Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard (MRCT Center), in partnership with the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, present Equity by Design in Clinical Research: Cancer Trials.
The weekly webinar series will be held from 4:30 to 6:00 pm ET, March 8 through April 14. Click below for more details and registration information.
AACI Update | March 2022
Headlines
Park Named New Director of VICC
Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, Cornelius Abernathy Craig Professor of Medicine, and deputy director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), has been named the center’s new director. Park will begin serving in this role on July 1, when he succeeds longtime VICC director Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, who is assuming a new leadership role with Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Register Now for PCLI Career Development Webinar
The AACI Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative (PCLI) will host "Career Development: Making the Transition From Training to Clinician Investigator" at 1:00 pm eastern time on Wednesday, March 9. The panel includes physicians who have achieved success in launching clinical research early in their careers who will provide examples of challenges and solutions as well as early career and transition advice.
Op-Ed: Ending Cancer As We Know It
On February 17, an opinion piece co-authored by AACI President Caryn Lerman, PhD, and Vice President/President-elect Robert A. Winn, MD, appeared on TheHill.com. In "Ending Cancer As We Know It," Drs. Lerman and Winn described the progress made in cancer research since the National Cancer Act was signed into law in 1971. They also called for Congress to invest in cancer research to support President Biden's renewed commitment to the Cancer Moonshot.
AACI Applauds President Biden's Revamped Moonshot
Last month President Joe Biden announced a relaunch of the White House Cancer Moonshot. To implement the plan, the administration will convene a "cancer cabinet" of government officials with the goal of cutting the cancer death rate in half within 25 years.
Pictured, President Biden and AACI Executive Director Jennifer W. Pegher at the White House, February 2, 2022.
Reminder: CRI Abstract Deadline is March 14
The AACI CRI Steering Committee is currently soliciting abstracts for the 14th Annual AACI CRI Meeting. This year’s meeting theme will focus on innovation in cancer clinical research. The deadline to submit an abstract is 5:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, March 14.
Join AACI to Advocate for Cancer Research Funding
AACI will jointly host its annual Hill Day with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) on Wednesday, June 15. All faculty and staff of AACI cancer centers are invited to spend the day advocating for a strong federal investment in biomedical research—and cancer research in particular—through the NIH and the NCI. Registration for the virtual Hill Day will open in April. In the meantime, we encourage AACI members to contact your legislators and urge them to pass the FY 2022 budget and fund the NCI at an appropriate level.
Patient Resource Assists With Retaining and Acquiring New Cancer Patients
"After implementing Patient Resource Guides, 60 percent of patients who came from other cancer programs for a second opinion selected our center to receive their care." - Mark S. Roh, MD, Former President of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center Orlando Health (now Orlando Health Cancer Institute)
For more information, contact Amy Galey.
News from the Centers
Fleisher Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH, associate research professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Fox Chase Cancer Center, was recently recognized with the Lillie D. Shockney Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators.
Chinnaiyan Awarded Sjoberg Prize
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Arul M. Chinnaiyan, MD, PhD, was awarded the 2022 Sjöberg Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which also awards Nobel Prizes. He is being honored for the discovery of recurrent gene fusions in prostate cancer.
Incoming AUA President Continuing Leadership Tradition
Wilmot Cancer Institute, UR Medicine
When Edward Messing, MD, FACS, assumes the American Urological Association (AUA) presidency in May 2022, he will follow in the footsteps of other leaders in the field from the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Cardio-Oncology Recognized for Excellence
Siteman Cancer Center
The Washington University Cardio-Oncology Center at Siteman Cancer Center has been recognized by a leading international group. The center received designation as a Center of Excellence at the highest level, Gold, after a recent review by the International Cardio-Oncology Society.
Immersion Science Program Directors Win Education Award
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
The two leaders of the Immersion Science Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center, which allows students to explore science in a hands-on way while also providing valuable data to researchers, have received the Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education from the Genetics Society of America.
Researchers Named Young Investigator Award Winners
Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine
Yale Cancer Center is pleased to announce four 2021 Young Investigator Award winners selected by the American Journal of Hematology (AJH). The winners were selected among the manuscripts published in AJH on the basis of the scientific quality and originality of the work.
Faculty Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine
The American Society for Clinical Investigation has elected two Baylor College of Medicine faculty members to its new class of members. Katherine King, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics – infectious diseases, and Monica Gramatges, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics – oncology, are among 95 new members.
Hughes Named a Damon Runyon Fellow
Duke Cancer Institute
Elizabeth R. Hughes, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the Duke University School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, has been named a 2022 Robert Black Fellow by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Seven Researchers Named AAAS Fellows for 2021
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center is home to seven members selected as 2021 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These researchers are among 564 scientists, engineers and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines, recognized for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.
Siteman Reaccredited for Radiation Oncology
Siteman Cancer Center
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has reaccredited the radiation oncology practice at Siteman Cancer Center. After a comprehensive evaluation by ASTRO, Siteman completed the Accreditation Program for Excellence.
Bertozzi Awarded Wolf Prize in Chemistry
Stanford Cancer Institute
Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, has been jointly awarded the 2022 Wolf Prize in Chemistry for creating a new biochemical field of study and contributing to the understanding of the glycocalyx, a network of cellular molecules important to health and disease.
Largest Publicly Shared Gift for Liver Research Announced
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Virginia Commonwealth University will radically expand treatment options for liver and liver-related metabolic diseases thanks to a historic $104 million gift from Richard Todd Stravitz, MD, and his family’s Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation.
More Than $15.6 Million Received in CPRIT Funding
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Researchers with the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine have been awarded more than $15.6 million in grants by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support cancer research, treatment, and prevention for underserved populations.
International Colorectal Cancer Study Receives $10 Million
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
An international study of colorectal cancer called the ColoCare study has received a five-year renewal and $10 million to fuel new innovations in colorectal cancer treatment. This next phase of the project will focus on developing new medical interventions based on earlier research findings from the ColoCare study.
Thompson to Step Down
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Craig B. Thompson, MD, has announced his intention to step down as president and chief executive officer of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Thompson will continue in his role until the Boards of Trustees and Governing Trustees identify his successor.
Mark Foundation Appoints DuBois Executive Chairman
Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina
Raymond N. (Ray) DuBois, MD, PhD, will join the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research as executive chairman of the board. He will assume his role at the Mark Foundation in addition to his current role as director of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and Distinguished University Professor at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Pietenpol Named Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, is stepping down on June 30 to focus on a combined leadership role for Vanderbilt University Medical Center as chief scientific and strategy officer.
Director Named for Phase I Clinical Trials and Investigational Therapeutics
Rutgers Cancer Institute
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has named Sanjay Goel, MD, MS, as director of its Phase I/Investigational Therapeutics Program. He is also a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Opyrchal Named Inaugural Chair in Breast Cancer Discovery
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Mateusz Opyrchal, MD, PhD, is the inaugural Vera Bradley Foundation Chair in Breast Cancer Discovery in the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. He will also co-lead the cancer center’s Experimental and Development Therapeutics research program and direct the solid tumor Phase I program.
Associate Director of Women's Cancers Named
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
Stephanie Blank, MD, has been named associate director of women’s cancers for The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai. In this role, Dr. Blank will be instrumental in encouraging translational research for women’s cancers.
Cancer Clinical Trials Office Welcomes New Medical Director
University of Colorado Cancer Center
Marie Wood, MD, has been named the medical director of the cancer clinical trials office at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. She completed medical school and fellowship training at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and returns to Colorado from the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
Cancer Consortium Announces New Leadership
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Mignon Loh, MD, and Elizabeth M. Swisher, MD, have been appointed deputy directors of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium. They replace Nancy E. Davidson, MD, who will continue as senior vice president and director of Fred Hutch’s clinical research division, president and executive director of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and chief of medical oncology at University of Washington.
Gehrig to Chair Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Virginia Cancer Center
Paola A. Gehrig, MD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She joins UVA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serves as principal investigator on a National Cancer Institute grant to study ovarian cancer.
Messersmith Named CMO of Oncology Services
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center leader Wells Messersmith, MD, has been named chief medical officer of oncology services at UCHealth. He will oversee cancer care at all UCHealth locations with a focus on expanding advanced treatments and the clinical trials UCHealth offers in partnership with the CU Cancer Center.
Nguyen Named Associate Director for DEI
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Tung Nguyen, MD, has been named associate director for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Nguyen will lead the cancer center's ongoing efforts to build and train a workforce that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable.
New Chief Clinical Operating Officer Named
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Vince Jensen has been appointed chief clinical operating officer for City of Hope. He will lead clinical operations on the institution’s main campus, as well as throughout its network of care locations in Southern California.
Oncologist Advances Innovative Clinical Trials for Breast Cancer
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health
Nancy Chan, MD, a medical oncologist who treats people with breast cancer, joined NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center in September 2021 after spending seven years at Rutgers Cancer Institute as the co-leader of breast oncology.
Drug Combination Trial Shows Promising Results in Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
A Phase II study led by Anwaar Saeed, MD, and investigators at The University of Kansas Cancer Center shows promising efficacy in people with metastatic colorectal cancer who have tried standard systemic chemotherapy, but it did not work.
With Personalized Medicine, a Shelved Cancer Drug Could Get Another Shot
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
A study by VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers shows that triplatin is effective against triple negative breast cancer. Triplatin, a 30-year-old drug, has faced a bumpy road on the path to Food and Drug Administration approval, but this study offers a new insight that could finally help to get it over the finish line.
Genome Study Finds Unexpected Variation in Fundamental RNA Gene
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
A genome study undertaken by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers, directed by Marikki Laiho, MD, PhD, looking for variants in a gene considered a fundamental building block for microscopic structures that synthesize proteins took a surprising twist.
New Brain Metastases Guidelines to Improve Care, Patient Survival
University of Virginia Cancer Center
New guidelines for treating cancers that have spread to the brain are poised to improve care for patients and help many live longer, better lives. The new guidelines come from an expert panel assembled by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, including UVA Cancer Center’s David Schiff, MD.
Sequencing Study Unlocks Mystery of Multiple Myeloma
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Using advanced cell sequencing technology and state-of-the-art imaging techniques, researchers at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have provided a molecular and biological explanation for multiple myeloma, discovering that different myeloma clones can be present in a single patient.
Immunotherapy Before Liver Cancer Surgery Can Kill Tumor, and Likely Residual Cancer Cells
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
Immunotherapy given before surgery caused liver cancer tumors to die off in one-third of the patients enrolled in a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, Mount Sinai researchers report. The Phase II trial results suggested that the neoadjuvant immunotherapy may kill not only the tumor, but also microscopic cancer cells that surgery would miss.
Stem Cell Discoveries Hold Potential to Improve Cancer Treatment
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
Two recent discoveries by stem cell scientists at Cedars-Sinai may help make cancer treatment more efficient and shorten the time it takes for people to recover from radiation and chemotherapy.
Membranes Help Researchers Capture Tiny, Telltale Vesicles
Wilmot Cancer Institute, UR Medicine
Researchers from the University of Rochester and University of Chicago teamed up for one of the first known projects to successfully isolate and study extracellular vesicles (EVs). They adapted nanomembranes from the lab of James McGrath, PhD, in a microfluidic cross-flow filtration system to capture and study individual EVs.
Novel Transplant Approach Improves Odds for Leukemia Patients
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
In the latest and largest study yet of a novel technique for treating leukemia patients, researchers have affirmed that it dramatically reduces chronic graft vs. host disease in those receiving blood stem cell transplants.
Fungal Pathway Leads Researchers to New Treatment Target for Pancreatic Cancer
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Scientists at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a potential new target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The study outlines the team’s discovery of a fungus-activated pathway that fuels the production of a molecule present in cancerous cells in the pancreas.
Researchers Make New Findings About How to Test Cancer-Fighting Drugs
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine are discovering new ways to find out how effective a drug might be against cancer. Their findings are detailed in a paper that "completely changes the way we need to collect tumor tissues and test for drug sensitivity," said Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD, a senior author of the paper.
Study Explores New Path to Treat Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine
A new study by researchers at Yale Cancer Center shows inhibition of the CECR2 gene prevents triple-negative breast cancer from advancing or metastasizing. The discovery is an early step in finding new therapeutics for triple-negative breast cancer.
Immune Cells Leave 'Fingerprints' on Tumors Metastasized to the Brain
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Using data from over 100,000 malignant and non-malignant cells from 15 human brain metastases, UCSF researchers have revealed two functional archetypes of metastatic cells across seven different types of brain tumors, each containing both immune and non-immune cell types.
Rural Residents Perceive More Cancer-Related Information Overload Than Urban Residents
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Compared to U.S. urban adults, rural adults were more likely to think fatalistically about cancer and feel overwhelmed by information about cancer prevention, according to recently published results.
Trametinib is Potential New Standard-of-Care for Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
A study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported that the MEK inhibitor trametinib reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 52 percent compared to standard-of-care therapies for the treatment of low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.
Oncologist Shares His Own Cancer Experiences in Podcast
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health
When Abraham Chachoua, MD, walks into a patient’s room, he stays for a while. His patients are an extension of his family, and he loves to tell funny stories about his life and make them laugh. "Being a doctor is more than just prescribing medication," says Dr. Chachoua, who learned this lesson early on.
Clinical Research Center Celebrates Decade of Investigational Science
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Ten years ago, the University of Kansas Clinical Research Center opened its doors. The facility looked like a building in a suburban office park, not a place where science could change lives. But looks can be deceiving.
High Levels of PFAS Found in Anti-Fogging Sprays and Cloths
Duke Cancer Institute
The anti-fogging sprays and cloths many people use to prevent condensation on their eyeglasses when wearing a mask or face shield may contain high levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), a new Duke University-led study finds.
Study: Antibody Response Varies by Tumor Type and Treatment
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
Dual studies by Cedars-Sinai Cancer researchers have found significant differences in the durability of antibody responses and frequency of breakthrough cases in patients who are undergoing cancer treatments and receive certain COVID-19 vaccinations. They also found that adverse symptoms experienced after vaccination varied by tumor type and treatment.
Prior Treatment With Cancer Drug Likely Renders COVID-19 Vaccine Ineffective
Stanford Cancer Institute
People who have been treated with the cancer drug rituximab, or similar drugs, respond poorly or not at all to subsequent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, according to a study by researchers at Stanford Medicine. In contrast, vaccination immediately prior to such treatments can generate a months-long, durable antibody response, the study found.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Prevalent Even Among Vaccinated
UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Researchers with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Office of Community Health and Research recently published four articles on a study they conducted that found that many adults in Arkansas receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are doing so despite experiencing some doubts about the shot.
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Meeting Announcements
Equity by Design in Clinical Research: Cancer Trials
March 8, 2022
Annual Midwest Tumor Microenvironment Meeting
May 23, 2022
7th Midwest Tumor Microenvironment Meeting at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Sponsors:
NIH NCI
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
KU Cancer Biology
KU Otolaryngology
School of Medicine Bohan Visiting Professor Program
LGBTQ+ Cancer Symposium
June 2, 2022
This symposium is the first of its kind to center the science and voices of LGBTQ+ people on cancer care, community engagement and policies that influence health disparities. Cedars-Sinai Cancer’s mission recognizes that by examining the intersection of sexual orientation, gender and cancer, we can better prevent, detect and cure cancer.
AACI/AACR Virtual Hill Day
June 15, 2022
Save the date for the 2022 AACI/AACR Virtual Hill Day. More details to come.
14th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
July 12, 2022
The AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) program serves as a network for research leaders to develop and share best practices for the efficient operation of clinical trials offices (CTO) at AACI cancer centers. The programming of the 14th Annual AACI CRI Meeting, “Partnering in Progress,” aligns with CRI's strategic goal of stimulating cancer center interactions to maximize resources by creating opportunities for peer-to-peer networking and collaboration.
The health and safety of meeting attendees is of paramount importance. AACI continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health guidelines. We are currently planning for an in-person event and will implement protective measures in accordance with current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the City of Chicago. A virtual option is available to those unable to attend in person.
Please visit the meeting website for more information on COVID-19 masking, vaccination, and testing policies:
Health and Safety Measures
FAQ
AACI reserves the right to revise vaccination, masking, and testing policies based on evolving public health recommendations, and will notify attendees of any changes as soon as possible.
2022 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
October 2, 2022
AACI cancer centers form North America's cancer research infrastructure and are hubs of critical discoveries, treatment advances and improvements in patient care. AACI and the Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) jointly formulated the program for the 2022 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting.
This three-day event convenes AACI cancer center members with national cancer research and advocacy groups, industry, and government health agencies to develop solutions to common challenges. No other program presents information on cancer research and patient care issues as they pertain to the leaders of the nation's cancer centers and provides those leaders with a forum to discuss common issues with their peers.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) is jointly provided by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and AACI. Your participation in this national meeting helps us chart a course for AACI's work on behalf of its cancer center network. We look forward to hosting you and your colleagues for this always innovative and high-quality educational experience.