Hollings Headlines // February 2022 |
|
Exciting changes for Dr. DuBois! |
|
Transitioning full time to Hollings
Our director Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., has chosen to focus his talent and energy full time on his role here at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, after a very successful six-year tenure as dean of the College of Medicine. This is quite timely, given our heightened focus on obtaining comprehensive National Cancer Institute status for the center.
In the announcement, Dr. David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, praised the numerous achievements that Dr. DuBois has made in the College of Medicine and how this leadership transition will open up new opportunities at Hollings.
“Achieving this status will be an enormous win for the state of South Carolina and the patients we serve,” Cole said in the announcement. “MUSC is privileged to have someone of Dr. DuBois’ professional and scientific caliber positioned to help us on that journey. His extensive national network, research portfolio and leadership achievements to date give us great confidence that he continues to be the right person, in the right place and at the right time for this critical work.”
Dr. DuBois will transition from his role as dean on April 1.
Dr. DuBois said he’s thrilled moving forward to be able to target his focus on the strategic initiatives at Hollings. “We are at an exciting moment of change at Hollings, not only in the rapid evolution of cancer research and care, but also in the expansion of our vision for what can be accomplished in our state and beyond,” he said.
“We will need the MUSC Board of Trustee’s support and our Hollings Board support as we embark on implementing our new strategic plan that has been revised during the past year through numerous planning sessions with senior leadership and cancer program leaders. We have set ambitious goals, including increasing support from our institution and state legislature as we map out the best ways to achieve comprehensive status with NCI and provide the best quality of care to our state residents.”
|
|
DuBois takes on new role with The Mark Foundation
DuBois was appointed Executive Chairman for The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The Mark Foundation announced that its founder, Alex Knaster, seen to the left, has committed to funding $500 million for cutting-edge cancer research - among the largest donation ever made by an individual in support of cancer research.
Knaster said he is excited to see the progress that will be made under DuBois' leadership. "As The Mark Foundation enters its fifth year supporting groundbreaking cancer research, this funding commitment, together with Ray DuBois’ experience and vision, will be vital in increasing our impact on cancer research and patients’ lives,” Knaster said. “Ray is an internationally recognized leader in cancer research, and The Mark Foundation has an outstanding record funding world class research. It’s a winning combination.”
|
|
Cancer prevention and awareness month |
|
Making small changes can have a big impact on cancer risk and outcome. Sarah Tucker Price, M.D., Ph.D., uses an innovative in-house primary care program at Hollings to educate patients about healthy habits and the importance of treating other medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD, that could impact a cancer patient's risk, treatment and outcome.
"A cancer patient who also has diabetes is more prone to neuropathy. Neuropathy is likely to worsen during chemotherapy treatment,” Price said. “The worsening neuropathy is going to have a negative impact on the quality of life and increase that patient’s fall risk, which, then, in turn can lead to other health issues arising.”
|
|
Cancer survivor spreads awareness one song at a time |
|
Vance Kennedy hopes that by sharing his story, he can show others there can be a fulfilling life after cancer. He's back with his soul band and enjoying what he loves to do - sing and entertain.
|
|
Hollings Research Spotlight |
|
Discovering a new method for targeting mutant RAS |
|
A decade-long journey has come to fruition for Hollings researcher John O'Bryan, Ph.D. O'Bryan and collegues demonstrated a new therapeutic way to block a protein that is frequently mutated in cancers. These proof-of-principle findings were published on Feb. 8 in Cell Reports.
“RAS is one of the most central and critical regulators of cell proliferation, and it is also the most mutated in cancers. Mutated RAS drives the growth of tumors. This makes it an attractive therapeutic target," he said.
|
|
Improving complications after pediatric transplant |
|
Congratulations to Hollings researcher Sophie Paczesny, M.D., Ph.D., who received a $625,635 four-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to investigate solutions to help doctors to fight complications after pediatric bone marrow transplantation.
“My goal is to improve our understanding of the signaling mechanisms in lung injury after BMT, particularly as they relate to idiopathic pneumonia syndrome,” Paczesny said.
|
|
Season 3 of Science Never Sleeps
Listen to the most recent episode of Science Never Sleeps featuring Dr. Lori McMahon, Vice President for Research and a professor of neurobiology. In this episode, McMahon goes back to basics to explain what research is and why it should be important to everyone.
|
|
Send us your news
Got news? We have outlets, from our news site to our video boards! We’d love to help promote your latest journal publications, grants, clinical advances, awards, events and patient stories. Please contact the Hollings communications team to share your news or if you have questions. |
|
Know someone who might be interested in receiving the latest cancer stories and research in their inbox? Forward this email to a friend! |
|
|
Hollings publications and featured trials |
|
|
|
|
|
|
