Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is off to a good start. We had a wonderful winter break, filled with family and friends, and even a five-day visit to the beach. I know it is not for everyone, but I love being at our beach house in the winter when the area is quiet but the restaurants are open!

I am fully back in the swing of things at work, energized and looking forward to executing the plans we have for the cancer center.

Read more.

Apply by This Friday to Participate in the 2024 Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest

Georgetown Lombardi is teaming up once again with the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show to help raise money for pediatric cancer research as part of the Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest. The contest requires hearty contestants to remain in constant contact with a Hyundai vehicle from Friday evening January 19 to Sunday afternoon, January 21 (with a few breaks), all in hopes of driving away in a 2024 Hyundai IONIQ6. (Pictured is the winning moment from 2023’s Hands on Hope Contest.)

Six contestants, three each from Georgetown Lombardi and Children’s National Hospital, will compete over the 50-hour contest period. At the contest’s conclusion, $100,000 in pediatric cancer research grants from the Washington Area Hyundai dealers will be awarded to each institution: The winner’s home institution will receive a $60,000 grant; the other medical center will receive a $40,000 grant.

Those interested in representing Georgetown Lombardi in this year’s contest may use this online form to submit an entry for consideration by this Friday, January 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET. View more information about the Hands On Hope Contest, including full rules.

Call for Proposals: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Cancer Research, Education & Training Opportunities and Funding

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Georgetown Lombardi, in collaboration with the Cancer Research, Education and Training (CRTEC) Office, is issuing a call for proposals for 2024: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Cancer Research, Education & Training Opportunities and Funding. Funding is available to faculty, staff or trainees doing work affiliated with Georgetown Lombardi, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack Meridian Health or MedStar Health.

Applications can be submitted for the following specific initiatives:

• Trainee Stipends for Georgetown Lombardi Students/Trainees (Summer, Fall, Spring)
• Booster Funding for Georgetown Lombardi Faculty
• Leadership Coaching / Training for Georgetown Lombardi Faculty
• Scientific Editing and Grant Writing Support for Georgetown Lombardi Faculty
• Development Funding for Georgetown Lombardi Staff

Opportunities have different deadlines and requirements; the earliest deadlines start January 22. Applications will be evaluated on applicant eligibility, alignment of the proposal with Georgetown Lombardi DEI aims, clarity of the proposal’s goals and outcomes, and relevance to Georgetown Lombardi’s overall mission. View more information and a link to the application portal. Contact LombardiDEI@georgetown.edu with questions.

DEADLINE APPROACHING: Ruesch Center GI Program Funds Award

The Ruesch Center is soliciting research proposals for 2024. Funding will be available to Georgetown Lombardi, John Theurer and MedStar Health scientists and clinicians with a GI cancer-relevant research focus — basic, clinical, or translational. This funding is intended to foster translational collaborations and generate new hypotheses and results to prove them, leading to jointly authored publications and externally funded grants. New one-year pilot collaborative project funding awards and repeat one-year funding to the previous year’s awardees whose pilot projects have generated encouraging data are available. Up to four multi-investigator-initiated projects will be funded up to $50,000 each.

There is dedicated funding available for the following:

• A pancreatic cancer research project
• An immunotherapy-related project
• Projects on any promising GI cancer-related topic. Areas of GI cancer research interest include the microbiome, liver metastasis, liver and biliary cancers, and CRC (early onset)

View more information and application procedure details. Submit a letter of intent to marshalj@georgetown.edu. LOI Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

2024 MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium: Abstract Submissions Open This Wednesday

The 2024 symposium takes place Monday, April 29, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. It will feature research posters for peer-reviewed projects from across the academic health system. All MedStar Health and Georgetown University physicians, nurses, researchers, staff, residents, and fellows are encouraged to submit. Visit the symposium portal for complete submission guidelines as well as resources on preparing an abstract. Abstract submissions will be accepted starting this Wednesday, January 10, through February 5.

Diversity in Cancer Research Summer 2024 Undergraduate Internship Program Now Accepting Applications

This internship program is open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with an interest in STEM, cancer and/or biomedical research. Applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research are strongly encouraged to apply.

About the program:

• Ten-week full-time program available beginning June 3, 2024 ($5,000 stipend).
• In-Person/virtual workshops, seminars, scientific meetings, mentoring and career development activities during the 2024-’25 academic year.
• Carefully matched mentors and peer mentors for each intern.
• Georgetown campus housing offered for in-person interns (in addition to stipend)

Application deadline: February 16, 2024. View more information and application portal. Questions: cancerresearchtraining@georgetown.edu.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Translating Research Discoveries Into Impactful Solutions: Working With Georgetown’s OTC” 

Tuesday, January 9

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, PhD, vice president for the Office of Technology Commercialization, Georgetown University, presents a session dedicated to understanding and maximizing the collaboration with the Office of Technology Commercialization. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar via Zoom.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

Thursday, January 11

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Rachael Maynard, an MD/PhD student in the Tumor Biology Program, presents “Fibroblast Activation Protein, Natural Killer Cells, and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.” Mentor:Louis Weiner, MD. Join the meeting in W302 or via Zoom.

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series

Thursday, January 11

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Presented by Manu Platt, PhD, distinguished scholar and senior investigator, NIBIB, director, Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration (βETA), chief, Mechanics and Tissue Remodeling In Computational & Experimental Systems (MATRICES), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH. Held in-person in the New Research Building Auditorium with Zoom option.

Survivorship Research Initiative Seminar Series: “Achieving Health Equity in Cancer and Palliative Care”

Friday, January 12

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

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

Presented by Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD, chief medical officer, The Tisch Cancer Hospital, vice president for cancer clinical services, The Mount Sinai Health System, professor for the departments of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Join this seminar via Zoom.

The Annual Frank G. Standaert Lectureship in Pharmacology: “Molecular and Genetic Basis of Opioid Use Disorder: Mice and Men”

Friday, January 12

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Presented by Julie A. Blendy, PhD, professor and vice chair of systems pharmacology and translational therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Join this lecture in-person in the Med-Dent Building, NE401.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Mapping in Utero Cell Fate Dynamics Using Lineage Barcoding” 

Tuesday, January 16

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Reza Kalhor, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering,

molecular biology & genetics, neuroscience, and genetic medicine, Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar via Zoom.

Distinguish, Promote, & Simplify your Research Output with ORCID presented by DML

Wednesday, January 17

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Learn how to take advantage of ORCID (including the connection with GUFaculty360) to help promote your research output. Presented by Dahlgren Memorial Library. Register to join this workshop via Zoom.

Noticing Education Campaigns or Public Health Messages About Vaping Among Youth in the United States, Canada and England From 2018 to 2022



The FANCI/FANCD2 Complex Links DNA Damage Response to R-loop Regulation Through SRSF1-Mediated mRNA Export

Yahoo Finance Werewolf Therapeutics Appoints Michael Atkins, M.D., to its Board of Directors

NEW V Foundation Women Scientists Innovation Award for Cancer Research

Sustaining the careers of women in research and preventing the loss of women from academic careers focused on cancer is paramount to accomplishing the V Foundation’s mission. To help level the playing field for women in cancer research, Georgetown Lombardi may nominate one applicant to apply for the V Foundation’s “Women Scientists Innovation Award for Cancer Research.” This grant opportunity is specifically for cancer research led by a woman Principal Investigator. The nominee may apply in either the V Scholar or the Translational grant type (note the strict eligibility criteria and scope for each). Those interested should submit a letter of intent to Sharon Levy (sgl5@georgetown.edu) by Monday, January 22.

DEADLINE THIS WEEK: Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Awards to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Awards to Promote Diversity and Inclusion represent a focused effort to encourage and support investigators from diverse backgrounds that are underrepresented in cancer research and to foster their career advancement. Proposed projects must be basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, population health, and/or community-based cancer research projects designed to accelerate the discovery, development, and application of new agents to treat breast cancer. Research that aims to advance the science of understanding cancer health disparities in racial and ethnic minorities that has relevance to breast cancer will also be considered. The grants provide $150,000 over two years for expenses related to the research project. View more information, eligibility criteria and application instructions. Application Deadline: 1:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 9, 2024.

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.

Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK)

The Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) is a one-year research opportunity open to current college seniors and those who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree within the last 36 months who are:

• From a racial, ethnic, or other group underrepresented in biomedical fields, including first-generation college students, those from economically and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity, and those with disabilities
• A U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA recipient who is eligible to legally work in the United States 
• Strongly committed to a future career in research, with a curiosity for cancer research, and planning to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD degree following completion of post-baccalaureate research

The program will provide students who have the potential to become leaders in cancer research with rigorous scientific training and a network of mentors and peers to support their next steps into graduate school and beyond. The award includes a stipend and expense allowances for the recipient. Application deadline: Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. View more details and application guidelines.

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 - Rachael Maynard: “Fibroblast Activation Protein, Natural Killer Cells, and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma” | 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 | none | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

12:00 PM | Dr. Omogbehin - Rad Onc Lecture | Podium A | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)

1:00 PM | Oday Elmanaseer - Journal Club (Oncology-MWHC) | 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 | Joseph Roswarski - Pre-viewing Lecture Assigned. Aggressive lymphomas/DLBCL Cases | Podium A | Teams Conference Link (Text In Code: 81202 or 81203 / Text In Telephone: 202-796-7323)