Catchment Area Research and Data Science (CARDS) will host "Communicating Catchment Area Data Using R" on Wednesday, April 17 at 1:00 pm eastern time. The webinar will be moderated by Todd Burus, MAS, UK Markey Cancer Center; and Christopher McNair, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health. Presenters are Daniel Antonio, MPH, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University; Sam Pepper, University of Kansas Cancer Center; and Phil Bowsher, Posit. This free webinar is open to all AACI members and will end with a brief Q&A.
AACI Update | April 2024
Headlines
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Announces Leadership Transition
After serving as director for more than 17 years, Brian Druker, MD (left), will take on a new role as the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s chief executive officer. In this newly created position, Dr. Druker will focus on long-term vision and strategic planning, fundraising, and donor engagement, as well as research and clinical growth. Before being recruited to Knight Cancer Institute in 2023, Tom Sellers, PhD, MPH (right), the institute's new director, served in key leadership roles at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center.
Patient Advocate Anne Marie Mercurio to Keynote CRI Meeting
Patient research advocate Anne Marie Mercurio will present the opening keynote at 12:00 pm central time on Monday, June 24, during the 16th Annual AACI Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) Meeting in Rosemont, IL. Mercurio empowers patients to be partners with their physicians and is passionate about patient-centered care. In addition to co-chairing the Patient Advocate Committee at SWOG Cancer Research Network and chairing the Patient Insights Board at Medidata, she serves on advisory boards at several cancer centers.
Elevating the Next Generation of Cancer Center Leaders
AACI extends its gratitude to the cancer center colleagues who attended the 2024 AACI Leadership Diversity and Development Workshop, March 12-13. The workshop drew nearly 100 attendees from 85 cancer centers, who reflected the diverse pool of talented emerging leaders who are accelerating progress against cancer at AACI’s member institutions.
Pictured, left to right: Drs. Yolanda Sanchez, Robert A. Winn (foreground), Elisa Rodriguez, and Joann B. Sweasy. View more photos.
CARDS Webinar: Communicating Catchment Area Data Using R
Catchment Area Research and Data Science (CARDS) will host a webinar titled "Communicating Catchment Area Data Using R" at 1:00 pm eastern time on Wednesday, April 17. The webinar will be moderated by Todd Burus, MAS, UK Markey Cancer Center and Christopher McNair, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health. Presenters are Daniel Antonio, MPH, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University; Sam Pepper, The University of Kansas Cancer Center; and Phil Bowsher, Posit.
AACI Holds Spring GR Forum, Visits Capitol Hill
On Tuesday, March 19, AACI held its annual spring Government Relations (GR) Forum at 101 Constitution in Washington, DC. The meeting gave AACI government relations representatives and sustaining members an opportunity to network and discuss cancer-related public policy topics. AACI leadership, government relations staff, and cancer center members also attended several meetings on Capitol Hill to advocate for cancer research funding.
Biden Cancer Moonshot Introduces New Billing Codes for Patient Navigation
In January 2024, the Biden Cancer Moonshot delivered six codes to report navigation services for payment. The Cancer Moonshot team recently hosted a Q&A during which several resources were shared with further information on the Principal Illness Navigation (PIN) codes. AACI has compiled highlights of these resources for our cancer center members.
CMS Seeks Feedback on Research Data Request and Access Policy Changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing two changes to the current research data request and access policies. CMS has issued a request for information (RFI) from stakeholders to assist with planning and implementing this policy change. The RFI is open for comment until May 15, 2024.
Paid Advertisement: Prevent Cancer Foundation
Call for Research Grant and Fellowship Applications
The goal of the Prevent Cancer Foundation's research program is to identify and fund innovative projects with the potential to make substantial contributions to cancer prevention or early detection. The application period opens Tuesday, April 2. The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm eastern time on Friday, June 14.
Read about the impact of the research program and awarded researchers to discover projects driving key advancements in the field.
News from the Centers
Sparano Receives Clinical Cancer Research Award
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
Joseph Sparano, MD, deputy director of The Tisch Cancer Institute, was selected as recipient of the 2024 AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research by the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Sparano is being recognized for clinical cancer research focused on improving therapeutic options for the treatment of breast cancer and HIV-associated cancers.
Tobacco Researcher Honored by American Society of Preventive Oncology
Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina
Matthew Carpenter, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Control Research Program at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, was recently honored with the Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award by the American Society of Preventive Oncology.
Salahudeen Named NCI EIAP Scholar
University of Illinois Cancer Center
University of Illinois Cancer Center member Ameen Salahudeen, MD, PhD, was recently named to the third cohort of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Early Investigator Advancement Program (EIAP). Dr. Salahudeen is part of a 25-member cohort in the program designed to support the development of early-stage and new investigators in cancer and cancer health disparities research.
Three UCLA Physicians Elected to the Association of American Physicians
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lillian Gelberg, MD; Roger Lo, MD, PhD; and Jeffrey Saver, MD, have been elected to the Association of American Physicians in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the advancement of basic or translational biomedical research.
Utah Legislature Allocates $75 Million to Vineyard Cancer Research Center
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) received $75 million from the Utah Legislature toward a cancer research and academic building in Utah County. This building is part of the first phase of HCI’s plan to establish a second comprehensive cancer center in Utah.
Researcher Tapped for Global Project to Address Cancer Inequities
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Lauren McCullough, PhD, MSPH, is part of an international team that was awarded a $25 million grant to help address cancer disparities in populations of African ancestry.Siteman-Led Team Receives $25 Million to Study Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Siteman Cancer Center
An international team led by Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, a Washington University epidemiologist at Siteman Cancer Center, has received a five-year, $25 million grant to study the global increase in young-onset colorectal cancers. The team is funded by Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Institute, the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, and Institut National Du Cancer in France, through Cancer Grand Challenges.
$11.48 Million Awarded for Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer
UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute received a five-year, $11.48 million federal grant to create the Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer. It will study the molecular features of biomolecules that drive cancer using structural biology and high-resolution imaging with precise, quantitative analysis.$1.4 Million Grant Secured to Develop Peptide Therapy for Prostate Cancer
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Benyi Li, MD, PhD, has received a nearly $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to develop a short peptide-based therapy for prostate cancer patients. It is Dr. Li’s eighth prostate cancer project to be funded by the DoD in the last 20 years.
$1 Million Gift Endows New Prostate Cancer Professorship
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
The Champions and Friends of Dunwoody Country Club have given $1 million in new gifts to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University to endow a new professorship in prostate cancer.
Researchers Look at Ways to Target Early Breast Cancer Progression
The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Fariba Behbod, PharmD, PhD, has received a $930,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study a new targeted therapy option for people diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ.
Senior Director of Programs to Enhance Diversity Named
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Gita Suneja, MD, MS, has been named the first senior director of Programs to Enhance Diversity at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Suneja, a radiation oncologist, is tasked with improving workforce diversity and increasing equitable access to cancer research.
Chief Medical Officer, Four New Chiefs Appointed
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Roswell Park's latest slate of promotions includes Julia Faller, DO, as chief medical officer. Aleodor "Doru" Andea, MD, MBA, is chief of dermatopathology and director of molecular dermatopathology; Kenan Onel, MD, PhD, is chief of clinical genomics and founding director of the Center for Precision Oncology; Jenny Romero, MD, is chief of head & neck/plastic & reconstructive surgery and general medical oncology; and, Zhongbo "Jerry" Yang, MD, is chief of cytopathology.
Study Seeks to Determine if Fallopian Tube Sonograms Can Help Detect Ovarian Cancer at Early Stage
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, led by Jessica P. Miller, MD, PhD, are investigating whether sonograms of fallopian tubes can be effective for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Their findings support the use of fallopian tube luminal contrast enhancement during ultrasounds to detect abnormalities.
Combination Urothelial Cancer Treatment Nearly Doubles Patient Survival in International Trial
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
Combining the anticancer drugs enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab led to significantly improved survival rates among patients with advanced urothelial cancer compared with standard chemotherapy, according to results of a large international clinical trial involving 185 sites in 25 countries, including the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center’s Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute.
AI Tools Tackle Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Identify New Treatment Strategies
Stanford Cancer Institute
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and difficult to treat. Machine-learning tools designed at Stanford Medicine uncover distinct cellular communities that correlate with prognosis, immunotherapy success.
Addressing Depression in Cancer Patients From Underserved Communities
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Through a single-arm study of 141 cancer patients, supported by a grant from the Merck Foundation Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care, University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers found that engaging a diverse population of cancer patients in a 12-week depression program, with a four-session minimum, provided a 65 percent improvement in their depression and quality of life.
Data Published on AI Models Predicting Patient Response to Immunotherapy
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
The results from a research partnership between GE HealthCare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to enable safer and more precise cancer immunotherapies show that the models they developed predict patient responses with 70-80 percent accuracy.
Psychological Distress Both a Contributor to and Consequence of Cancer Treatment Delay
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
Prior research has shown that delays in initiating cancer therapy are increasing, and these delays can lead to not only worse outcomes for patients, but also increased psychological distress. However, a new study published by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center has found that patients’ worry and fear can also contribute to their intentionally delaying the start of treatment.
Adding Ribociclib to Hormone Therapy Reduces the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
A new treatment approach that combines a targeted therapy drug with hormone therapy significantly increased the amount of time a person with stage 2 or 3 HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer lives without the cancer returning, according to a new study co-led by UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators.
Pioneering Immunotherapy Brain Tumor Study Published
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
City of Hope has announced results from a pioneering Phase I CAR T cell therapy trial for the treatment of glioblastoma. This is the largest trial to date evaluating CAR T therapy for solid tumors.
Genetic Germline Variations Influence Expression of Cancer Cell Genes
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine’s Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Human Genome Sequencing Center investigated the extent to which forms of genetic variation called germline or inherited structural variation influence gene expression in human cancers.
Targeted Drug Shows Promising Ability in Treating Rare Head and Neck Cancers
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Experts at University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have conducted the first study evaluating the effectiveness of a targeted drug for patients with salivary gland cancers (SGC). There are currently no approved treatments for recurrent and/or metastatic cases of SGCs. The most common type is adenoid cystic carcinoma, which when untreated increases in size within three months.
Updated Genomic Landscape for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia Enables New Treatment Possibilities
Comprehensive Cancer Center St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
New research by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital clarifies the genomic landscape of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. The work offers novel insight into this cancer’s causes and unique biological characteristics.
Circulating Tumor DNA Levels Predict Treatment Outcomes
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
Monitoring levels of DNA shed by tumors and circulating in the bloodstream could help doctors accurately assess how gastroesophageal cancers are responding to treatment, and potentially predict future prognosis, suggests a new study led by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.
Large-Scale Study Explores Genetic Link Between Colorectal Cancer and Meat Intake
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC used a new statistical method to pinpoint the genetic underpinnings of the link between red and processed meat intake and colorectal cancer risk in nearly 70,000 people.
Advancing Technology to Improve the Therapeutic Effect of Radionuclide Therapy for Cancer
Stony Brook Cancer Center
A team of Stony Brook University researchers developed a new method for image-guided radionuclide therapy that uses a two-step process with specially-modified antibodies to target the cancerous tumors, followed by a radioligand designed to bind specifically to the modified antibody.
Florida Cancer Innovation Fund Awards to Propel Novel Cancer Research
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Six UF Health Cancer Center researchers have received funding from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund for research projects that promote cancer innovation, research, and lifesaving care. Awardees include Paul Okunieff, MD, who received a $1 million grant to study a plasma biomarker for the early detection of cancer treatment response and resistance.
Less Chemoradiation is Possible for Some Cancer Patients
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Some oropharynx cancer patients may qualify for fewer radiation treatments, according to a new study from experts at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center. Oropharynx cancer was historically related to smoking and alcohol use, but now most cases diagnosed in the United States are caused by the human papillomavirus.
Study Shows Early Success of a Novel Drug in Treating a Rare and Chronic Blood Cancer
The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai
A novel treatment for polycythemia vera, a potentially fatal blood cancer, demonstrated the ability to control overproduction of red blood cells, the hallmark of this malignancy and many of its debilitating symptoms, in a multi-center clinical trial led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Diabetes and Liver Cancer Study Suggests New Screening Guidelines
Stanford Cancer Institute
A Stanford Medicine study identifies an easily measured biophysical property that can identify Type 2 diabetics at increased risk for liver cancer who don’t meet current screening guidelines.
New Method to Prevent Prostate Cancer Chemoresistance
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
The results of a recent study co-led by a University of Arizona Cancer Center researcher suggest that novel therapeutic molecules known as proteolysis targeting chimeras, or PROTACs, could help overcome resistance to a class of anti-cancer drugs that are used to treat a wide range of cancers.
Research Uncovers Potential Pathway for Breast Cancer Treatment
UK Markey Cancer Center
A recent UK Markey Cancer Center study uncovers a critical pathway involved in immune evasion by breast cancer cells. The study addresses a crucial gap in the understanding of how breast cancer fosters immune evasion and offers a new potential target for cancer therapies.
Cell Therapy Approach Harnesses the Immune System in a Different Way to Stop Cancer
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
A new cancer treatment that uses a person’s own immune cells has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Now this form of cellular therapy (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, or TIL, therapy) is showing promise in advanced lung cancers through clinical trials underway at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Researchers Find Genetic Variant Contributing to Disparities in Childhood Leukemia Risk
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
A new study has revealed a key genetic variant contributing towards the increased risk, as well as details about the biological basis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers identified a variant found at a relatively high frequency in people of Hispanic/Latino origin that increases ALL risk by around 1.4 times.
Academic Performance of Chatbots Evaluated
University of Florida Health Cancer Center
University of Florida researchers have found that OpenAI’s GPT-4 performed better than the student average on seven of nine graduate-level exams in the biomedical sciences. But they found its performance on the free-text assessments was limited for some types of complex questions, raising concerns about irrelevant data and plagiarism.
Study Finds That Non-Hispanic Black Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Have Less Favorable Outcomes
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health
While sociodemographic, clinical, and pathological factors may affect racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, non-Hispanic Black patients consistently saw less favorable treatment outcomes independent of those factors, according to a Fox Chase Cancer Center study.
Cedars-Sinai Launches Singapore Office
Cedars-Sinai Cancer
In its latest global expansion, Cedars-Sinai International announced the opening of its new global office in Singapore. Cedars-Sinai representatives in Singapore will work with patients and their families seeking care at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, offering access to Cedars-Sinai experts in cardiology, oncology, neurology, and other specialty areas.
Siteman-WashU Join NCI Clinical Trials Network for Cancer Screening
Siteman Cancer Center
Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine have joined a new clinical trials network launched by the National Cancer Institute to investigate emerging technologies for cancer screening. They are among seven inaugural network members that will evaluate a blood test to detect multiple cancers. Aimee James, PhD, MPH, co-leads the Siteman-WashU effort.
Fred Hutch to Lead New Federal Cancer Screening Research Network
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is at the helm of a new clinical trials consortium, the Cancer Screening Research Network, or CSRN, created by the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, to advance President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot by improving early detection of cancers.
Conference to Introduce Middle Schoolers to STEM, Oncology Career Paths
University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Continuing Umbrella for Research Experience (CURE) program will, for the first time, include middle schoolers. Its first-ever day-long "Empowering Young Minds: Exploring Cancer and STEM Pathways" conference is targeted specifically for seventh- and eighth-graders. Middle schoolers are at a prime age to get interested in science, says Jennifer Gillette, PhD.
Clinical Trials Network Named a Spoke in ARPA-H Hub
LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center
The Gulf South Clinical Trials Network has been named a spoke in the ARPA-H Customer Experience Hub, one of three regional hubs that comprise ARPANET-H—a nationwide health innovation network—and is dedicated to the needs of people.
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Meeting Announcements
CARDS Webinar | Communicating Catchment Area Data Using R
April 17, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
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.
The Cancer Prevention Research Conference
June 25, 2024
The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and Cancer Research UK are holding a new annual conference on prevention research, June 25-27, in Boston.
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.
17th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
June 23, 2025
Save the date for the 17th Annual AACI CRI Meeting, June 23-25, 2025, at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL.
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.