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An Appreciation
Greetings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago. I remain awed by the unbelievable extent and depth of the clinical research being presented at this absolutely huge meeting. I am writing this blog after a very long Saturday that started with a 7 a.m. flight. I am so tired that I chose to forgo the annual Lombardi get-together at a local establishment; I hope my colleagues understood.
I just want to take a moment to thank Ed Healton as he enters his final month of service as the medical center EVP. He took on an exceptionally challenging task in 2015 as interim EVP, planning to do that job for two years. Nine years later, here we are.
Read more.
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Experimental Therapy Shows Promise in Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial | |
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Georgetown Lombardi clinicians led by Benjamin Weinberg, MD, reported promising preliminary findings based on outcomes in the first six patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer enrolled in a phase 2 clinical trial of the experimental drug BXCL701 in combination with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Immunotherapy drugs alone have not shown to be responsive to pancreatic cancer. Read more about this research.
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Research Examines Earlier Equitable Access to Palliative Care Services | |
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Studies show that seriously ill people who get palliative care services earlier are better able to cope with the impacts of their disease. Research conducted by a MedStar Health team that includes Georgetown Lombardi member Hunter Groninger, MD, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center, will examine a new method that could help more patients access palliative care sooner. Read more about this work.
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THIS WEEK: Cancer Biology Joint Retreat | |
On Thursday, June 6, from 1:30 to 6 p.m., Georgetown Lombardi researchers are invited to join colleagues from Children’s National Medical Center for an in-person and online retreat intended to explore collaborative opportunities in cancer biology research. Hear research presentations and a panel discussion, followed by a networking happy hour. View agenda. RSVP to Jayasree Ramachandran (jr2001@georgetown.edu). Held in Warwick-Evans Conference Room, Building D, and via Zoom. | |
2024 ASCO Annual Meeting Review | Join the Ruesch Center for a review of GI oncology research from the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting on Friday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drs. Marshall, He, Weinberg, Noel, Mukherji, and Tesfaye will highlight the most compelling abstracts in colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and upper GI cancers. Register to receive the Zoom link. | |
Register for the 3rd Annual Healthy Aging Symposium | |
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This year’s Healthy Aging Symposium takes place on Wednesday, July 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Fisher Colloquium, Hariri Building, and via Zoom. This event features a plenary address by Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, of the School of Nursing, University of Maryland; sessions on molecular and clinical resilience; panel discussions; and a poster session. View the full agenda. The event is presented by Georgetown University’s Center for Health Aging. Register. Questions: contact Bill Rebeck, PhD, (Bill.Rebeck@georgetown.edu) or Pamela Saunders, PhD, (saunderp@georgetown.edu).
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NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)
All eligible members of the Georgetown University community can apply to be nominated for the NCI Early K99/R00 mechanism. Applicants must be within two years of the receipt of their doctoral degree at the time the grant is submitted and must be in mentored postdoctoral training positions. Because the NCI Early K99/R00 mechanism permits a single applicant per academic institution within each of four scientific areas (Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Prevention and Other Cancer Research) per cycle (February, June, October), the first step in the nomination process is to identify a single candidate who will be eligible to apply within each scientific area for each cycle.
Candidates will be required to submit an application consisting of:
- Cover page with the names of the applicant and mentor(s), and the scientific area selected
- Scientific aims, career goals and career development plan (maximum two pages for these components)
- NIH biosketch (maximum five pages)
Internal applications are due June 15 for the October 15 NCI deadline. To apply: log into GU-PASS, click on “New Limited Submission,” then select the Limited Submission opportunity “NCI Pathway to Independence for Early-Stage Postdocs (K99/R00).”
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Save the Date: 24th Annual Men’s Event | |
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Save the date for the 24th Annual Lombardi Men’s Event, a fundraiser in support of cancer research at Georgetown Lombardi. This year’s event takes place on Tuesday, June 18 at Congressional Country Club. The evening will kick off at 6:30 p.m.; there will be limited opportunities for 18 holes of golf with tee times to be arranged in the early afternoon.
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Georgetown Lombardi DEI Updates | | |
Successful Negotiation Skills Workshop | |
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The “Negotiation Skills for Academic Women” workshop led by Rena Seltzer, president of Leader Academic, on May 16 was well-attended by women across the career continuum. A total of 35 students, staff and full professors from many different programs, departments and schools at the university participated.
Attendees learned best practices for negotiation, and specific and practical ways to apply them to their professional experiences. Seltzer also provided a curated list of books on the topic.
The event was supported by the DEI Office and co-hosted by Georgetown Women in Medicine, Georgetown Lombardi, GUMC Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs, and the Gender+ Justice Initiative.
For useful resources on best practices to mitigate gender-based bias, visit the Lombardi DEI resource page.
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Meetings & Events This Week | |
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9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
GUFaculty360 Class - Updating Your Profile
Learn how to upload your CV, add your personal website information, upload a syllabus, publications and more. Register for this class held via Zoom.
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Breast Cancer Interest Group Meeting
Featured presentation: “Stress/Adversity and Stress Management Intervention Research in Breast Cancer Patients” by Michael H. Antoni, PhD, director, Health Psychology Division, professor, Department of Psychology, University of Miami; principal investigator, Antoni Lab, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Join this meeting in E501, New Research Building, or via Zoom. View agenda. (add to Google Calendar)
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1:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Cancer Biology Joint Retreat
See details at top of newsletter. Held in Warwick-Evans Conference Room, Building D, and via Zoom.
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4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Brain Tumor Working Group Meeting
No June meeting
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5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
IO/Heme Interest Working Group Meeting
No June meeting
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Funding and Award Opportunities | |
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Phi Beta Psi Grant Proposal Invitation
The goal of the Phi Beta Psi Charity Trust is to advance cancer research nationwide to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment by providing research grants to qualified investigators addressing original questions and hypotheses to be explored in basic and clinical studies in the field of cancer. Research applications must be focused on brain, breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer. Preference is given to young investigators with documented evidence of potential for conducting novel research of either basic or clinical aspects of cancer and cancer-related problems. Applications from established investigators exploring new and innovative areas of cancer research also will be considered. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. Two proposals from Georgetown Lombardi will be considered. View full application information. Direct questions to Kelli Lozada Reese, pbp.2vp@gmail.com. Applications for grants must be submitted electronically as well as mailed to the office of the National Second Vice President by Monday, June 10.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Research Fellows Award Program
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Research Fellows Award Program is an initiative that supports early career researchers at the postdoctorate, medical fellow or junior faculty levels currently active or interested in research in multiple myeloma research. The MMRF will provide $150,000 in research funding over two years to successful applicants who seek to learn more about the biology of multiple myeloma and identify new approaches to monitor for and treat the disease. Read the full program guidelines. Application deadline is Friday June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET; applications must be submitted via ProposalCENTRAL.
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Small Business Transition Grant for Academic Biotech Innovators
The Small Business Transition Grant is accepting applications from early career scientists seeking support in their pursuit of taking their cancer technologies from research institutions into a startup to advance their biotech inventions toward commercialization. This fast-track opportunity provides up to a total of ~$2.5 million for projects that fit into one of the following categories:
- Therapeutics and preventive agents
- Imaging technologies, interventional devices, and in vivo diagnostics
- In vitro and ex vivo diagnostics and prognostics
- Technologies for cancer prevention and control, supportive care, and survivorship
Those interested in applying should submit a letter of intent to NCI SBIR Program Director Saroj Regmi (saroj.regmi@nih.gov) by Sunday, July 21.
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Federal Melanoma Funding Opportunities
The Department of Defense Melanoma Research Program (MRP), managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, has released its fiscal year 2024 funding opportunities. The MRP is committed to diminishing the disease burden of melanoma on service members, veterans, and the general population. The program’s goal is to change the approach to melanoma prevention, treatment and long term care. 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:
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Survivorship Research Award, Pre-application due July 29, 5:00 p.m. ET
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Idea Award, Pre-application due July 29, 5:00 p.m.
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Melanoma Academy Scholar Award: Pre-application due July 29, 5:00 p.m.
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Team Science Award: Pre-application due July 29, 5:00 p.m.
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Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas: Pre-application due July 29, 5:00 p.m.
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Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation 2024 Medical Research Awards
Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation funds promising physician scientists who are applying novel and state-of-the-art techniques to address fundamental problems in the genesis and treatment of blood related cancers. Applications for this year’s grants are welcome from two junior faculty members at Georgetown Lombardi — one who is conducting mainstream or conventional research and one who is conducting complementary or integrative research. Projects will be funded for a three-year period at $75,000.00 per year. View grant guidelines and application (view application as a Word doc). Electronic grant submission must be received by Friday, August 16 at grants@gabriellesangels.org; one hard copy of the application must be postmarked by that date as well.
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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 May 29, 2024).
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Tumor Board & Research Meeting Schedule | |
Meetings in italics should be attended by all fellows.
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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)
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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)
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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
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9:00 AM | Cancer Research Data Meeting - Thomas Heist | 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
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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 | 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)
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Connect with Georgetown Lombardi on Social Media | |
If you would like to share news or updates from your department, please get in touch with Sarah Riehl. | | | | |
