Work-Life Balancing Act

Greetings on a cold Presidents Day Weekend. We took a break and went to the beach, avoiding the non-catastrophic non-blizzard that was predicted for DC. It’s beautiful and quiet here, but when we went to a popular local restaurant on Friday evening it was pleasantly filled. It has been a most relaxing weekend, and I for one needed it after a very busy past two weeks.

Read more.

New Events-Based Newsletter for Georgetown Lombardi to Debut Feb. 28

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. This newsletter, a complement to Lombardi This Week, will replace our e-blast announcements for these events, reducing the number of emails you receive from Lombardi Communications and consolidating event information and updates.

Knitting Together Aging and Cancer

Jeanne Mandelblatt, MD, founder and inaugural director of the Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging Research, is good at bringing things together, whether it’s data to better understand how screening impacts cancer outcomes or threads of colorful yarn for a new knitted blanket. Read more about Dr. Mandelblatt’s work.

Therapeutic Music Lifts Mood, Sonic Environment at Georgetown Lombardi

Therapeutic musicians provided by Georgetown Lombardi’s Arts & Humanities Program bring solace to patients and staff alike at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Read more about this work, as well as a Q&A with musician Karen Ashbrook (pictured).

Get to Know the NCI Director at Interactive Social Media Event

Meet NCI Director Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, at a live Q&A presented by the NCI on February 22 at 11:30 a.m. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with Rathmell as she shares insights into her experience at NCI so far and answers questions from the public. The event will stream on YouTube and Facebook.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Cancer Research, Education & Training Opportunities and Funding: For Staff Members

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Georgetown Lombardi, in collaboration with the Cancer Research, Education and Training (CRTEC) Office, has issued a call for proposals for 2024: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Cancer Research, Education & Training Opportunities and Funding.

Funding for Staff Members

Funds are available for staff members within Georgetown Lombardi for professional development or program development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis. View more information and a link to the application portal. Contact LombardiDEI@georgetown.edu with questions.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Brain Circuits Governing Motivated Movement”

Tuesday, February 20

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 

Presented by Rebekah Evans, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this talk in Basic Science Building 341 and via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

CDI Seminar: “The Microbiome, May the Flora Be With You!”

Tuesday, February 20

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Rena Feinman, PhD, associate member, CDI; associate professor of medical sciences, Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine; adjunct associate professor of oncology, Georgetown University; member, Georgetown Lombardi; member, John Theurer Cancer Center. Join this seminar via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Introduction to ChatGPT and the Health Sciences from DML

Wednesday, February 21

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

This workshop discusses what ChatGPT is and what it does, prompt engineering techniques, educational use and considerations and more. Register for this workshop held via Zoom. (+Google Calendar)

Appointment and Promotion Workshop: Tenure Track

Wednesday, February 21

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presenters will discuss criteria for appointment and promotion on the Tenure Track, outline the process to apply, and discuss faculty development opportunities. RSVP for this Zoom workshop.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

No meeting this week (Thursday, Feb. 22).

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Centering the Margins to Achieve Kidney Health Equity”

Thursday, February 22

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Deidra Crews, MD, professor of medicine and associate director for faculty development, Division of Nephrology, deputy director, Center for Health Equity, and director, Doctoral Diversity Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In-person, New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option. (+Google Calendar)

Faculty and Staff Headshots

Friday, February 23

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

Have your headshot taken by the university photographer in Riggs Library, Healy Hall at no cost. First come, first served. Photos should be available within a week. View more information. (+Google Calendar)

Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series: “Developing Antigen-Specific T Cells for the Treatment of Viral Infections and Cancer”

Friday, February 23

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Patrick Hanley, PhD, chief and director of the Cellular Therapy Program at Children’s National Hospital, associate professor of pediatrics, George Washington University. In-person, New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option. (+Google Calendar)

Next Week

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, as part of the . Sponsored by the Center for Metabolomic Studies at Georgetown Lombardi. 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)

In the News

The Hoya GUMC Study Finds New Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer in Mice, Moves to Clinical Trial

Long-Term Follow-Up of the Anthracyclines in Early Breast Cancer Trials (USOR 06-090, NSABP B-46-I/USOR 07132, and NSABP B-49 [NRG Oncology])

The Role of Chemokines in Orchestrating the Immune Response to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Patterns of Failure Following Preoperative Chemotherapy and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Resection for Patients with Borderline Resectable or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Personal Care Products, Socioeconomic Status, and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures in Black Women

The Phase I/II eNRGy Trial: Zenocutuzumab in Patients with Cancers Harboring NRG1 Gene Fusions

Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses Against SARS-CoV-2 Post-Vaccination in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Cancer Populations

Nutritional Assessment and Dietary Intervention Among Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: Current Landscape and a Look to the Future

Predictive Value of CDC37 Gene Expression for Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer



Systematic Pan-cancer Analysis Reveals OGT and OGA as Potential Biomarkers for Tumor Microenvironment and Therapeutic Responses

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

• Feb. 21, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET: Register
• 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. 14, 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 | Patrick Hanley, PhD: “Developing Antigen-Specific T Cells for the Treatment of Viral Infections and Cancer” | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

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

1:00 PM | Vaishali S (BUMC) - Waldenstrom/Amyloid/Castleman/Poems | 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 | Vaishali S (BUMC) - Waldenstrom/Amyloid/Castleman/Poems | Podium A | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)