Disturbing Aftermath

It’s hard to write about work at this moment. I have so many conflicting feelings that I hardly knew what to write this week. As the son of a Holocaust survivor, I imagine that I am more sensitized than many to the horrors of antisemitic violence, and am deeply troubled when I detect indifference or worse in the wake of such horrors.

Read more.



A Message of Encouragement for Riders as BellRinger Weekend Approaches

Last week, Norah O’Donnell (C’95, G’03), anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News and Georgetown alumna, released a special message of encouragement to the BellRinger community. View her video message.

As BellRinger Weekend approaches, Weekend.BellRinger.org is a good resource to consult for information and updates.

And if you haven’t yet signed up to ride, it’s not too late! The cutoff to register as a Rider is this Saturday, October 21, at 6:30 a.m. — a half-hour before staging starts on Ride Day.

Norah O’Donnell (C’95, G’03)

Georgetown Lombardi Scientist Receives NASA Grant

Shubhankar Suman, PhD, Georgetown associate professor of oncology and Georgetown Lombardi affiliate member, received a grant from NASA to conduct research to better understand the mechanisms of space radiation-induced neuroinflammation and find strategies for intervention. His study was one of eight that NASA selected to explore how the human body reacts to spaceflight and provide information that will help the agency protect astronauts during long missions. Suman’s research will address a critical concern for deep space astronauts: the potential central nervous system health risks associated with exposure to space radiation. Specifically, it will examine the role of senescent cells and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in driving chronic neuroinflammation after space radiation exposure. 

Appointments and Promotions Virtual Workshop: Clinical and Biomedical Faculty Tracks



On Friday, October 27, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom, those interested in appointments, promotions, or mentoring on the Clinical and Biomedical Tracks (Clinician, Clinician Educator, Clinician Scholar, Biomedical Educator, Biomedical Scholar) can learn criteria for appointment and promotion on these tracks, the process to apply, and faculty development options from leadership with the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs (OFAA) and the Committee on Appointments and Promotions (CAP). Note: While this workshop will not be recorded, the presentation will be posted on the OFAA Appointment and Promotions Workshop webpage. RSVP. Questions? Contact ofaa@georgetown.edu.

Request for Applications — American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Pilot Project Grants

Up to three American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (IRG) Pilot Project Grants will be funded to help launch promising new projects by early career faculty members. These are one-year, non-renewable $30,000 research grants that are funded through Georgetown Lombardi’s IRG, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Open to early career faculty (e.g. assistant professor or equivalent), who are eligible to apply for independent national competitive research grants (e.g. NIH R-level grants, ACS Research Scholar Grants, and similar), but who do not currently hold and have not previously held such a grant, with the exception of an R00, which is allowed. View full eligibility criteria, application, and submission instructions. Application deadline: Monday, November 13, at 11:59 p.m. For scientific or eligibility questions, contact Dr. Rebecca Riggins (PI of the ACS IRG), rbr7@georgetown.edu. For application download or upload questions, contact Denise Harley, flessatd@georgetown.edu, or Karen Howenstein, khowenst@georgetown.edu.

Luminary Awards in GI Cancers

Join the Ruesch Center for this year’s Luminary Awards in GI Cancers on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Westin, Washington, DC, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, Luis A. Diaz, MD, Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., Edith Peterson Mitchell, MD, and Martha Raymond, MA, will be honored for their GI cancer research and advocacy achievements. View event honorees and more information. For questions, email rueschcenter@georgetown.edu.

14th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: Innovations in GI Cancer

Register for the 14th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: Innovations in GI Cancer, held in person this Nov. 17 and 18. Topics include the microbiome and biological basis of early onset GI cancers, young adult cancer survivors' unique needs, and developing prevention strategies for early onset GI cancers. Registration is free for Georgetown staff and trainees with the promo code HCP23. Learn more at bit.ly/Ruesch2023.

Center for Metabolomic Studies Seminar Series: “Transforming Healthcare Using Deep Data and Remote Monitoring”

Monday, October 16

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Presented by Michael Snyder, PhD, professor, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine. Sponsored by the Center for Metabolomic Studies at Georgetown Lombardi. Join this seminar via Zoom.

Faculty and Staff Headshots

Tuesday, October 17

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Riggs Library, Healy Hall

Have your headshot taken by the university photographer at no cost. First come, first served. Follow these instructions to download your photos, which should be available within a week.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Synergistic Effect of Novel HDAC Inhibitors With Chemotherapy Drugs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia”

Tuesday, October 17

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Naroa Gimenez-Camino, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Biotechnology Program, Department of Biochemistry, Georgetown. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar in Basic Science Building Room 341 or via Zoom.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series: “The Regulation of HIV-1 RNA Functions: It’s G-rated”

Tuesday, October 17

12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Presented by Wei-Shau Hu, PhD, senior investigator, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute. Join this seminar in Med-Dent NE301 or via Zoom.

Department of Radiation Medicine Grand Rounds/Visiting Professor Lecture: “Cracking the Code: Navigating the Frontier of Early Cancer Detection”

Thursday, October 19

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Presented by Jerry Jaboin, MD, PhD, MBA, FACRO, professor and chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma. Co-sponsored by Georgetown Lombardi’s Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities Research. Text 80935 to 202-796-7323 to receive CME credit. Join this Grand Rounds lecture in the Radiation Medicine Conference Room, LL Bles Building, or via Teams.

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Reusable Smart Masks using Nanoporous Metal Foams”

Thursday, October 19

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Kai Liu, PhD, professor and McDevitt Chair in Physics, Department of Physics, Georgetown. Join this seminar in the New Research Building Auditorium or via Zoom.

MHRI-GHUCCTS Monthly Statistical Seminar Series: “Generalized Linear Models”

Friday, October 20

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Paul Kolm, PhD, associate director in the Department of Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics at MedStar Health Research Institute. Sponsored by GHUCCTS. Register for this Zoom seminar.

CDI Seminar: “Mechanisms of Genomic Plasticity That Determine Tuberculosis Pathogenesis and Drug Responses”

Tuesday, October, 24

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presented by Christopher Sassetti, PhD, professor of microbiology and physiological systems at the UMass Chan Medical School. Join this seminar via Zoom.

SAVE THE DATE: 13th Annual Robert B. Dickson Memorial Lecture

Friday, October 27

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Mary Beth Martin, PhD, professor of oncology and biochemistry and molecular & cellular biology, presents “Metals, Metalloids and Nuclear Receptors” as the guest speaker at this year’s lecture held in memory of Robert B. Dickson, PhD, who was the Cecilia Fisher Rudman Distinguished Professor of Breast Cancer Research, associate director for basic science research and education, and co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Join this lecture in the New Research Building Auditorium.

Resistance to Abemaciclib is Associated With Increased Metastatic Potential and Lysosomal Protein Deregulation in Breast Cancer Cells

Medscape Mixed CRC Screening Messaging. Confusing? Some Docs Think So

OncLive Gutierrez and Leslie Discuss Recent Efforts and Future Advances in CAR T-Cell Therapy

The Baynet Prince George’s Goes Pink This October

Hackensack Meridian Health New Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) Drives Forward Discovery and Innovation to Combat Infections, Cancer, and Inflammatory Diseases

Global Newswire OncLive and the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers Name Winners of the 2023 Luminary Awards in GI Cancers

Federal Grants Digest: Colleges & Universities Edition

A weekly curated digest of federal funding opportunities of interest to colleges and universities to support programming, research, infrastructure and other efforts, provided by Thorn Run Partners. View current issue (for Oct. 11, 2023).

Federal Kidney Cancer Funding Opportunities

The Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP), part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, has released its fiscal year 2023 funding opportunities. The KCRP focuses on issues regarding prevention, detection, treatment, including the long-term effects of kidney cancer treatment, and building capacity with next-generation investigators and resources for novel kidney cancer treatments. Pre-application (letter of intent) is required. Direct questions to help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507. View the funding opportunities and application instructions for: 

• Clinical Consortium Award: Pre-application due Oct. 26, 5:00 p.m.

8:00 AM | Division Weekly Update Meeting | Podium A / Microsoft Teams

8:30 AM | Monday Morning Oncology Report | Inpatient Oncology Fellow | Podium A / Microsoft Teams

9:00 AM | Breast Research Meeting | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 528 212 194)

11:00 AM | GU/Melanoma Research Meeting | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 796 253 566)

4:00 PM | GU Tumor Board (on 1st/3rd Mondays of the month) | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 869 742 463)

9:00 AM | Hematology Path Conference - Inpatient Heme fellows + Outpatient Heme + BMT fellow | Podium A / Microsoft Teams (CME code: 80737; phone: 202-796-7323)

4:00 PM | Liver Tumor Board | Microsoft Teams

5:00 PM | Breast Tumor Board | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 937 7707 3374; CME code: 80044)

8:00 AM | Thoracic Tumor Board | Podium A / Zoom (dial 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 993 7680 5192; Passcode: 4231; CME 86693)

12:00 PM | Melanoma Tumor Board | Podium A / Microsoft Teams (CME: 80988)

5:00 PM | GI Tumor Board | Podium A / Microsoft Teams

9:00 AM | Cancer Research Data Meeting | None | W302 New Research Building or Zoom

9:30 AM | Head and Neck Tumor Board | Microsoft Teams

12:30 PM | GI Research Meeting | WebEx (dial 844-302-0362, Meeting Number (access code): 712527865, HOST PIN: 5514)

5:00 PM | Lymphoma Tumor Board - every other week | Microsoft Teams

5:00 PM | Myeloma Tumor Board - every other week | Microsoft Teams

7:00 AM | CNS Tumor Board | Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 298 285 483 265, Passcode: rJWpmU)

12:00 PM | Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series | None | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

12:00 PM | Drs. Rajan/Dr. Kim - Onc Path - Thymic and Mesothelioma | Marietta | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)

1:00 PM | Arun Rajan - Thymic Epithelial Carcinoma/Thymoma | Marietta | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)

1:00 PM | Pancreas Tumor Board | Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 299 996 740 910, Passcode: z7j7Rc)

2:00 PM | Dr. Veytsman - Mesothelioma | Marietta | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)