About Cancer Research Center

The Cancer Research Center began operation in April, 1962, in Columbia, Missouri.

It began business on the Ellis Fischel Hospital campus. With city, state, federal and private donations, the seven-acre tract of land west of the hospital was transformed. In 1968, the A.P. Green building was constructed–becoming the home of the Women’s Cancer Control Program in 1979. In 1975, the adjacent J.M. “Tom” Allton laboratory building was constructed. CRC remained at this site until January, 1988 when it purchased a six-acre tract of land just north of the Columbia Regional Hospital on Berrywood Drive. An additional 2500 square feet of laboratory space was added to the south wing of the building in July, 1988.

Many people know CRC for its research, but we do a lot more. We also offer community outreach programs to educate church groups, civic clubs and other organizations about our research and cancer prevention.

Frequently asked questions are:

• Is cancer contagious?
• Can cancer be caused by an injury?
• Are all cancers inherited?
• Is cancer a disease of the elderly?
• Does personality or stress cause cancer?
• Is cancer always painful?
• Does cancer mean certain death?

Cancer Research Center Staff

Dr. Abe Eisenstark

Dr. Abe Eisenstark is Research Director of the Cancer Research Center. Before joining the CRC he was Byler Distinguished professor and director of the division of Biological Sciences, University Of Missouri-Columbia. He also served as program director of the Molecular Biology Section, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. His research activities include years of collaborative research at other institutions, including universities at Copenhagen, Denmark; Leicester, England; Paris, France; Leiden, Netherlands; and Brookhaven National Laboratories. He is a native of Kansas City, MO and is a graduate of Central High School. He received his B.S., M.S and Ph.D. in Microbiology from the university of Illinois. He is married to the former Joan Ragsdell of Columbia. Eisenstark is the father of three children.

Marnie Clark

Marnie Clark is the Director of the CRC and has been with the organization for nearly 15 years. She has served as Development Director from 1994 to 1999, and was a member of CRC’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2001 while working at William Woods University. She has extensive experience in public relations and association management. Marnie is a member of Columbia Metro Rotary, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxillary, Columbia Elks Lodge and Cosmopolitan Luncheon Club. She is an active member ofthe Columbia Chamber of Commerce where she has chaired the Chamber Ambassadors, as well as various committees. She was a 2003 recipient of the 40 under 40 in Columbia Award and is a graduate of Leadership Columbia. She earned a BFA degree from William Woods College. Marnie lives in Fulton with her husband Michael and their children, Bailey, Brian, Dustin and Austin.

Jack Bozarth

Jack Bozarth is Director of Development at the Cancer Research Center. He is responsible for fundraising and public affairs. Jack is a retired Air Force Officer who was the Public Affairs Officer for the Commissioner of Military Affairs for the State Of Alaska. He is married to the former Ann Freese of Columbia and has three children and two grandchildren. Born in Kansas City and raised in Raytown, Missouri, Jack is a graduate of Central Missouri State University and was awarded a MA degree by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Jack is a member if the Columbia Elks Lodge No. 594, Missouri Aerie 2730 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Columbia Kiwanis Club.

Dr. Robert Kazmierczak

Dr. Robert Kazmierczak is the Raymond W. Freese Fellow at the CRC. He received his BS in Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin, studying regulation of Vitamin B12 production by Salmonella enteria (serovar Typhimurium) and interning at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals. He earned his MS and Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Illinois, during which time he held a NIH Cell and Molecular Biology Training Grant fellowship to research chronic viral infections. He later studied at Washington University in St. Louis. At the CRC, he is conducting research to characterize and develop therapeutic Salmonella enterica as a treatment for prostate cancer.

Alison Fea

Alison Fea is the Senior Technician and Laboratory Manager of the Cancer Research Center. Prior to joining the CRC in 2002, Alison left her native New Jersey to attend Stephens College in Columbia, MO after graduating Sparta High School in Sparta, NJ. During her time as an undergraduate, Alison served as the Chemistry Laboratory Assistant for Stephens’ Natural Science Department, and served as an officer in several honor societies including Mortar Board and Beta Beta Beta. The summer of her junior year she was elected to membership in the Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, for her HIV-1 research work as an infectious disease intern to Galveston, TX. Alison completed her Stephens’s career in 2002 graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Alison is the oldest of three and her family now resides in Kansas City, MO.

Alycia McGee

Alycia McGee joined the CRC team in the summer of 2008. Since day one Alycia has been hard at work handling everything from our extensive donor database to combining her photographic and graphic arts talents to give the CRC Annual Report a new look. She was born in Mexico, MO where her father still resides. Alycia graduated from Centralia High School and earned her Bachelor’s degree at Columbia College. Through the years, she found her passion for photography after the loss of her mother to breast cancer. Since then, she has worn the hats of an artist, a photographer and an office manager and is proud to combine all of her talents at CRC. She resides on a quiet little street in southern Columbia.