J. Richard Crout, MD - Bethesda, MD, USA

Background: Former clinical associate at the National Heart Institute, Bethesda, NIH, (1957-60) and postdoctoral trainee at NYU- Bellevue and Harvard Medical School (1960-63). Academic years at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Michigan State College of Human Medicine (1963-71).

Helped develop the methodology for, and pioneered the use of, urinary metanephrines as a screening method for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma; studied the turnover and metabolism of catecholamines in pheochromocytomas.

Former Deputy Director and Director of the Bureau of Drugs (now Center for Drug Evaluation and Research), FDA (1971-82). Former Vice-president for Medical and Scientific Affairs, Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceutical Corporation (now merged with Roche Laboratories) (1984-1993). Retired and consulting part-time since then. Former member of boards of Genetics Institute, GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Genelabs Technologies, Biopure Corp.; current member of board of Trimeris. Inc.

Special Interests: Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, drug regulatory policy, development of new drugs and biologics.

David I Smith, PhD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USAA

Background: Ph.D. 1978 The University of Wisconsin in Madison. Postdoctoral fellow at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1978-1981) and at the University of California, Irvine (1981-1984). First academic appointment: Wayne State University in Detroit, MI (1984-1996). Rose to the rank of full Professor (1994) and was the Director of the Molecular Oncology Program of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center. Joined the Mayo Clinic in 1996 as a Professor and Consultant and the Director of the Cancer Genetics Program of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Currently the Director of the Cancer Genetics Program and the Co-Director of the Ovarian Cancer Program of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Chairman of the Research Technology Subcommittee of the Mayo Clinic that oversees 12 Core Laboratories that support researchers of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

Supported by grant from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense to study the role of genomic instability in the development of cancer. Research focuses on the role of the common fragile sites in genomic instability and their contribution to cancer development and metastasis.

Research also focuses on the utilization of Gene Expression Microarrays to identify important genes and pathways involved in the development of ovarian and cervical cancer. Working to coordinate the efforts of the Microarray Core Facility of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine with statistical and bioinformatics support personnel to extract meaningful data from DNA microarrays.

Special Interests: Understanding the genetics of cancer development. Utilizing state-of-the-art methodologies to characterize cancer development and to delineate important therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.

Mary Peebels - Johnston City, IL, USA

Background: My experience is with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes. My family has a background in dealing with several forms of these syndromes. I have MEN2A, with personal experience dealing with pheochromocytoma, recovered from blindness as a result of strokes, medullary thyroid cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, a brain tumor, kidney cancer, and parathyroid tumors with hyperparathyroidism. I plan to survive all of these illnesses and lead a productive life.

Founder and Webmaster, Pheochromocytoma Group Members Site; Founder and Webmaster, Pheochromocytoma Organization; Founder and webmaster, Pheochromocytoma Support Board.

Personal Website: A Support Site for Endocrine Problems

Special Interests: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 and phechromocytoma patient support.

Debra R Harlander - Camden, NY, USA

Background: Experience includes working in the medical field as a Medical Assistant and Office Manager. Before leaving the medical field in 2000 to pursue a degree in Advertising Photography, I also worked as Medical Transcriptionist for a local hospital.

My personal experience includes an adrenalectomy in 1997 for positive biochemical and radiographic findings of pheochromocytoma. Negative pathology and return of pheo-like symptoms within 6 months of surgery has led to years of testing. Presently enrolled in the pseudopheochromocytoma study at the National Institutes of Health.

Through personal research and a desire to help others I am a Founder of the Pheochromocytoma Organization and Pheochromocytoma Support Board.

Special Interests: Phechromocytoma and pseudopheochromcytoma patient support.

Joyce Wilcox Graff, MA, - Brookline, MA, USA

Background: Executive Director, VHL Family Alliance and the VHL Fund for Cancer Research. Co-founder and one of the leaders of the VHL Family Alliance since 1993, Joyce Graff is the editor of the VHL Handbook and the VHL Family Forum newsletter.Ê She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Cornell University, and a management degree from Babson College.Ê She retired in 2002 after 21 years in the computer industry, where she served most recently as a Vice President of Gartner Inc., to focus her passion and skill "where her heart is", on working toward better management and ultimately a cure for von Hippel-Lindau (VHL).Ê VHL is one of the leading causes of pheochromocytoma and other tumors of the retina, brain, spinal cord, kidney, and pancreas.

Special Interests: Timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment for pheochromocytoma, hemangioblastoma, kidney cancer, and other tumors, especially those found in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.