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Ruesch Center Symposium Focuses on Early-Onset GI Cancer

With an emphasis on early-onset gastrointestinal cancer, the 14th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium brought together nearly 300 health care providers, researchers, advocates, patients and caregivers November 16-18 to honor those dedicated to curing GI cancers, discuss the experiences of patients and caregivers, and share the latest research in the field. Read more about this year’s event.

Called To Be a Space Biologist, Postdoc Participates in Selective NASA Program

Geraldine Vitry, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow working in the laboratory of Georgetown Lombardi’s Evagelia Laiakis, PhD, spent the first years of her educational career focused on human biology. A pivotal moment led her to her true passion, space biology. Now, a NASA program is putting her a step closer to realizing her goal of contributing to humans walking on Mars. Read more about Vitry’s story.

2023 Men’s Event Returns in Support of Cancer Research

More than 125 men gathered for the 23rd Annual Men’s Event to help raise money and awareness for cancer research in support of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event, which took place on November 16 at Morton’s The Steakhouse D.C., blended an educational session with networking, fine food and spirits, and an appearance by Georgetown men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley. See more about this year’s Men’s Event.

Georgetown Lombardi Members: Please Complete the Shared Resource User Survey by 12/1

All Georgetown Lombardi members should complete the Shared Resource User Survey by this Friday, December 1. Information gathered as part of this process provides data critical to planning and decision-making processes, particularly as it relates to members’ needs for Shared Resource services in D.C. and Hackensack. Results will be available to members in early 2024. Contact Sharon Levy (sgl5@georgetown.edu) or David Goerlitz (dsg3@georgetown.edu) with questions. Access the survey here.

Strategies for Equity in Assessment in Narrative Comments

Tuesday, November 28

5:15 - 6:30 p.m.

Carrie Chen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for assessment and educational scholarship, professor of pediatrics with Georgetown University School of Medicine leads this workshop that will review common biases found in narrative comments and recommended strategies for combating these biases. Part of the Equity Forward Faculty Workshops series. RSVP for this Zoom workshop.

DEI Resources at Dahlgren Memorial Library

Thursday, November 30 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET

As part of Georgetown University Medical Center’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Dahlgren Memorial Library is presenting this workshop to help you find and use resources to support DEI in your programs, modules, and courses. Register for this Zoom workshop.

Joint Scientific Partners Distinguished Lecture Series and Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Nanoparticle Delivery of Cancer Drugs”

Thursday, November 30

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.



Featuring Stephan Stern, PhD, director of research and development, section head of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. Sponsored by Frederick National Laboratory and GUMC. Held in-person in the New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option.

14th Biennial Thyroid Update 2023: New Concepts in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Disease

Friday, December 1

7:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

This in-person event, held at the Bethesda Marriott in Bethesda, MD, is for all health care professionals with an interest in patients with thyroid disorders. It provides updates on thyroid conditions, including thyroid cancers; addresses current and controversial issues in thyroid disease; and familiarizes providers with key elements of updated guidelines and how to incorporate them into a clinical practice. Register for this event.

Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series: “Resolving Race vs. Ancestry in Breast Cancer Disparities”

Friday, December 1

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.



Presented by Melissa B. Davis, PhD, director, Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine. Sponsored by Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Held in-person in the New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option.

GHUCCTS Research Grand Rounds Series: “HIV-1 Infection in Sickle Cell Disease”

Friday, December 1

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Via Zoom



Presented by Sergei Nekhai, PhD, professor of medicine, microbiology, and pharmacology, vice chair of medicine, deputy director of the Center for Sickle Cell Disease, and director of the Basic Science Core for the DC-Center for AIDS Research (DC-CFAR), Howard University. Join this research grand rounds lecture via Zoom.

NEXT WEEK: I-REACH Annual Meeting: Learn about Aging, Cancer and Disparities

Monday, December 4

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.



A virtual panel of speakers will highlight I-REACH research and resources, including a new remote scholar program designed to support candidates and research that contributes to I-REACH’s mission to promote diversity and inclusion. Register to receive Zoom joining info and agenda.

Center for Metabolomic Studies Seminar Series: “Using Lipidomics to Understand How Human T cells Control Outcomes of Infection and Autoimmune Disease”

Monday, December 4

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Presented by D. Branch Moody, MD, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, associate physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Sponsored by the Center for Metabolomic Studies at Georgetown Lombardi. Join this seminar via Zoom.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Membrane Stress Due to Defective Lipoprotein Biogenesis Blocks Initiation of Chromosomal DNA Replication in Escherichia coli”

Tuesday, December 5

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Rahul Saxena, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar in Basic Science Building 341 or via Zoom.

Unraveling Vulnerabilities in Endocrine Therapy-Resistant HER2+/ER+ Breast Cancer

Risk of Head and Neck Cancer Among Opium Users

The Smoking and Vaping Model, A User-Friendly Model for Examining the Country-Specific Impact of Nicotine VAPING Product Use: Application to Germany

Estimated US Cancer Deaths Prevented With Increased Use of Lung, Colorectal, Breast, and Cervical Cancer Screening

Role of HDAC6-STAT3 in Immunomodulatory Pathways in Colorectal Cancer Cells



Disparities in Outcomes Between Black and White Patients in North America With Thoracic Malignancies and COVID-19 Infection (TERAVOLT)

Washington Lawyer Medical Legal Partnerships Leverage Pro Bono Help for Whole-Person Care

AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships Program

The AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships Program is designed for early career clinical scientists who hold a medical degree (MD, DO, or MD/PhD) and are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills related to clinical trial design and execution from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry. Each fellowship provides $100,000 over one year for the fellow to work on site at the facility of one of the AACR’s pharmaceutical industry partners. Application deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 30. View more information, including eligibility requirements, program guidelines and application instructions.

Cancer Research Institute Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program Grants

The Cancer Research Institute offers Clinic and Laboratory Integration Program (CLIP) grants to qualified scientists who are working to explore clinically relevant questions aimed at improving the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. These grants support preclinical and translational research that can be directly applied to optimizing cancer immunotherapy in the clinic. Applicants must hold a faculty appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor (or higher rank) at the time of award activation. Funding: up to $150,000 per year for two years. LOI deadline: Friday, December 1. Full application deadline: March 1, 2024. View more information and application guidelines.

Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship Award

The Damon Runyon Quantitative Biology Fellowship Award supports computational scientists who are deeply connected to biology labs so that they can bring their computational skills to bear on important biological questions, particularly in cancer. The proposed mentored research training must reflect the individual's potential to develop into a productive, independent cancer research scientist. (Note: Applicants must not have been in their mentors’ labs for more than 24 months prior to the application deadline date.) The award provides up to $240,000 over three years in stipend and expense allowances for the award recipient. Application deadline: 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1. View more details and application guidelines.

Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award

In an effort to confront the growing dearth of physician-scientists, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has created this award program, which is designed to recruit outstanding U.S. Specialty Board-eligible physicians (MD/DOs only) into cancer research careers by providing them with the opportunity for a protected research training experience under the mentorship of a highly qualified and gifted mentor after they have completed all of their clinical training. The award will provide up to $460,000 over four years in financial support for the award recipient. In addition, the Foundation will retire up to $100,000 of medical school debt still owed. Application deadline: 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1. View more information and application guidelines.

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 Nov. 22, 2023).

Mary Kay Ash Foundation Innovative/Translational Cancer Research Grant

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation, a funding source for cancer research, is currently accepting applications for innovative grants for translational research for cancers affecting women, including but not limited to ovarian, uterine, breast and/or cervical cancer. Principal Investigator must be appointed a full-time assistant professor or higher at the time of application submission and commit a minimum 5% effort. Grants will be awarded in the amount of $100,000 over a two-year period. View more information. Please submit grant documentation to Sharon Levy (sgl5@georgetown.edu) by Friday, Jan. 19, 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: 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 - Matthew D'Antuono | 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 | “Resolving Race vs. Ancestry in Breast Cancer Disparities” - Melissa B. Davis, PhD | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

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

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