Change of Plans

I hope you had a good week and weekend. We were supposed to travel to Burlington, Vermont, last weekend for the yearly in-person meeting of a foundation that supports cancer research in that state. I am involved because I did some of my training in Burlington and I know something about cancer. The plan was for me to attend the meeting on Monday morning, and then Harriet and I were planning to do some fall foliage leaf peeping for a day or so. But plans are made to be changed. Read more.

Lombardi Lectures & Meetings

Join these lectures in the New Research Building Auditorium (Zoom option).

Join these meetings in W302 (Zoom option).

Lombardi Women Celebrate Breast Cancer Patients and Researchers

From its humble beginnings 18 years ago with a group of women at the Palm restaurant in Tysons Corner, Lombardi Women: Connecting for a Cure has grown into a fundraising powerhouse, netting more than $5 million in donations for breast cancer research at Georgetown Lombardi. This year’s Lombardi Women took place on September 26 at Capitol One Hall in northern Virginia. Read more about the event.

Get Up to Speed on BellRinger at Rider Orientation

BellRinger is providing an optional rider orientation via Zoom to share details about BellRinger Weekend, training and safety tips, guidelines and more. Pick one session to attend; the same information will be covered at both. This is your chance to ask any questions you have about the ride.



• Rider Orientation #1: Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.: RSVP
• Rider Orientation #2: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.: RSVP

Apply to Attend the Faculty Entrepreneurship Academy

The Faculty Entrepreneurship Academy is an exclusive program designed to equip Georgetown faculty and innovators with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to launch and grow spinout companies. It will be held in two parts on October 15 and 28 from 8:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day at a location in the Rafik B. Hariri Building. Apply by October 9 to attend. Once that deadline has passed, selected applicants will be invited to register via Eventbrite. This program is part of the Georgetown Tech Ventures initiative.

Request for Applications — American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Pilot Project Grants

Up to three American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (IRG) Pilot Project Grants will be funded to help launch promising new projects by early career faculty members. These are one-year, non-renewable $30,000 research grants that are funded through Georgetown Lombardi’s IRG, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Open to early career faculty (e.g. assistant professor or equivalent), who are eligible to apply for independent national competitive research grants (e.g. NIH R-level grants, ACS Research Scholar Grants, and similar), but who do not currently hold and have not previously held such a grant, with the exception of an R00, which is allowed. View application package with full eligibility criteria, application form, and mentoring requirements. Application deadline: Monday, November 4, at 11:59 p.m. For scientific or eligibility questions, contact Dr. Rebecca Riggins (PI of the ACS IRG), rbr7@georgetown.edu. For application download or upload questions, contact Denise Harley, flessatd@georgetown.edu, or Karen Howenstein, khowenst@georgetown.edu. 

15th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: Innovations in GI Cancer

Registration is now open for the 15th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: Innovations in GI Cancer, held in person this November 22 to 23 at the Westin Georgetown. The symposium provides a unique forum for discussion, networking, and debate on critical issues related to GI cancers.

Presented as part of the symposium: Thomas R. Schafer Memorial Lecture, Friday, November 22, 1:20 - 2:20 p.m., featuring Anirban Maitra, MBBS, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presenting “Why Is Pancreatic Cancer So Hard To Treat and What Can We Do About It.”

Registration is free for Georgetown and MedStar staff and trainees with the promo code Guest2024. View the full agenda and register.

Curating DEI News and Resources for the Georgetown Lombardi Community

Georgetown Lombardi's DEI Office curates opportunities and information of interest to our constituents. Be sure to check our Announcements page for updates.

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Cancer Cell Biology Program Meeting

Meeting agenda includes the presentation “Identifying Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Glioblastoma” by Nagi Ayad, PhD, professor, Department of Oncology, Georgetown. Join this meeting via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CDI Seminar: “Nuclear Envelope to Human Disease. What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been”

Presented by Howard J. Worman, MD, professor of medicine, pathology and cell biology, Columbia University. Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series: “Novel Strategies to Target Latent Reservoirs”

Alberto Bosque, PhD, associate professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University. Sponsored by the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Join this lecture in Med-Dent NE301 or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CDI Seminar: “Elucidating Principles of Cortical Interneuron Synaptic Organization in Health and Disease”

Presented by Edmund Au, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Faculty Orientation and Resource Refresher Session

This session is for University employed faculty who are new or who could use a refresher on available faculty development resources. Register to attend. Presentations will be posted on the OFAA orientation webpage. 

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

“Developing Inhibitors for PAX3::FOXO1 in Rhabdomyosarcoma,” presented by Taryn Shaw, PhD student in the Tumor Biology Program. Join the meeting in W302 or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Radiation Sciences Working Group Meeting

Featuring the talk “FLASH Proton Therapy: The Journey From Basic Research Findings to Human Clinical Trials,” presented by Constantinos Koumenis, PhD, Richard Chamberlain Endowed Professor and vice chair for research, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania. Join this meeting via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

GUMC Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Atypical Sphingolipids in Mitochondrial Function”

Presented by L. Ashley Cowart, PhD, professor, biochemistry and molecular biology, director, Lipidomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University. Join this lecture in Warwick Evans Conference Room, Building D or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

14th Annual Robert B. Dickson Memorial Lecture

Leena A. Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD, professor, food science and nutrition, University of Minnesota, member, Masonic Cancer Center and Chemoprevention Program, University of Minnesota Medical Center, assistant director for faculty affairs and leader, women’s health section, Hormel Institute, presents “Why Does Social Isolation Increase the Risk of Cancer and Several Other Diseases?” as the guest speaker at this year’s lecture held in memory of Robert B. Dickson, PhD, who was the Cecilia Fisher Rudman Distinguished Professor of Breast Cancer Research, associate director for basic science research and education, and co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at Georgetown Lombardi. Join this lecture in the New Research Building Auditorium and via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

Meetings & Events Next Week

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CDI Seminar: “Dynamic Modeling for Public Health: Applications in Infectious Diseases and Early-Onset Cancers”

Presented by Wan Yang, PhD, assistant professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Join via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “DNA End Resection: Cutting Away Nucleotides to Maintain Genomic Integrity”

Presented by Hardeep Kaur, PhD, research scientist-senior, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas, Health Science Center San Antonio. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Thesis Defense

Presented by Erin Scheidemann, PhD candidate in the Tumor Biology Program. Join this thesis defense in Warwick Evans Conference Room, Building D, or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar). 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

The John F. Potter, MD, Lecture

The recipients of this year’s John F. Potter, MD, Awards present lectures about their research:

• Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, PhD, associate professor of oncology, Georgetown, member, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Georgetown Lombardi, presents “Addressing Disparities in Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling and Genetic Testing Uptake Through Community-Engaged Research”
• Sreejith Nair, PhD, assistant professor of oncology, Georgetown, member, Cancer Cell Biology Program, Georgetown Lombardi, presents “Beyond the Known: Exploring Hidden Targets and Mechanisms of Classic Cancer Drugs”

Join these lectures in the New Research Building Auditorium. (Add to Google Calendar)

Publications

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics of Ribociclib in Black Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer the LEANORA Study

Large-Scale Analysis of CDH1 Mutations Defines a Distinctive Molecular Subset With Treatment Implications in Gastric Cancer

Neutral Evolution of Rare Cancer Mutations in the Computer and the Clinic

Melanoma Research Alliance RFP for Multiple Awards

The Melanoma Research Alliance has issued a request for proposals for preclinical, translational and early clinical research with the potential to produce unusually high impact, near-term advancements in melanoma prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

This cycle, proposals will be accepted for Established Investigator Awards, Academic-Industry Partnership Award (for Established Investigator Awards), Young Investigator Awards, Pilot Awards, Dermatology Career Development Awards and Special Opportunity Team Science Awards, Academic-Industry Partnership Award (for Special Opportunity Team Science Awards). View full descriptions of each award opportunity offered, including all Special Opportunities, as well as eligibility criteria and instructions.

Key deadlines:

• October 21: Eligibility Checklist for Young Investigator & Dermatology Career Development Award applicants due
• November 4: Proposals for Established Investigator, Young Investigator, Pilot and Dermatology Career Development awards due
• January 6: Invited Special Opportunity Team Science Award full proposals due
• April 2025: Awardees notified of funding decisions

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Solicitation PHS-2025-1 Call for Proposals

Propel your groundbreaking cancer technology innovation toward commercialization by applying for a FY2025 SBIR Contract. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are soliciting proposals from small business concerns that possess the research and development expertise to conduct innovative research that will contribute toward NIH or CDC mission needs and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program objectives. The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, October 18, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Visit the Current Contracts page for more information or contact Tanya Renwick, contract analyst for the Office of Acquisitions, at ncioasbir@mail.nih.gov.

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 | Taryn Shaw: “Developing Inhibitors for PAX3::FOXO1 in Rhabdomyosarcoma” | 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 | 14th Annual Robert B. Dickson Memorial Lecture: “Why Does Social Isolation Increase the Risk of Cancer and Several Other Diseases?” by Leena A. Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

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

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