That Was the Week That Was

There was a mid-1960’s political satire show, aired on one of the major networks, called “That Was the Week That Was,” based on a BBC show, both of which starred David Frost. For some reason I still remember the theme song (it started with, “That was the week that was, it’s over, and it’s done”), and its memory always surfaces after I’ve had a big week.

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Lombardi Lectures & Meetings

“Further, Faster: Working Together to End Cancer As We Know It”

Thursday, September 26

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

All are invited to attend this special lecture by W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, MMHC, director, National Cancer Institute, presented as part of the GUMC Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series. In-person attendance in the New Research Building Auditorium is highly encouraged (Zoom option available). Reception with food and beverages to follow. (Add to Google Calendar)

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

Join these meetings in W302 (Zoom option).

Georgetown Lombardi’s Jeffrey Toretsky, MD, Honored with Hyundai Hope on Wheels Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology

Hyundai Hope On Wheels, one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, awarded its first Hyundai Hope on Wheels Endowed Chair for Pediatric Oncology to Jeffrey Toretsky, MD, at Georgetown Lombardi. The Georgetown professor of pediatrics and oncology was recognized during a Hyundai Hope On Wheels ceremony Sept. 17 at Georgetown University Medical Center. Read more about this news.

Celebrating ‘Thrivership’

Survivors of melanoma and kidney cancer gathered to celebrate “thrivership” during a luncheon that might not have been possible as recently as 10 years ago as people with these types of cancer are living longer and experiencing cures. Michael Atkins, MD, deputy director of Georgetown Lombardi, welcomed his patients and many others at the Thrivership Luncheon on Sept. 18 at the Annapolis Yacht Club, hosted by Bernard and Mary Chris Jammet. Read more about this event.

Virtual Faculty Orientation and Resource Refresher Sessions Available

If you are a new faculty member or could use a refresher on available faculty development resources, plan to attend one of these sessions.

• Non-university employed faculty (employed by hospital affiliates such as MedStar Health) may attend Wednesday, October 2, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
• University employed faculty may attend Wednesday, October 9, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Register to attend. Presentations will be posted on the OFAA orientation webpage for those who cannot attend. 

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. 

The Excitement is Building for BellRinger

Watch for a message this week celebrating one month until BellRinger! There’s still time to register for the October 26 ride: See the BellRinger website for details.

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.

Introducing DISCOVER

The Lombardi offices of DEI, Community Outreach and Engagement and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination are assisting with a new investigator training grant at Georgetown University Medical Center: DISCOVER (Development of Investigators Supporting Community Outreach and Value of Engagement in Health Disparities Research).

Funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, the initiative aims to develop and support early career investigators’ community-engaged research to address health inequities and improve outcomes in cancer, stroke and maternal health among Black and Hispanic/Latino residents in the Washington, D.C., area.

Read more about DISCOVER, including comments from Kristi Graves, PhD, Lombardi DEI associate director, about the importance of community engagement and investigator development.

Fall Research Stipend Funding Opportunity Deadline Approaching

The call for proposals for Lombardi DEI Fall Trainee Stipends is due October 1. This funding opportunity supports activities that allow undergraduate and graduate students and trainees from backgrounds underrepresented in research to become or stay involved in cancer research.

The trainee/student research stipends can be applied to:

• Research support on a project
• Up to 10 hours per week for eight or more weeks.

Read the full call for proposals. Contact LombardiDEI@georgetown.edu with questions. 

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

CDI Seminar: “Graft Versus Host Disease: A Tale of Life and Death”

Presented by James L. M. Ferrara, MD, DSc, Ward-Coleman Professor of Cancer Medicine and director, Center for Translational Research in Hematologic Malignancies, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York City. Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

11:30 - 12:30 p.m.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series: “Complement and IFN-γ in Antifungal Defense and Autoimmunity: From the Bench to Patients”

Presented by Michail Lionakis, MD, ScD, Senior Investigator, Acting Chief, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome (LHIM), Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology (LCIM), Chief, Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH. Join this seminar in Med-Dent NE301 or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Bioelectricity for Drug Delivery and Imaging”

Presented by Ambika Bajpayee, PhD, associate professor, Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

I2I OTC Seminar Series: “What is a Patent Portfolio and Why Should You Care?”

Derrick D. Rowe, PhD, JD, partner in the D.C. office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, leads a seminar for researchers, inventors and graduate students on how to develop a patent portfolio to support entrepreneurial endeavors. Join this event in the Warwick Evans Conference Room, Building D. Register. (Add to Google Calendar)

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

Presented by Marie Durr, PhD student in the Tumor Biology Program. Join the meeting in W302 or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series: “Understanding and Improving Immunotherapies for Kidney Cancer”

Presented by David Braun, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine (medical oncology), Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman Yale Scholar, Yale School of Medicine. Join in-person, New Research Building Auditorium, with Zoom option. (Add to Google Calendar)

3:00 - 4:00 p.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.

Meetings & Events Next Week

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

CDI Seminar: “CD147-CAR-NK for Solid Tumor Treatment and Immunological Synapse Application”

Presented by Dongfang Liu, PhD, associate professor with tenure, director of the Immunoassay Development Program, Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). Join this seminar via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Clinical Research Coordinator Seminar Series

Designed for clinical research professionals and others vested in the care of research participants, this series provides opportunities for professional development and updates on Georgetown policies, procedures and operations related to clinical research. Register for the Zoom seminar series. (add to Google Calendar)

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

Presented by Luz Ruiz, PhD student in the Tumor Biology Program. Join the meeting in W302 or via Zoom. (Add to Google Calendar)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Oncology Grand Rounds Lecture Series

Presented by Georgetown Lombardi’s Laura Rozek, PhD, Cancer Prevention & Control Program co-leader and professor of oncology, and Christopher Loffredo, PhD, director of the Office for Global Oncology and professor of oncology and biostatistics. Sponsored by Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Join in-person, New Research Building Auditorium, with Zoom option. (Add to Google Calendar)

In the News

Oncology News Central After “Astounding” Survival Results in SCLC, Updated Data Raise Question

WebWire James Beard Award-Winning Talent Join Forces for Chef Michael Mina’s Third Annual Wine & Dine at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

The Zebra Alexandria Hyundai/Genesis of Alexandria Celebrate the Grand Opening of their New Facilities in Alexandria, VA

PR Newswire Hyundai Hope On Wheels Announces Global Expansion and New Initiatives to Strengthen Impact on Pediatric Cancer at Annual Gala

Publications

8-OxodG: A Potential Biomarker for Chronic Oxidative Stress Induced by High-LET Radiation

Cell Therapy Using Ex Vivo Reprogrammed Macrophages Enhances Antitumor Immune Responses In Melanoma

Radiation Signature in Plasma Metabolome of Total-Body Irradiated Nonhuman Primates and Clinical Patients

Optimal Pair Matching Combined with Machine Learning Predicts a Significant Reduction in Myocardial Infarction Risk in African Americans Following Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation

The Association between Diet Quality and Metabolic Syndrome among Older African American Women

Datopotamab-Deruxtecan in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: The Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized I-SPY2.2 Phase 2 Trial

Datopotamab-Deruxtecan Plus Durvalumab in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: The Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized I-SPY2.2 Phase 2 Trial

A Brief Report of Lung Cancer Screening Utilization Before, During, and in the Later Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

West African Genetic Ancestry, Neighborhood Deprivation, and Prostate Cancer



Glutaminase 2 as a Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma

O-GlcNAc Informatics: Advances and Trends

ReCARving the Future: Bridging CAR T-cell Therapy Gaps With Synthetic Biology, Engineering, and Economic Insights

Real-World Outcomes of First-Line Treatment With Anti-PD(L)1-Based Combination Therapy for Nonsquamous Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multiregional Chart Review in Europe, Japan, and the United States

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:

• September 27: Letters of Intent (LOI) for Special Opportunity Team Science Awards and Special Opportunity Team Science Academic-Industry Partnership Award due
• 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

I-REACH Pilot Research Grant: Call for Letters of Intent

The I-REACH: Infrastructure for Research in Equity, Aging, Cancer and Health is requesting letters of intent for one-year pilot research grants intended to provide startup funds to support new investigators and increase collaborations at the intersection of aging, disparities and cancer survivorship. Priority areas for this round of pilots will focus on how heterogeneity in multilevel social determinants of health and aging affect disparities in cancer survivorship outcomes. I-REACH will consider funding two to three pilot projects, each with a total budget of $10,000 to $40,000 direct costs. These projects are expected to be feasible in one year and lead to manuscripts and grant proposals. Applicants must be I-REACH members or apply for membership. View more information, including full eligibility requirements and application process. Letters of intent due by October 1.

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.

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 September 18, 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 | Marie Durr | 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 | David Braun, MD, PhD: “Understanding and Improving Immunotherapies for Kidney Cancer” | New Research Building Auditorium / Zoom

12:00 PM | Oncology Grand Rounds (see above) | 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)