UVA Cancer Center

Natasha Sheybani, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Research Director of UVA’s Focused Ultrasound Immunotherapy Center, is teaming up with colleagues at Children's National Hospital to test the combination of two cutting-edge technologies - CAR T cell immunotherapy and focused ultrasound - to treat medulloblastoma non-invasively, the most common pediatric brain tumor. Dr. Sheybani will share a  2-year, $600,000 Department of Defense Idea Award with Dalia Haydar, PharmD, PhD and Yanxin Pei, PhD, both of Children's National. The grant follows a recent award to Dr. Sheybani by the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation to evaluate CAR T-cell immunotherapy and focused ultrasound for adult glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer. Congratulations Dr. Sheybani! #cancerresearch #UVA #childrensnationalhospital #CARTcelltherapy #focusedultrasound #cancersupport

The Cancer Center was honored to partner this summer with colleagues from LeMoyne-Owen College, Tuskegee University and Stillman College for the 2024 Short-Term Research Initiative for Visiting Educators (STRIVE) program.    STRIVE hosts visiting faculty representing minority-serving institutions at UVA for six weeks to conduct research related to their interests as part of the UVA scientific community. They also participate in weekly dialogues with UVA trainees, faculty, and administrators sharing their insights and experiences in career and professional development, research, teaching, and diversity, equity and inclusion.    Currently in its third year, STRIVE was established to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at UVA and more broadly in cancer education, research, and treatment while also creating new opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary research for both UVA and visiting faculty and access to UVA infrastructure. For the first time this summer, with support from the American Cancer Society, STRIVE participants’ undergraduate students joined them through the Diversity in Cancer Research Internship program. Our phenomenal visiting faculty included Ruth Washington, PhD, Professor of Biology at Lemoyne-Owen College, Lecia Robinson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Human Anatomy at Tuskegee University and Anathbandhu (Andy) Chaudhury, PhD, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences at Stillman College! Thank you to our visiting faculty, host faculty and to STRIVE program leaders, Lucy Pemberton, PhD, Associate Director of Education for the Cancer Center, and Christos Baryiames, PhD, CRTEC Coordinator. #cancerresearch #diversityequityandinclusion #lemoyneowencollege #tuskegeeuniversity #stillmancollege #nationalcancerinstitute

We're excited to share this wonderful news from UVA Department of Public Health Sciences! Congratulations to Dr. Nao Hagiwara, Ph.D., on receiving new funding from our UVA Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement Research Pilot Funding. Dr. Hagiwara's project on implicit bias training for healthcare providers plays a vital role in promoting health equity. We're proud to support this important research. Check out the original post to learn more, and join us in congratulating Dr. Hagiwara and her team.

There’s still time to apply for a UVA Cancer Center Community Grant! The 2024 Comprehensive Community Grants program is open and ready for your application. If you're part of an advocacy organization, faith-based group, neighborhood committee, local municipality, academic institution, or hospital, this is your chance to make a big impact in your community. 📅 Letter of Intent due August 31st —apply now! https://lnkd.in/e8WqYkMn

“UVA Cancer Center is the first healthcare provider in Virginia to offer a newly approved immunotherapy – which supercharges the body’s immune system to fight disease – to treat small cell lung cancer. Richard Hall, MD (left), and Ryan Gentzler, MD (right), are part of the UVA Cancer Center team providing a new lung cancer treatment. Patients eligible for this new treatment work closely with UVA Cancer Center’s innovative nurse navigator program, which seeks to simplify and streamline the process of receiving care by guiding patients through all the steps required to begin treatment with tarlatamab. Nurse navigators schedule appointments and manage referrals from doctors across Virginia and beyond, as well as handle other logistics.” https://lnkd.in/eFnE6j39.

“The partnership represents an innovative approach to addressing the challenges of rural cancer care. By integrating UVA Cancer Center’s evidence-based programs with Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc.'s local resources, the collaboration has reduced the cancer burden on individuals in the community.” — Wendy Cohn, PhD, UVA Cancer Center associate director Learn more about how this decade-long partnership helps plays a vital role in providing cancer support to Southwest Virginia.

The Cancer Center has awarded its first-ever Plan to Enhance Diverse Perspectives in Cancer Research (PEDPCR) supplemental funding grants! The grant was awarded to three projects that demonstrated exceptional promise in advancing their work's scientific and technical merit through a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This year’s grant recipients are Kristin Anderson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, Shayn Peirce-Cottler, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering and Lakeshia Taite, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering. The new annual award was established under the leadership of Cancer Center Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Marquita Taylor, PhD, MPH, MBA. It supports the Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED), part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s primary Cancer Center Support Grant. “By fostering an inclusive research environment, the Cancer Center aims to set a standard of excellence that embraces diverse perspectives, ultimately leading to more impactful scientific discoveries,” Dr. Taylor said. PEDPCR is now part of all Cancer Center pilot grant proposals. Dr. Taylor encourages all members to actively engage in strategies that promote diversity and inclusion in cancer research. Congratulations to our 2024 recipients! 🎉 #cancerresearch #diversityequityandinclusion #cancercare

The Cancer Center was thrilled this summer to host its inaugural cohort of visiting undergraduate students in the Diversity in Cancer Research (DiCR) program! Eight students among groups underrepresented in science and health professions participated in 10 weeks of immersive #research, inclusive training and education. Participants not only gained experience in the #biomedicalsciences but also engaged in professional and career development activities, presented their work to peers and connected with cancer researchers, staff, graduate students and others. Thank you to the American Cancer Society for supporting the #DiCR program at #UVACCC and our fundamental mission of fostering the next generation of cancer researchers. Thank you to all of the students, staff, mentors and researchers who are part of making unique and exciting opportunities for future researchers, such as DiCR, a success! In addition, thank you to Dr. Adrian Halme, Director of the Summer Research Internship Programs/Summer Medical Research Internship Programs, for his help. Pictured are DiCR participants Joy Foster and Keena Small (Virginia State University), Alahna Gray (Tuskegee University), Cedric Webster (University of South Carolina, Columbia) and Melissa Massey (Lemoyne-Owen College). Not pictured: Bayli Locklear (East Carolina University), Faith Onomeh (Stillman College), and Ay’sia Smith (Lemoyne-Owen College). #cancerresearch #futurecancerresearchers #virginiastateuniversity #tuskegeeuniversity #UniversityOfSouthCarolinaColumbia #lemoyneowencollege #eastcarolinauniversity #stillmancollege #diversityandinclusion #research

UVA Cancer Center and Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. are working together to provide essential cancer support in Southwest Virginia. “Our decade-long partnership with MEOC reflects our shared dedication to reducing the cancer burden in the region. By combining resources and expertise, we deliver impactful research and cancer prevention programs that meet the community’s needs,” said Wendy Cohn, PhD, associate director of UVA Cancer Center. Supported by events like the recent Harold Lester Memorial Golf Tournament, this partnership plays a vital role in funding MEOC’s Mountain Laurel Cancer Support and Resource Center (MLCC), reinforcing our ongoing commitment to cancer care in Southwest Virginia. Read more about our efforts in the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gKyggDq7

We are delighted to recognize Andrew Taylor, Chief Radiation Therapist for his extraordinary commitment to high quality patient care for 32 years! We hope that you enjoy each new chapter of your life and make the most of your next adventure. Thank you for your dedication to our UVA Cancer Center patients. Please join me in congratulating Andrew on his retirement which will take place on Friday, August 16th. 🎊