Save the date for the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center's 2-day Gordon Ginder Innovations in Cancer Symposium: Liver Cancer and MASH, presented by Massey's ELEVATE P01 Program and the VCU Stravitz-Sanyal Institute. Registration coming soon.
AACI Update | November 2026
Headlines
Drapkin Named President and CEO of The Wistar Institute
Koong Named Director of UT MD Anderson
UT MD Anderson has appointed Albert Koong, MD, PhD, as cancer center director, effective October 1. Dr. Koong, who previously served as UT MD Anderson's chief scientific officer, will also act as principal investigator on the center’s National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). The recently renewed CCSG will provide nearly $80 million over seven years to support infrastructure for clinical research, community outreach and engagement, and research training and education.
El-Khoueiry Appointed Director of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Anthony B. El-Khoueiry, MD, has been named director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, effective November 1. Prior to the appointment, Dr. El-Khoueiry served as associate director for clinical research, medical director of the Clinical Investigations Support Office and Chief of Section of Developmental Therapeutics/Phase I program at USC Norris. He is a medical oncologist with Keck Medicine of USC and has led numerous clinical trials.
AACI Mourns Dr. Rachna Shroff, Whose Legacy Includes Endowment for Biliary Cancer Research
Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO, an internationally renowned expert in cholangiocarcinoma, leader at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and valued AACI friend and colleague, has died. Her campaign to endow the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancer exceeded its $1.35 million goal before her passing. AACI shares its condolences and fondly remembers her contributions to the cancer research community.
AACI Announces New Treasurer, Finance & Investment Committee Member
Pictured, L to R: Julie C. Schaum and Nicholas Fisher
Julie C. Schaum, MS, of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has assumed the role of AACI treasurer. She succeeds David M. Gosky, MA, MBA, of Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health. AACI also welcomes Nicholas Fisher, MBA, of Siteman Cancer Center, as a new member of the Finance & Investment Committee.
Global Competition in Clinical Research Takes Center Stage at 2026 Annual Meeting
All photos by Randy Belice
AACI is grateful to over 400 registered attendees, representing 95 cancer centers, who joined us October 25-27 in Chicago for the 2026 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting. The 2026 Annual Meeting Program Committee, led by Candace S. Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, designed engaging, educational content, with global competitiveness in clinical research appearing as a common theme throughout the three-day meeting.
AACI GR Forum Highlights Clinical Trial Innovation, Federal Policy Priorities
Photo credit: Randy Belice
AACI held its annual Government Relations (GR) Forum on Monday, October 26, in conjunction with the 2026 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting in Chicago. Eighty-one registered attendees gathered to discuss emerging federal policy issues, efforts to strengthen U.S. leadership in biomedical research, and the upcoming midterm elections. The forum was led by GR Steering Committee Chair Catherine Liao, Duke Cancer Institute.
Expanded Networking Opportunities Connect 2026 AACI LDW Attendees With Peers, Mentors
Photo credit: Randy Belice
Emerging cancer center leaders gathered October 24-25 in Chicago for AACI’s Leadership Development Workshop (LDW), a two-day program pairing cancer center-specific leadership skills training with direct access to the directors and executives leading many of North America’s top cancer centers.News from the Centers
U-M Researchers Elected to National Academy of Medicine
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
University of Michigan faculty members, Diane M. Harper, MD, MPH, MS, and Jacqueline Jeruss, MD, PhD, were elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest distinctions in health and medicine. Dr. Harper is an internationally recognized physician-scientist in cervical cancer prevention and Dr. Jeruss focuses her clinical practice on caring for patients with benign and malignant breast disease.
Ferraro Named Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator
Siteman Cancer Center
Francesca Ferraro, MD, PhD, a WashU Medicine researcher and medical oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center, has received a 2026 Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award. The grant, given by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, supports early-career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented research.
Siteman Awarded $11.7M to Research Inflammation in Blood Cancers
Siteman Cancer Center
WashU Medicine researchers at Siteman Cancer Center have received an $11.7 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to study the role of inflammation in myeloproliferative neoplasms, a group of blood cancers characterized by an overproduction of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. Stephen T. Oh, MD, PhD, is principal investigator.Fred Hutch Receives $3.5M NIH Grant to Study Graft-vs.-Host Disease Prevention
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
A five-year, $3.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) U01 collaborative research grant was awarded to Fred Hutch hematologist Marco Mielcarek, MD, PhD, and collaborators at the NIH and City of Hope to support research into whether a lower dose of the drug cyclophosphamide after transplant can prevent graft-vs.-host disease with fewer side effects.
KUCC Receives $2.1M NCI Grant for Cancer Education and Career Programs
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
The University of Kansas Cancer Center has received a $2.1 million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute to expand cancer education, research experiences, and career development opportunities for students and teachers across Kansas and western Missouri.Hendifar Appointed Interim Director, Figlin Assumes Associate Dean Role at Cedars-Sinai
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
Andrew Hendifar, MD, was appointed interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, while his predecessor, Robert Figlin, MD, assumed a new role as associate dean of Cedars-Sinai Cancer Care. As interim director, Dr. Hendifar will continue building the academic cancer program based on excellence in clinical care, research, and teaching. As associate dean, Dr. Figlin will serve as a senior adviser and institutional leader.Washington Named Chief Operating Officer of AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion
The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
UChicago Medicine has appointed Kimyatta Washington as chief operating officer of the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion, expanding her leadership responsibilities as the health system prepares to open the 575,000-square-foot facility in April 2027. She will continue to serve as vice president and chief administrative officer of cancer services.
MECCC Establishes New Cancer Leadership Roles
Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center
Amit K. Verma, MD, MBBS, was appointed as deputy director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center in a slate of senior leadership announcements. Other appointments include Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, PhD, as associate director of basic science; Marina Konopleva MD, PhD, as associate director of translational science; H. Dean Hosgood, PhD, as associate director for population and community sciences; Wenjun Guo, PhD, as co-leader of the Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Program; and Aditi Shastri, MD, as co-leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Program.
AI Breast Cancer Survival Model Could Improve Accuracy and Personalize Care
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
New University of Cincinnati Cancer Center research published in the Journal of Statistical Theory and Practice describes the potential for a more robust and accurate breast cancer survival model using a combination of statistical methods and a deep learning framework that could give physicians a better tool to make personalized care decisions for each patient.
Clinical Trial to Evaluate Blood Test for Early Detection of Breast Cancer
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Researchers at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center have launched a clinical trial to evaluate whether a liquid biopsy blood test can help detect breast cancer earlier than mammograms alone. The trial will assess whether the test, designed to detect rare cancer-associated cells as well as tumor-associated large extracellular vesicles, can be used alongside mammograms to identify cellular and molecular signs of early-stage breast cancer.Focused Ultrasound to Transform Brain Disease Treatment
UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center
A series of new scientific papers by Richard J. Price, PhD, and colleagues at UVA Health indicate focused ultrasound is rapidly nearing an "inflection point" that would radically change how we treat brain tumors and other neurological diseases. The technology is being explored for a wide variety of medical applications, including delivering gene therapies and other treatments through the brain’s natural protective barrier without using viruses.
Investigators Identify a Metabolic Weak Point in Exhausted Immune Cells in Head and Neck Cancer
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins researchers measured immune cell metabolism inside human tumors and identified a potential target to improve immunotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. A description of the work was published October 28 in Cancer Immunology Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.NCI-Funded Lab to Evaluate Nanotechnology Targeting Brain Metastatic Breast Cancer
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
An experimental nanoparticle developed by Lali Medina-Kauwe, PhD, and Cedars-Sinai investigators, has been selected for evaluation by the National Cancer Institute-funded Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory. The therapeutic nanoparticle, called HerDox2.0, targets metastatic breast cancer and delivers cancer treatment directly to tumors in the brain.
New AI Platform Helps Uncover Promising Cancer Drug Combinations
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
UCLA investigators have developed a new artificial intelligence-based platform that could help scientists identify promising drug combinations to overcome treatment resistance in cancer. The platform, called MAESTRO and described in Advanced Science, uses large language models to analyze scientific knowledge about how drugs work and the biological pathways cancer cells use to survive treatment. The system evaluates potential drug combinations, ranks the most promising candidates, and generates biological explanations that researchers can test in the laboratory.
Novel CAR T Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Shows Durable Responses
The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
A Phase I clinical trial led by investigators at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that an investigational CAR T therapy can lead to deep and durable responses in people with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Results are published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Pancreatic Cancer Uses Blood-Clotting System to Evade Attack
Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center
Researchers at the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center have found that small populations of pancreatic cancer cells can create localized immune-protective niches that shield tumors from immune attack. The findings, published in Nature with Brian D. Brown, PhD, as senior author, could open new avenues for making immunotherapy more effective against pancreatic cancer.Study Identifies Potential Drug Combination Strategy for Colorectal Cancer
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at ChristianaCare
A new study from researchers at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute identifies a potential way to make colorectal cancer more responsive to retinoids, compounds related to vitamin A that can help regulate how cells grow and mature. Reducing an overactive cancer-growth signal made several colorectal cancer models more responsive to retinoid-based drug combinations, according to the study published in Cancer Biology & Therapy.
Study: Sex Chromosomes Drive How Bodies Deal With Cancer
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
New research shows that X and Y chromosomes drive risk of diseases, including cancer, independent of hormones. A new review published in Science brings together growing evidence that the X and Y chromosomes not only determine sex, but also shape how cells function, age, and respond to disease. Understanding these mechanisms could drive sex-aware medicine.
Study: SurVaxM Extends Survival for Glioblastoma Patients 65 and Younger
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and MimiVax announced statistical significance in results for patients aged 65 and under with newly diagnosed glioblastoma following the phase 2b SURVIVE trial of SurVaxM. Researchers reported the immunotherapy extended median overall survival by 2.5 months across the full trial population. In the subpopulation of patients 65 and under, SurVaxM demonstrated a median overall survival of 24.2 months versus 20.2 months, and a significant benefit was seen in progression-free survival in the same subgroup, including improvement in progression-free survival at 12 months.Trial Shows Positive Results for Enhanced CAR T-Cell Therapy for B-Cell Blood Cancers
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
Results from a phase I clinical trial show enhanced chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy improved outcomes for patients with B-cell blood cancers. Researchers tested targeting three proteins and used another protein to boost immune response in patients. Data showed better outcomes for patients who have limited options after their B-cell blood cancer returned or previous therapy stopped working.Urine Test May Improve Bladder Cancer Diagnosis, Guide Treatment Decisions
Stanford Cancer Institute
Researchers developed a urine test that detects bladder cancer, predicts which patients will benefit from immunotherapy versus chemotherapy, and can confirm whether treatment worked. The test measures RNA messages shed by tumor cells into urine rather than hunting for cancer-related mutations in DNA as most blood and urine liquid biopsies do.Wistar Scientists Uncover Two-Pronged Strategy to Overcome Glioblastoma's Resistance to Immunotherapy
Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center of The Wistar Institute
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have identified a combination treatment that overcomes two of the biggest barriers to immunotherapy in glioblastoma. In a new study published in Neuro-Oncology, the researchers showed that reprogramming myeloid cells, a type of immune cell that glioblastoma tumors co-opt to protect themselves, while simultaneously boosting cancer-fighting T cells shrank the tumors and prevented them from coming back.Exclusive Trial Launched of 'Armored' CAR T Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Roswell Park and Generate Biomedicines, Inc. announced that the first patient has been dosed in a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating GB-5267, an investigational, autologous IL‑18–armored CAR T-cell therapy designed to overcome key barriers that have limited the success of cellular therapies in ovarian cancer and other solid tumors. The trial is recruiting patients whose disease has returned after treatment or does not respond to platinum-based chemotherapy, the standard firstline treatment.New Study Will Test Whether Probiotics Can Help Ovarian Cancer Patients Tolerate Chemotherapy
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
A new clinical trial at The James is testing whether probiotics can help reduce treatment side effects and improve quality of life for patients with ovarian cancer. Researchers will also study how changes in the gut microbiome, the bacteria and other organisms that live in the digestive tract, may be linked to treatment response.Newly Identified Prostate Cell Type May Help Explain Enlarged Prostate in Gland Region
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University have identified a distinct type of prostate cell that may help solve the long-standing mystery of why benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that commonly affects men as they age — develops almost exclusively in one region of the prostate. The previously unrecognized subtype of basal epithelial cell was highly concentrated in the region surrounding the urethra where BPH typically develops.Researchers ID Pathway Driving T-Cell Exhaustion in Cancer Immunotherapy
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center used a CRISPR screen to identify a key molecular pathway that drives exhaustion in cancer-fighting immune cells, limiting their ability to keep tumors under control. The study, authored by Justin Saco and Antoni Ribas, MD, found that blocking the pathway allowed engineered immune cells to stay active longer in preclinical models.
Study Identifies Why Some Patients Develop Severe Intestinal Inflammation After CAR T Therapy
Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center
Researchers have found biological mechanisms that may contribute to CAR T-cell-associated enterocolitis, an inflammatory condition that can occur after CAR T therapy for multiple myeloma. The study, published in Nature Medicine, showed that CAR T cells can persist in the intestinal tissue long after treatment. Study co-supervisor Samir Parekh, MD, says the findings point to potential strategies to prevent the complication.
First Patient Treated With Orca-T After FDA Approval
Stanford Cancer Institute
Stanford Medicine recently administered the world’s first commercial Orca-T treatment outside of clinical trials. Orca-T was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a phase 3 clinical trial found that 78% of Orca-T patients were free from moderate-to-severe graft-vs-host disease a year after transplant, compared with 38.4% of those who received the standard transplant.$10M Histotripsy Research Center Launched to Advance Sound Wave-Based Cancer Treatment
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
The University of Michigan Histotripsy Center opened September 10 with the ultimate goal of expanding use of a non-invasive, ultrasound-based cancer treatment. In an effort to accelerate the technology’s scientific and clinical progress and enable more patients to benefit faster, the histotripsy research center is open to researchers outside the University of Michigan at no cost.First UF Health Patient Receives Specialized Treatment for Advanced Colorectal Cancer
UF Health Cancer Institute
Pictured: Stephen Hutto with his wife, Angela Barksdale
An Ocala man is the first patient at University of Florida Health to receive a hepatic artery infusion, or HAI, pump. It’s an advanced treatment that implants a pump in the abdomen to directly target liver tumors.Rockefeller Cancer Institute Unveils State's First Lung Screening Fleet
UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Pictured: U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) with Rockefeller Cancer Institute Director Michael J. Birrer, MD, PhD
The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute launched the first lung cancer screening vans in Arkansas and an unprecedented statewide effort to reduce the state’s leading cause of cancer death.
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Read moreMeeting Announcements
Save the Date: Gordon Ginder Innovations in Cancer Symposium: ELEVATE Liver Cancer & MASH
April 8, 2027
Save the Date: 2027 AACI/AACR Hill Day
May 20, 2027
Save the date for the 2027 AACI/AACR Hill Day. More information to come.
Save the Date: 19th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
June 28, 2027
Save the date for the 19th Annual AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Meeting, June 28-30, 2027, at the Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL.
Save the Date: 2027 Catchment Area Data Excellence (CADEx) Conference
September 28, 2027
Save the date for the 2027 Catchment Area Data Excellence (CADEx) Conference, hosted by AACI in partnership with the Cancer Center Community Impact Forum. The conference will be held September 28-30, 2027, in Kansas City, MO. More information to come.
Save the Date: 2027 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
October 24, 2027
Save the date for the 2027 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting, October 24-26, 2027, in Washington, DC. More information to come.
Save the Date: 20th Annual AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Meeting
July 20, 2028
Save the date for the 20th Annual AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Meeting, June 20-22, 2028, at the Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL. More information to come.