Greetings, I hope you had a great holiday weekend. We are literally in the homestretch for our CCSG Site Visit, so I’ll be resuming my blog in a few weeks.

In the meantime, COVID is most definitely back. Please take care to protect yourself and the people in your lives.

Stay safe and be well.

Lou

Atkins Named a Fellow of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology

On August 30, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) announced that Michael Atkins, MD, Georgetown Lombardi deputy director for translation and application and William M. Scholl Professor, vice chair of the Department of Oncology and professor of medicine at Georgetown, had been selected for the 2023 class of Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology. The Academy of Immuno-Oncology recognizes individuals who have launched the field of cancer immunotherapy into the breakthrough cancer treatment it is today. Atkins will be inducted officially at SITC’s November Annual Meeting. Read more about this honor.

Peran Receives PanCAN Research Grant



Georgetown Lombardi member Ivana Peran, PhD, is one of four recipients of a $250,000 PanCAN Career Development Award. This grant supports early career scientists at academic and medical institutions in establishing independent labs with a focus on pancreatic cancer research. Peran’s research focuses on the role of stromal cadherin 11 in chemotherapy response in pancreatic cancer. Read more about this award.

New Issue of The Ruesch Report Now Available

The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers recently released the Summer 2023 issue of its e-newsletter, The Ruesch Report. This issue includes a spotlight on Ruesch Center-initiated clinical trials, a roundup of research projects funded by Ruesch Center pilot grants, and a look at a new peer-mentoring program for young adults with GI cancers. View the full issue.

Going the Distance for BellRinger

Brittany Strong has committed to ride 50 miles and Glen Jones to ride 100 miles when BellRinger steps off this October. You can join them, either as a rider or volunteer. Register today!

Already signed up but could use some fundraising tips? View those here.

(left) Brittany Strong and family; (right) Glen Jones

Georgetown Staff Appreciation Picnic

Wednesday, September 6

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Leavey Center Esplanade, Hilltop Campus

Staff are invited to a picnic in gratitude for their many contributions to the university community, featuring food, drinks, ice cream and popsicles, plus live DJ, massage stations, photo booth, outdoor lawn games and more. RSVP requested.

Computational Biology Working Group Meeting

Wednesday, September 6

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.



The Computational Biology Working Group brings together researchers from different backgrounds and institutions with an interest in computational biology to share ideas and expertise, promote the development of new computational tools and approaches, and to ensure the availability of resources and increase access to shared computing infrastructure. Join this meeting via Zoom.

Survivorship Research Initiative Seminar Series: “Oncology Primary Care Partnership to Improve Comprehensive Survivorship Care”



Friday, September 8

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Meet the Speaker Session: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Presented by Hoda Badr, PhD, professor of medicine and epidemiology & population sciences, and leader, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program, Dan L Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine. Co-sponsored by the Georgetown Lombardi Survivorship Research Initiative and the Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging Research. Join this seminar via Zoom.

GUFaculty360 Class - Updating Your Profile

Monday, September 11

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Learn how to upload your CV, add your personal website information, upload a syllabus, publications and more. Register for this class held via Zoom.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Unusual Antibody Responses to COVID-19 and Malaria” 

Tuesday, September 12

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Joshua Tan, PhD, Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator, NIAID/DIR. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar in Basic Science Building Room 341 or via Zoom.

SAVE THE DATE: 3rd Annual Edward M. Kovach Cura Personalis Endowed Lecture

Tuesday, September 26

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Formal Lounge, Copley Hall



The annual Edward M. Kovach Cura Personalis Endowed Lecture celebrates the principle of cura personalis, or “care for the whole person,” in the face of a serious cancer diagnosis. This year’s lecture features U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), in conversation with MedStar Health oncologist Joseph L. Roswarski, MD, and Georgetown Lombardi Director Louis M. Weiner, MD.

Self-reported Barriers to Screening Breast MRI Among Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer

Improved Survival for Dose-intensive Chemotherapy in Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 4,068 Patients



Loss of BRD4 Induces Cell Senescence in HSC/HPCs by Deregulating Histone H3 Clipping

Greater Greater Washington Events: Share your vision for a walkable, bikeable New Carrollton

CURE Gavreto is Effective and ‘Very Well Tolerated’ in Metastatic NSCLC

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 Aug. 30, 2023).

Federal Pancreatic Cancer Funding Opportunities

The Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP), part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, has released its fiscal year 2023 funding opportunities. The mission of the PCARP is to promote rigorous, innovative, high-impact research that leads to earlier pancreatic cancer diagnosis, new therapeutic tools, and improved outcomes. 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:

• Focused Pilot Award: Pre-application due Sept. 14, 5:00 p.m. ET

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: 

• Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators Early-Career Scholar Award: Pre-application due Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. ET
• Clinical Trial Award: Pre-application due Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. ET
• Idea Development Award (New for FY23: Partnering Principal Investigator Option): Pre-application due Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. ET
• Translational Research Partnership Award: Pre-application due Sept. 15, 5:00 p.m. ET
• Nurse-Initiated Research Award: Pre-application due Sept. 15, 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 | Resumes Sept. 14 | 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 | Resumes Sept. 22 | Zoom

12:00 PM | Garrett - Journal Club (Hematology-GUH) | Marietta or Podium A / Conference Link Teams (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)

1:00 PM | Catherine Broome, MD - Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia | Marietta or Podium A / Conference Link Teams (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 | Julia Cunningham, MD - Anemia, Including Fe Deficiency, AOCD, Sideroblastic Anemia | Marietta or Podium A / Conference Link Teams (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)