Dr. Weiner’s blog will return in March.

Read past blog posts.

New Georgetown Lombardi Office Cultivates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Cancer Center

Despite significant advances in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment over the last several decades, persistent cancer health disparities disproportionately impact populations who have been historically underrepresented in science and medicine. Diversity in cancer research and education is a critical part of changing that paradigm. And critical to achieving that is cultivating an inclusive environment at work — the goal of the new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Georgetown Lombardi. Read more about the office and its goals.

Opening Reception for “RECOLLECTIONS” Exhibition is Wednesday

The opening reception for “RECOLLECTIONS,” an exhibition of paintings by artist Sharon Wolpoff, takes place this Wednesday, February 28, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Martin Marietta Conference Room in the Lombardi Atrium. Wolpoff presents a gallery talk, titled “Affirming the Connection Between Healing and the Arts,” at 6:30 p.m, which will be a conversation between the artist and Arts & Humanities Director Julia Langley. The exhibition, presented by the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program, will be on display in the Georgetown Lombardi Adult Clinic through Sept. 6. RSVP to Noni Ford at nf332@georgetown.edu.

Image: From the “Pool Guys” Series, Sharon Wolpoff, 27″ x 31″, Oil on Canvas, 2023. Photo by John Woo.

Registration Now Open for Walking Warriors 7th Annual Walk

Registration is open for the next fundraising walk hosted by Walking Warriors Battling Breast Cancer, a dedicated group of individuals who raise money to fund research and access to care for breast cancer. The 7th annual 13.1-mile walk will step off from National Presbyterian Church in DC on Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 a.m. Weekly guided and supported training walks are provided to prepare, the first of which takes place Saturday, March 2. Register between now and this Thursday, February 29 and receive a $25 bonus for your 2024 fundraising campaign. Register a new walker and both campaigns will be funded with $50. View more information and a registration portal.

Lunch & Learn: NanoString Technologies Advancing Research with Bulk and Spatial Multi-Omic Expression Profiling at Georgetown University

Thursday, March 14

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Join Min Mo, PhD, NanoString senior field applications scientist, for an engaging presentation around NanoString Technologies’ nCounter and GeoMx platforms. Lunch provided. Held in Warwick Evans Conference Room, Building D and via Zoom. View more information. Register to attend: in-person or via Zoom.

Submit Original Poetry for 8th Annual (Virtual) Poetry Café

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital patients, caregivers, associates and community members are invited to submit original poems on the themes of “Elegance & Eloquence” for the 8th annual (Virtual) Poetry Café. This event, held this year on Thursday, April 25 at 2 p.m., celebrates the healing that comes through the written word as it is spoken. Contributors will be invited to read a poem at the event, and their work will also be collected in the 2025 issue of Lombardi Voices. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 22. To submit your poem, or for more information, please contact Noni Ford at nf332@georgetown.edu. The Poetry Café is sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Program and the Department of Mission and Pastoral Care.

New Events-Based Newsletter for Georgetown Lombardi to Debut This Week

Watch your inbox on Wednesday, February 28, at noon for the debut issue of “Lombardi Midweek,” a newsletter updating the Georgetown Lombardi community on events and meetings happening over the next seven days.

Commemorating Black History Month

Georgetown Lombardi’s DEI Office commemorates Black History Month by highlighting a podcast by The Cancer History Project that focuses on the historical contributions of black scientists to cancer equity. Among those featured in this conversation is the late Edith Mitchell, MD, who completed a portion of her oncology training at Georgetown Lombardi.

Center for Metabolomic Studies Seminar Series: “New Technologies and Tools for Targeted Metabolomics”

Monday, February 26

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Presented by David Wishart, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, Departments of Biological Sciences and Computing Science, University of Alberta. Join this seminar via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Department of Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series: “Integrating Metabolism and Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus”

Tuesday, February 27

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Presented by Shaun Brinsmade, PhD, associate professor, Department of Biology, Georgetown. Join this seminar in Med-Dent NE301 or via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

CDI Seminar: “Lesion-centric PK/PD Considerations for TB Drug Discovery and Regimen Design”

Tuesday, February 27

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Jansy Sarathy, PhD, Assistant Member of the Center for Discovery and Innovation Hackensack Meridian Health, Assistant Professor at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Join this seminar via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Bhussry Seminar Series: “3D Printing for Engineering Gynecological Tissues”

Tuesday, February 27

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by John P. Fisher, PhD, Fischell Family Distinguished Professor & department chair, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar in Basic Science Building 341 or via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Cancer Research Data Meeting

No meeting this week (Thursday, Feb. 29). Meetings will resume on March 14.

Appointment and Promotion Workshop: Clinical & Biomedical Track

Thursday, February 29

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presenters will discuss criteria for appointment and promotion on the Clinical & Biomedical tracks, outline the process to apply, and discuss faculty development opportunities. RSVP for this Zoom workshop.

Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series: “Leveraging Immune Metabolism to Improve Cancer”

Friday, March 1

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Greg Delgoffe, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In-person, New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option. (+Google Calendar)

John Collins Harvey Lecture: “Nursing Ethics and Bioethics: Perspectives and Prospects for the Future”

Friday, March 1

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

This year’s lecture features a conversation among nurse leaders moderated by Georgetown University School of Nursing’s Sarah Vittone, DBe, MSN, MS, RN, HEC-C. Sponsored by the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics. Register to join this lecture via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Next Week

CDI Seminar: “Transcriptional Specification of Effector and Memory CD8 T cells”

Tuesday, March 5

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

Presented by Matthew Pipkin, PhD, associate professor, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. Join via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Center for PFAS and Cancer (CPAC) Joint Virtual Symposium

Wednesday, March 6:12:00 - 5.30 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, March 7 & 8: 9:00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.

The CPAC Center at Georgetown University is hosting a joint symposium open to all research and education community members interested in learning about PFAS toxicity, cancer, and mechanisms. The event aims to promote collaboration and connections among researchers, educators, partners, stakeholders, and communities within and beyond the Washington, DC, catchment area, focusing on the critical issue of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) toxicity, cancer risks, and related concerns. View full symposium agenda and register to attend.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

No meeting on Thursday, March 7 (Spring Break).

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Looking Under the Hood of Cells: From Whole Cell Organelle Reconstructions to Single Molecule Dynamics to Atomic Reconstructions of Macromolecules”

Thursday, March 7

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, PhD, head, 4D Cellular Physiology, senior group leader, Howard Hughes Medical Institute – Janelia Research Campus. In-person, New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option. (+Google Calendar)

Oncology Grand Rounds Series

No lecture on Friday, March 8.

Survivorship Research Initiative Seminar Series: “Genomic Risk Prediction of Cardiometabolic Late Effects in Survivors of Childhood Cancer”

Friday, March 8

Seminar: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

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

Presented by Yadav Sapkota, PhD, assistant member, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Join this seminar via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

In the News

WTOP ‘Close Doesn’t Count:’ Biomarker Testing Crucial For Modern Lung Cancer Treatment

OncLive Dr. Kim on the Importance of the FDA Approval of Repotrectinib for ROS1+ NSCLC

PD-1 Expression on Intratumoral Regulatory T Cells Is Associated with Lack of Benefit from Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

Multilevel Approaches to Address Disparities in Lung Cancer Screening: A Study Protocol

Immune Heterogeneity in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Vulnerability to Immune Checkpoint Blockade



Efficacy of Community Health Worker–Delivered Family Health History-Based Breast Cancer Education and Services Among Chinese Americans

Visual Intelligence Education as a Tool for Enhancing Medical Students' Self-Perception of Communication Skills

NEW V Foundation 2024 Call for Adult Translational Cancer Research Grant Proposals

This RFA is specifically for adult cancer research that falls into preclinical/translational research. This year, we have special interest in colorectal cancer and welcome research projects in this area as well as all other adult cancer research areas. This is a four-year, $800,000 grant, paid in annual installments. View the full RFA for more information. Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent to Sharon Levy (sgl5@georgetown.edu) by March 15.

NEW SITC Fellowships: Cancer Immunotherapy Funding Opportunities for Early Career Investigators

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC) fellowship program was established through the Forward Fund to support the development of early career investigators in the field and to cultivate the next generation of cancer immunotherapy experts. SITC is committed to assisting early career investigators in advancing the science of immunotherapy.

Available fellowships (view full information and links to application portals):

• SITC-Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship
• SITC-Bristol Myers Squibb Postdoctoral Cancer Immunotherapy Translational Fellowship
• SITC-MRA Women in Melanoma Fellowship
• SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship
• SITC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fellowship

Read the fellowship guidelines. Submissions due March 18, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholar Award Call for Proposals

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre invites MD or PhD researchers at accredited academic medical centers, research institutions and universities in United States, Canada and UK to apply for the 2024 Rare Disease Scholar Award. Proposals of interest include novel approaches to treat rare diseases with an emphasis on neurological disorders, developmental and metabolic disorders, and rare cancers. Other rare genetic indications with high unmet need are also of interest. Any therapeutic modality will be considered. Learn more about the award and how to apply.



Up to 10 Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholars will be selected to receive:

• Guaranteed grant award of USD$100,000
• One year of therapeutics development support and project management from Harrington’s Therapeutics Development Center, with potential to renew for a second year based on milestones met
• Access to Oxford facilities and infrastructure including oligonucleotide synthesis and screening, small molecule and protein platforms, cell and gene therapy facilities as well as genomics capabilities, and links to Genomics England
• Opportunity to compete for acceleration funds up to USD$300,000
• Opportunity to qualify for investment funds at a higher level according to project requirements
• Invitation to present at the Harrington Discovery Institute Symposium for U.S.- and Canada-based awardees.

Full Proposals Due: March 26, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Register for Award Informational Sessions with Q+A

• March 14, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET: Register

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 Feb. 21, 2024).

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: 932 1012 3816; CME Code: 87253)

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 | Greg Delgoffe, PhD: “Leveraging Immune Metabolism to Improve Cancer” | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

12:00 PM | TBA | Podium A | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)

1:00 PM | TBA | Podium A | 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 | TBA | Podium A | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)