Angelika Burger, Ph.D., professor of Pharmacology and Oncology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine and director of the Translational Research Laboratory at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, died May 3 of cancer.

Dr. Burger was a gifted researcher whose efforts helped ensure that work in the lab could swiftly reach patients. She contributed to significant advances in the treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of invasive breast cancer.

She worked as part of a team involving researchers from Karmanos, Cardiff University in Great Britain and the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto to design a series of compounds based on Disulfiram -- typically used to treat alcoholism -- and found that one of the compounds was more potent than DSF itself in inhibiting an enzyme that spurs the growth of breast cancers. More than 50 percent of invasive breast cancers have the presence of the enzyme that could be treated by the DSF-derived compound.

Dr. Burger presented at the 2009 American Association for Cancer Research’s 100th Annual Meeting, highlighting those research advancements in the treatment of aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Her research efforts were recognized in 2009 when she received the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Heroes of Breast Cancer Scientific Distinction Award.

“I am honored and deeply touched by receiving the 2009 Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Heroes of Breast Cancer Scientific Distinction Award,” Dr. Burger said at the time. “This honor motivates me and my team to work even harder on finding and developing new treatments for breast cancer patients.”