VCU Massey Cancer Center will present the 1st Annual Catchment Area Data (CADA) Conference: Beyond Definition, December 7-9, in Richmond, VA. The conference is open to AACI members and all eligible staff, faculty, students, and post-doc trainees from cancer centers who provide education, resources, and support within their defined catchment area.
AACI Update | October 2023
Headlines
Winn is New AACI President; Sets Course for 'Inclusive Excellence' Initiative
Robert A. Winn, MD, director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, became AACI's president—the first person of color to hold the position—on October 3, at the conclusion of the 2023 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. During the meeting, Dr. Winn announced plans for his AACI Presidential Initiative, which aims to develop and promote inclusive excellence through regional, national, and international partnerships. He succeeds Immediate Past President Caryn Lerman, PhD, director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Sweasy Named Director of Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
Joann B. Sweasy, PhD, a comprehensive cancer center director and an expert in the genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry of DNA repair, has been named the next director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases. Dr. Sweasy is AACI's vice president/president-elect and served as director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center since 2019.
Bold Named Site Director at Mayo Arizona
Richard Bold, MD, has been named site director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Arizona. Dr. Bold joins Mayo Clinic from the University of California, Davis, where he has built an impressive career marked by excellence in patient care, innovative research, and dynamic leadership.
Montefiore Einstein Awarded Comprehensive Status
The newly renamed Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) has been awarded comprehensive designation by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the ultimate standard achieved by only 55 other NCI cancer centers in the U.S. As a result, MECCC was awarded a five-year, $20 million Cancer Center Support Grant. Edward Chu, MD, is the center's director and a member of AACI's 2023 Annual Meeting Program Committee.
Markey Cancer Center Attains NCI Comprehensive Designation
UK Markey Cancer Center has earned a National Cancer Institute (NCI) "Comprehensive" Cancer Center designation, the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI. Markey received an initial NCI designation in 2013. The center is led by B. Mark Evers, MD. In addition to achieving Comprehensive status, Markey was awarded $13.5 million through a five-year renewal of its NCI Cancer Center Support Grant.
AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting Promotes Diversity Goals for Cancer Centers
PCLI to Host Survivorship Webinar
The AACI Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative (PCLI) will host "A Practical Approach to Building a Survivorship Program" at 1:00 pm eastern time on Tuesday, November 14. Survivorship care should be included as a standard of care for all cancer survivors. This presentation will review the core aspects of a survivorship program and considerations to make it sustainable.
Pictured, clockwise from top right: Dr. Julie Vose, Dr. Laura Tenner, and Rachael Schmidt
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News from the Centers
Ramalingam Receives Award for Contributions to Thoracic Cancer Research
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, was awarded the Paul A. Bunn, Jr. Scientific Award at the 2023 IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Licht Named to Top Editorial Post
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
The American Society of Hematology has selected Jonathan D. Licht, MD, director of the UF Health Cancer Center, as the inaugural editor-in-chief of one of the newest additions to the Blood Journals portfolio, Blood Neoplasia. He was selected by the ASH Executive Committee after a competitive international search.
Moore Named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
Duke Cancer Institute
Angelo Moore, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director of the Duke Cancer Institute Office of Health Equity, has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Moore, along with four other nurses at Duke, is among 253 new fellows selected from across the country and internationally.
Das Elected New President of the Association of Northern California Oncologists
Stanford Cancer Institute
Stanford Cancer Institute member Millie Das, MD, was elected by the board of directors of the Association of Northern California Oncologists as its new president. A practicing thoracic oncologist, Dr. Das is chief of oncology at the Palo Alto VA, and clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University.
More Than $50 Million Provided for Employee-Generated Transformational Projects
Comprehensive Cancer Center St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will provide more than $50 million in funding to launch and implement six new groundbreaking projects. The initiatives were identified through the organization’s Blue-Sky program, which encourages the development of bold, transformational ideas by faculty and staff.
$24.8 Million in Federal Funding Fuels Research in Cancer and Immunology
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
A three-year, $24.8 million cooperative agreement from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will drive the development of a programmable approach to prevent, treat and potentially cure diseases including cancer. The funding supports work led by Winship member Philip Santangelo, PhD.
$11.6 Million SPORE Grant Supports Endometrial Cancer Research
Siteman Cancer Center
The National Cancer Institute has awarded Washington University researchers at Siteman Cancer Center a $11.6 million Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant. The five-year grant will fund research programs at Washington University, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
$11.5 Million Grant Received to Address Health Disparities Through Implementation Science
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
A new $11.5 million five-year federal grant will support researchers’ efforts to apply implementation science to ensure everyone benefits from the latest research advances. Implementation science aims to address the gap between what is known to be effective and what is actually done in the clinic.
$3.4 Million Awarded to Study Prostate Cancer in People With HIV
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
The National Cancer Institute has awarded the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a $3.4 million grant to create a model that identifies the best prostate cancer treatment for people with HIV.
SPORE Grant Awarded to Further Research on Radiosensitization
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
An interdepartmental group of researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center received a grant from the National Cancer Institute's SPORE, or Specialized Program of Research Excellence, to further research on radiosensitization.
Federal Grant Helps Fund CAR T-Cell Therapy Trial for B-Cell Malignancies
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
A five-year $3.04 million grant from the National Cancer Institute will help researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James study the effectiveness of a new triple-target cellular therapy they have developed to more effectively treat patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant B-cell malignancies.
NCI Awards $1.8 Million to Study Prevention of Major Chemotherapy Complications
UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researcher Amanda Stolarz, PharmD, PhD, recently received a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Stolarz is principal investigator on a study investigating possible prevention of a major complication from chemotherapy.
Researcher Receives Cancer Moonshot Award
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson
Hien Dang, PhD, is among an initial group of 11 early-career researchers who will receive five-year Cancer Moonshot awards to advance their work on cancers that affect socially disadvantaged populations most.
Daggubati Named Director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology
GW Cancer Center
Lekhaj Daggubati, MD, MS, has joined the GW Cancer Center as director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology. He specializes in malignant and benign nervous system tumors, focusing on minimally invasive cranial approaches, laser interstitial thermal therapy, radiosurgery, and endoscopic neurosurgery.
Mulkerin Elevated to Newly Created Leadership Position
Wilmot Cancer Institute, UR Medicine
Dan Mulkerin, MD, has been promoted to medical director and associate chief medical officer for Wilmot Cancer Institute. He joined the team at Wilmot two years ago from the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.
Spine Surgery Innovator Joins Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
Joseph H. Schwab, MD, MS, an internationally recognized leader in the diagnosis and treatment of complex orthopaedic and spinal oncology conditions, has joined Cedars-Sinai as the new director of spine oncology for orthopaedic surgery and the director of the Center for Surgical Technology and AI Research.
Ivey, Monari Take on New Leadership Roles
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
The UF Health Cancer Center has announced that Alison M. Ivey, RN, MS, MBA, OCN, CCRP, has been promoted to associate director for administration and chief administrative officer at the UF Health Cancer Center. Erin Monari, PhD, CCRP, has been named administrative director of the Clinical Research Office.
New Hire Announced for Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
Fox Chase Cancer Center is pleased to announce the hiring of Sara Small, MD, PhD, as an assistant professor in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies.
Three Researchers Join UCLA to Propel Cancer Research, Innovation
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Three new cancer researchers have joined the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center to spearhead initiatives aimed at advancing the understanding of cancer prevention and treatment: Mina Sedrak, MD, MS; Ya-Chen Tina Shih, PhD; and Paul Spellman, PhD.
Vice President of Patient Care Experience Named
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
A shining beacon of care, warmth, and hope to the patients and families who encounter her, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Kimberly Sweeney, MBA, RN, has been appointed vice president of patient care experience.
Surgeon Joins Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple Health announce the hiring of Randall A. Lee, MD, as an assistant professor in the Department of Urology and a member of the Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute.
New Medical Director Appointed in Beverly Hills
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
Hematologist/oncologist Kevin Scher, MD, MBA, an expert in patient-centric care with more than 10 years of experience on the Cedars-Sinai Cancer faculty, has been appointed medical director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Beverly Hills.
More Studies Needed to Understand True Impact of Microbiota on Cancer Development, Treatment
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
How microbiota impact cancer development and therapy has become an expansive area of research. Although a few associations have garnered support from the scientific community, studies describing microbiota’s disease-causing and therapeutic contributions with many cancers are still very much in the early stages.
New Insights Reported on Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Initial results from an in-progress Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center clinical trial offer important insights into hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2−) metastatic breast cancer and patient response to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Study Reveals Critical First Steps to Cancer
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
As cells grow and divide, their DNA needs to be accurately replicated and properly segregated to new cells. Errors during replication or segregation can alter the genome and promote cancer. Now, researchers have identified the mechanism by which the enzyme and tumor suppressor SETD2 prevents the propagation of these errors, thus safeguarding the integrity of the genome.
Compound d16 Reduces Tumor Growth and Overcomes Therapeutic Resistance in Mutant p53-Bearing Cancers
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new compound called d16 that can reduce tumor growth and overcome therapeutic resistance in mutant p53-bearing cancers in the lab.
Mutations in 11 Genes Associated With Aggressive Prostate Cancer Identified in New Research
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
An international research team led by scientists in the Center for Genetic Epidemiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has singled out mutations in 11 genes that are associated with aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Otolaryngologists Perform First Thigh Free Flap Surgery to Treat Aggressive Cancer
WVU Cancer Institute
Head and neck surgeons with WVU Medicine Otolaryngology and the WVU Cancer Institute have performed WVU Medicine’s first jaw reconstruction using a bone-containing thigh free flap to treat a patient with an aggressive form of oral cancer.
Study Finds Significant Chemical Exposures in Women With Cancer
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
In a sign that exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be playing a role in cancers of the breast, ovary, skin, and uterus, researchers have found that people who developed those cancers have significantly higher levels of these chemicals in their bodies.
CAR T-Cell Therapy Without Side Effects?
Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina
In a recently published paper, researchers showed that encoding the CAR T cells with instructions to create a hyperactive form of protein STAT5 prompted the CAR T cells to engraft, or take root and begin multiplying, without requiring lymphodepletion.
Most Non-English Speakers Turned Away Before First Cancer Visit, Study Finds
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
New research reveals an alarming lack of access for non-English speakers who called hospitals across the United States looking for information on cancer care. University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center researchers simulated patient calls to hospital general information lines, speaking English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Researchers Discover Molecular Signature for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
A molecular signature that predicts aggressive thyroid cancer could help guide treatment approaches for patients, according to a new study. Teams from three medical centers studied samples from a large group of patients with thyroid cancer to better understand thyroid cancer progression and to identify biomarkers for aggressive disease.
Study Could Help Explain Why Certain Brain Tumors Do Not Respond Well to Immunotherapy
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
A study led by researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center sheds new light on why tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body respond to immunotherapy while glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer that originates in the brain, does not.
Researchers Discover Iron-Targeting Approaches to Halt Proliferation of Cancer Cells
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center discovered a new class of iron-targeting compounds that hamper the proliferation of malignant cells. The discovery could lead to the development broad-spectrum, anticancer drugs that target iron metabolism.
150 Milestone: Robotic Procedure Changes Prostate Cancer Care
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
UCSF Health has performed 150 robotic focal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures for patients living with prostate cancer, becoming the first on the West Coast and the first UC Health System to reach that milestone. The HIFU technology uses ultrasound waves to destroy cancerous prostate tissue.
Cancer Center Program Connects Scientists to the Community
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
The boisterous Rollies Mexican Patio in Tucson may seem an unlikely place for a scientific talk, but for the University of Arizona Cancer Center’s outreach team it was the perfect venue to introduce their inaugural scientific café. The center’s Community Outreach and Engagement office developed the scientific cafés in collaboration with the center’s Research Outreach for Southern Arizona.
Advanced Melanoma Program Launches
Stanford Cancer Institute
The Stanford Cancer Institute is establishing the Stanford Advanced Melanoma Program. This effort involves assembling a team of experts, addressing the shortage of clinical trials, unlocking the power of immunotherapy, and launching a dedicated advanced melanoma lab.
Cancer Center Jobs
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Meeting Announcements
1st Annual Catchment Area Data Conference: Beyond Definition
December 7, 2023
2024 AACI Leadership Diversity and Development Workshop
March 12, 2024
The 2024 AACI Leadership Diversity and Development Workshop will be held March 12-13 at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL.
Registration for the workshop is now closed. Please contact AACI Director of Operations and Events Jaime Anderson or Events Manager Dawn Gobble with any questions about registration.
2024 AACI/AACR Hill Day
May 16, 2024
Register today for the 2024 AACI/AACR Hill Day, Thursday, May 16, in Washington, DC. Registration closes at 5:00 pm eastern time on Tuesday, May 7.
16th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
June 24, 2024
The 16th Annual AACI CRI Meeting will be held June 24-26 at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL.
2024 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
October 20, 2024
The 2024 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting will be held October 20-22 at Loews Chicago Downtown Hotel in Chicago, IL. A virtual registration option is also available to those who cannot attend in person.
2025 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
October 19, 2025
Save the date for the 2025 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting, October 19-21, at Salamander Washington DC.