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 Seize the Ribbon Foundation for Bladder Cancer Research was founded in 2010 by the Miningham Family.
The foundation supports the work of
Drs. John Phillips and Senuki Konno at New York Medical College supporting innovative and progressive treatment of Bladder Cancer with research work in both molecular and herbal approaches to bladder cancer treatments. 

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network: for Education and Support 
They give bladder cancer patients and caregivers the resources and support they need to cope with the disease.
www.bcan.org

  Robert Miningham
  04/1942-4/2010
 Seize the Ribbon Foundation for
Bladder Cancer Research was started in his honor
and with his help in 2010.

Seize the Ribbon is a Bladder Cancer Research charitable organization that started with a symbol that was created by an artist for her dad to raise money .The ribbon was for the fight against bladder cancer and the hand was for his strength. Together symbolizing hope.

He died on 4/15/10 but before this time he helped Seize the Ribbon form a plan for a foundation that would help fight Bladder Cancer.
When Seize the Ribbon became active in fundraising and decided to fund Bladder Cancer Research they asked Dr. Phillips (who had been part of Robert’s Urology team) and Dr. Konno working on bladder cancer research in NY Medical College. Their work was/ is innovative and progressive treatment of Bladder Cancer with research work in both molecular and herbal approaches to bladder cancer treatments.
A mission was formed not long after Robert’s death that involved family and friends working without compensation to raise money each year to continue to support the doctors in their ground breaking research.
Now we are proud to say that we have been growing as a 501c3 Charitable Organization that has since 2010 raised money every year and Every penny raised still supports Bladder Cancer Research at NYMC in Vallaha NY.

We are proud of how far we have come in such a short time! Since 2010 we have continued to grow.

-We are a 501(c)3 foundation

-We are a registered New York Charity

- New York Medical School has set up an account for ‘Seize the Ribbon’. This allows us the ability to directly fund Bladder Cancer Research.

-We have created Annual fundraisers that are
used for education as well.

-Our new goal for this year is $35,000 to Bladder Cancer Research.

Other sources of fundraising we have-

-We have t-Shirts, hats and jewelry with our symbol for anyone who is fighting cancer and the ability to color the ribbon for your fight.

-Seize the Ribbon is also available on Facebook! We share our stories and news.

Most important is that our foundation is run by family and friends with donated time.

Seen here is the research team of Dr. Konno (Left), Dr. Valera (middle) Dr. Philipps (right

2024 New published article
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Purpose: Although several therapeutic options for bladder cancer are available, the poor efficacy and palpable side effects are a major concern. Establishing a more effective intervention is urgently demanded. Glycolysis is considered a strategic target and has been often investigated in various cancers
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Abstract Oxidative stress (OXS) has been recently considered as one of anticancer strategies by taking advantage of higher vulnerability of cancer cells (than normal cells) to OXS. In fact, the successful outcomes using OXS have been reported in several cancer cases. A medicinal mushroom extract, PE isolated from Poria mushroom, has been shown to have anticancer/antitumor activity
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Dr. John Phillips 
Bladder Cancer Research
 MD, FACS
Bladder cancer research of Nano-particle technology to
improve effectiveness
of intravesical chemotherapy delivery   
        

 Dr. Sensuke Konno, Ph.D
Bladder cancer research of Pharmacology of
Mitake/Poria Mushroom combined with Vitamin C

                              Updates
From Dr.Phillips- 7/2025
​"I hope the summer is off to a fine start!   We are very excited that Seize the Ribbon funds is supporting a new effort in the fight against bladder cancer.  The immunologic landscape of bladder cancer has been poorly understand ever since BCG was first discovered as a treatment for the disease.   Our newest faculty member in urologic cancers, Dr. Andrew Katims, is now using a cytokine that may selectively improve the results of BCG therapy in bladder cancer by synergizing with innate immune molecules in the bladder.  Such 'immunopotentiation' holds the promise of improving the response rates of bladder cancer to BCG while minimizing toxicity and cost."
From Dr. Konno-6/2025-
"We are planning to go up to the next phase of anticancer study using animals (in vivo).  We now have the data confirming anticancer effects of D-fraction (PDF, mushroom extract) and Lakanto (LKT, fruit extract) on bladder cancer cells in vitro.  Now, we will try to find out if PDF and LKT could prevent or stop the development of bladder cancer cells transplanted in nude mice (immunodeficiency mice).  We can make the two experimental approaches, intraperitoneal (IP) and/or orthotopic (OT) cancer injection/inoculation in mice.  The IP method is relatively easy to perform but the OT is technically challenging.  In addition, the cost of nude mice ($200/mouse) is somewhat expensive as conducting research always requires certain financial support.  So, we definitely need your generous support and we appreciate that."

News from 2024-
​
 From Dr.Phillips- The most common treatment for stage 1 bladder cancer is a 100 year-old vaccine known as BCG.  The use of BCG is so important that all subsequent treatments depend on whether a patient has or has not responded to BCG. Unfortunately, BCG is becoming increasingly hard to find and provide to patients.  Alternatives to BCG, ideally those that are even more effective, are urgently needed to combat this disease. Thanks to the direct financial support of Seize the Ribbon, our laboratory has made great progress in this effort. Although FDA requirements and costs tend to slow the initiating of clincial drug trials that will test our efforts, we are still committed towards a nano-particle based therapy that will improve upon or replace BCG. 
 
We’re also pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Katims, our newest faculty member, whose training background includes Mount Sinai Medical Center and Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Katims’ focus is on bladder cancer as well and it is to exploit the unique immunological environment of the bladder upon which the BCG response depends.  With Seize the Ribbon support, we are hoping to continue clinical and basic science trials to understand the lymphatic cells within the bladder wall that are so critical to whether a patient does or does not respond. And our efforts will increase the number of patients we can treat here at Westchester Medical Center and within National Cancer Institute-supported clinical trials.    
 
We plan on submitting important papers to the Society of Urologic Oncology and to the Journal Cancer reporting our findings on the nanoparticle therapy of stage I bladder cancer.    Indeed, 2025 looks to be an incredibly productive year in which our ability to cure stage 1 bladder cancer greatly increases.
 
 From Dr Konno-We have been working on the extract of monk fruit, Lakanto, which showed a considerable anticancer effect against bladder cancer cells.  As it can be easily taken daily, it may help prevent a potential cancer incidence.  Additionally, we recently started studying a new mushroom extract called CHX, which also appears to have anticancer activity.  We are now investigating if the combination of Lakanto and CHX could further potentiate anticancer effect on bladder cancer cells.  As both extracts have few side/adverse effects, that will be great if the efficacy (anticancer activity) of such combination is synergistically improved.  This may offer another preventative and/or therapeutic option for normal people and patients.
     
 Dr.Konno- New article just published on the -Chemosensitizing Effect of Monk Fruit Extract on Human Bladder Cancer Cells 
​chems-lkt_jct__pub_.pdf

News from the doctors 2023-

Dr. Phillips- 

We're finishing up our ECRIP grant with new trials demonstrating the superiority of nanoparticle based cisplatin therapy over BCG therapy for bladder cancer.  Moving to a clinical trial will require a major effort between academia (us and Hopkins), industry (to make the nanoparticles on a clinical scale), seed money, regulators, and the FDA. So a big step, but we are  starting the process.

Dr. Konno -

We have completed our preliminary work on “Possible anticancer effect of monk fruit extracts against bladder cancer cells”.  Our findings are quite interesting and promising because a couple of monk fruit extracts appear to have such anticancer effect. We are testing the possibility that these monk fruit extracts could be used as an adjuvant agent in current chemotherapy (for bladder cancer patients).  It is possible that they may have so-called “chemosensitizing effect” to improve or potentiate anticancer activity of chemotherapeutic drugs such as cisplatin, mitomycin C, gemcitabine etc. being clinically used today.  A major advantage of this combination of “monk fruit extracts and drugs” is to minimize or even reduce “side effects” (while improving the drug efficacy), which are the serious drawbacks of chemotherapy. 
​
News from the doctors 2022

Dr.John Phillips-We are progressing with our preclinical research involving nanoparticle therapy of bladder cancer,  have submitted a major grant to the NIH to hire two full time post-doctoral researchers, and thanks to STR supporting two emerging medical students for their summer research projects.  The research itself shows that nanoparticle based cisplatin therapy for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer appears as effective and less toxic than standard of care therapy.   Our next focus will be on dose optimization and duration


Dr. Sensuke Konno -We have been working on the bioactive extracts of monk fruit, mogrosides (MOG), with potential anticancer activity.  Such mogroside-based products are commercially available as the dietary products.  We then investigated if such products would have anticancer activity against bladder cancer cells in vitro.  A number of experiments have been already performed and we think this study could be completed by the end of this year.  We have thus far found that two of four products tested had potent anticancer activity, resulting in a significant reduction in cell viability, i.e. the inhibition of cancer cell growth and/or cancer cell death.  Such an anticancer mechanism is more likely associated with a G1 cell cycle arrest, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and eventually apoptosis.  Hence, monk fruit extracts appear to have anticancer activity against bladder cancer cells, significantly inhibiting cell growth and leading ultimately to apoptosis.  They are not only used as the dietary products but also considered as the potential therapeutic option for bladder cancer.  We think they are rather promising and further studies are required for eventually assessing their efficacy on actual patients.  

News from the doctors 2021

Dr.Phillips-We now have excellent bladder tumor responses to nanoparticle delivered cancer therapy which appears to be less toxic to the bladder than traditional chemotherapy.  Nanoparticle delivered chemotherapy also appears to be absorbed over a longer period of time than chemotherapy alone.  Thanks to Seize the Ribbon, we are now moving forward with a recent application for federal grant support to begin the comprehensive process of starting our first clinical trial in humans.

Dr.Konno-We have studied one of the bioactive fruit extracts called “mogroside” found in “monk fruit”.  This extract appears to have anticancer and antioxidant activities possibly against bladder cancer.  Our study demonstrates such activities, capable of reducing cell viability of bladder cancer cells in vitro (i.e. an inhibition of cancer cell growth).  Although more studies are required for its clinical utility, we think at this point that it could be used for possible prevention of bladder cancer.  We have no intention to promote a commercial product but this mogroside products are commercially available today.  They are sold as the Lakanto® products (sweeteners) that are used for cooking or sugar substitute (for coffee, tea etc.).  In fact, mogroside has been approved by the FDA, as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for its use.  As they are not sugar, they are widely used by diabetic patients in Japan because of no effects on the blood glucose levels.  We haven’t yet established the effective dosage or how much you need to take them to be effective, but a daily intake of these products may give you some beneficial effects for the time-being.  Although it’s a little complicated and time consuming, we will try to figure out a daily amount needed to be effective as our next study.  
   

We would first like to thank all of our supporters from last year and tell you that because of your donations to Seize the Ribbon, we have been able to support innovation and progress in the treatment of bladder cancer, a disease known for its great toll on quality of life, life expectancy, and cost of therapy. Your efforts have supported Drs. John Phillips and Senuki Konno at New York Medical College who continue the groups’ work in both molecular and herbal approaches to bladder cancer treatments.
 
 FOLLOW OUR PROGRESS-
Updates- Despite Covid-19 shut downs funds were still raised and research continued. Two new research fellows were added to the team. Welcome Drs. Maheen Hossain and Danielle Guilfoil! And Dr. Phillips started nanoparticle trials to prove safety! Also publications written about Chemosensitizing effect of maitake mushroom extracton carmustine cytotoxicity in human bladder cancer cells was written by Dr. Konno 
​

Update from  DR. Phillips: August 2019 "Our laboratory continues to make progress with nanoparticle therapies for bladder cancer thanks to Seize the Ribbon support.  Nanoparticles are mere, microscopic packages of proteins or fat globules that 'hold in' other compounds like chemotherapies.  Nanoparticles are very temperamental and require sophisticated preparations and 'quality testing' to ensure that they are of the correct size, shape, integrity, and stability, and carry the correct dose of chemotherapy, before there use in any cancer trial.  Part of the STR funds are going towards demonstrating the correct dosing and effect of nanoparticle chemotherapy combination on bladder cancers as well as the quality steps required for safe administration in a clinical trial setting."

We have had challenges in timing the preparation of the nanoparticles with the age and disease burden of the experimental transgenic mouse population, which are rather fragile because of their cancers.  We're still making progress!

​Updated research news from Dr. Phillips 10/2018-
​"Seize the Ribbon funds went directly to inaugurate new research in bladder cancer nano-therapy.  Using a transgenic mouse model, New York Medical College researchers, in collaboration with Bio-Pharma, used a custom-designed nanoparticle that carries a chemotherapy weapon as a 'Trojan Horse'.  The mice otherwise develop bladder cancer and pass away earlier than their normal littermates.  With nano-particle Trojan Horse, in early results, appears to eradicate bladder cancer leaving only non-cancerous but inflammed cells behind.  The group now hopes to expand the research to test different doses of the nano-particles and different chemotherapies packaged within them.  Ultimately, Seize the Ribbon fund will support the development of new nano-treatments for bladder cancer in human trials by completing these critical pre-clinical laboratory efforts."

Updated research news from Dr. Phillips: 3/2018-A recent advance was achieved by the group's post-doctoral resident, Dr. Vladimir Valera, who presented his findings on Seize the Ribbon-supported research at last year’s Society of Urologic Oncology in Washington DC. Dr. Valera’s work was awarded first prize beating out researches from Harvard, Memorial Sloane Kettering, and John Hopkins. The research team is also working on a combination approach of Vitamin C and Mitake mushroom exacts which are shown to be safe for human consumption. A clinical trial for early bladder cancers is underway and interested participants can contact Dr. Konno or Dr. Phillips at 914 594 2440 .We want to emphasize that while we focus on Bladder Cancer, Seize the Ribbon supported research dollars from you go beyond a specific cancer and may aid in finding answers to help fight other cancers as well.
​
News from the doctors 2017

Thanks to crucial support from Seize the Ribbon, much has happened with the progress in our research program against bladder cancer. We have a unique genetic mouse model of bladder cancer that we have studied showing the relationship between the expression of a defective gene, Uroplakin, and the development of early bladder cancers. We also have been able to determine the expression level of the Uroplakin gene to identify mouse candidates for our new nanoparticle drug trial. One drug, under development by a partner research firm, Phosphorex, will be used to attack the bladder cancers in genetically affected mice. A second drug, under partnership with Johns Hopkins, will be used to attack bladder cancers that do not specifically express mutant Uroplakin gene. By our next report, we should have rather innovative data as a basis for translational trials. With gratitude and great appreciation John

News From The Doctors 2016

Dr. Phillips talked about exciting new developments during the walkathon-

The bladder has an inner lining well suited as a reservoir. The bladder expands at low pressure, empties while protecting the kidneys from short increases in pressure, and the bladder is nearly impermeable so foreign substances are not absorbed. The impermeability decreases the effectiveness of chemotherapy placed directly into the bladder. Most bladder cancers could be treated if chemotherapy were more effective. We established a collaboration with researchers from NYU and from Qualiber, a tech start up from Chapel Hill, in which chemotherapy is delivered into the bladder packed within tiny nanoparticles. The nanoparticles attach to the bladder wall and are absorbed easily. Then, the packaging or envelope layer of the nanoparticle dissolves releasing the chemotherapy. Our plan, using Seize the Ribbon support, is to test nanoparticle effectiveness in treating bladder cancers in an engineered mouse that develops bladder cancers early in life. Such work is critical to demonstrating effectiveness and safety before moving ahead with any clinical trial

News From The Doctors 2015

1. Dr. Konno published his work on bladder cancer and the anti-cancer effect of herbal drugs in an important journal, citing "Seize the Ribbon" support in the acknowledgements.

2. Dr. Valera submitted his research on a new drug in bladder cancer at last weeks' Society of Urologic Oncology meeting in Washington.  There were 200 abstracts submitted and Vladimir's work was chosen as 1st prize for his session.   Besides Vladimir, the other 6 awardees were from the Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloane Kettering, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Georgia.  "Pretty good company". 

News From The Doctors 2014

Dr.Philips was explaining while walking together during Seize the Ribbon walk-a-thon ...Here is a short synopsis of the current in-vivo work: 

Extracts of maitake mushrooms called the maitake D-fraction (PDF) appear to synergize with vitamin C (VC) in producing an anti-tumor effect. We are currently determining whether there is a tissue- and dose-specific effect of the PDF/VC combination in a controlled murine model. A Phase III trial is being established to determine whether PDF/VC decreases the recurrence and/or progression rate of superficial bladder cancers. The target of PDF/VC appears to be cell cycle regulatory proteins, p21 and p53. We aim to determine whether tumor expression of these two molecules, or the expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-III (FGFR-III) predicts responsiveness to PDF/VC. 

Extracts of maitake mushrooms called the maitake D-fraction (PDF) appear to synergize with vitamin C (VC) in producing an anti-tumor effect. We are currently determining whether there is a tissue- and dose-specific effect of the PDF/VC combination in a controlled murine model. A Phase III trial is being established to determine whether PDF/VC decreases the recurrence and/or progression rate of superficial bladder cancers. The target of PDF/VC appears to be cell cycle regulatory proteins, p21 and p53. We aim to determine whether tumor expression of these two molecules, or the expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-III (FGFR-III) predicts responsiveness to PDF/VC.

HELPFUL SITES AND INFORMATION-

We are working on getting more information from users of Bladder products.Please send us an email or post on Seize the ribbon facebook page to recommend products 


Wellspect.com- When catheterization becomes a part of your life

Catheter underwear & panties are avalable with Pockets!

Different catheters are available!

Did you know: Over 81,000 will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in a year

Signs-Blood in the urine, Painful urination, Urgent need to urinate, Feeling the need but not able to urinate
Symptoms-Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Lower back pain, Appetite or weight loss
 
Risk Factors-Smoking, Race, gender and age, Medical history of cancer, Chronic bladder inflammation


 

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