. It is truly an honor to receive this award," said Slaughter. "It is the success of the students that actually determines the award, so all of the students I have worked with are also winners of this award."

Slaughter, also an associate professor in the BCM department of molecular and cellular biology, was one of 10 individuals and one organization recognized by the award, which is supported and administered by the National Science Foundation. Since 1996, the annual award has recognized the critical importance of mentors in the academic and personal development of students and colleagues who are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Baylor's SMART program pairs undergraduate students with mentors who guide them through nine weeks of research training at the BCM campus. For the past 16 years, the program has enrolled 80 to 100 students each summer. Nearly 500 underrepresented minority students have participated in the program during this time. Slaughter's commitment to recruiting and retaining underrepresented graduate students has more than tripled the number of minority, Ph.D. students at BCM.

"Dr. Slaughter's devotion to developing this program and the passion she shows for all students, and especially underrepresented minority students, makes SMART one of the premier training programs for young scientists in the country. She is a natural candidate for this prestigious award because she is the consummate mentor," said William R. Brinkley, PhD, senior vice president and dean of the BCM Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

In addition to the award ceremony at the White House, awardees receive a grant of $10,000 to continue and advance their mentoring work.

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