Whirlwind

Greetings from the vortex. The external environment is so tumultuous that it’s hard for any of us to keep our bearings. But when I take a step back and examine things as dispassionately as I can, I still sense that the underlying order of things is intact, despite the centripetal forces that threaten to tear things apart. We are in a time of change, to be sure, but the mission continues, the work is important and, at least for me, the passion I bring to that work is undiluted.

Read more.

Lombardi Lectures & Meetings

Held in the New Research Building Auditorium (Zoom option).

Held in W302 (Zoom option).

Lombardi Gala Brings Together Friends, Supporters

Continuing a tradition spanning nearly four decades, more than 450 friends and supporters of Georgetown Lombardi gathered for an evening of elegant fun and fundraising at the 37th annual Lombardi Gala, held at The Anthem at the Wharf in D.C. Read more about this event.

Registration for the Research & Education Symposium Opens This Week

Registration for the 2025 MedStar Health–Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium opens this Wednesday, March 26, and continues through May 9. Reserve your place at this event offering professional workshops, research presentations, networking opportunities, an exhibit hall and special guest Norah O’Donnell. All MedStar Health and Georgetown University community members are invited to attend the symposium, held on Monday, May 19, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. View more information.

Watch a video invitation to this year's symposium.

Registration Closing Today: Research and Innovation Showcase 2025

The Research and Innovation Showcase 2025 takes place Tuesday, April 1, 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Lohrfink Auditorium in the Hariri Building. This event highlights discoveries, celebrates innovation, features new ventures, and connects academia with industry and investors. It includes research presentations, an industry panel discussion, and a venture fair presenting new entrepreneurial companies and teams from the Georgetown community. Sponsored by the Office of Technology Commercialization and Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative. Register by today, 3/24.

I-REACH Annual Meeting

This year's I-REACH (Infrastructure for REsearch in Aging, Cancer and Health) Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday, March 26, from 12:30 - 5:00 p.m. virtually via Zoom. It features keynote addresses by Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD, of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, on “Disparities in Cancer and Aging” and Gary Miller, PhD, of Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, on “Exposomics in Cancer and Aging.” View the full agenda. All current I-REACH members will receive a calendar invite with Zoom joining info. Those who are not members who wish to attend should fill out the I-REACH membership application before 3/25. For questions, email mdb33@georgetown.edu or mem323@georgetown.edu.

Deadline Extended to Submit a Poem to Read at the Poetry Café

The Annual Poetry Café celebrates the healing that comes through the written word. This year’s event takes place on Thursday, April 23, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.; the theme is “Hope Through Community.” If you would like to read at this event, please submit your poem to lombardiartsadmin@georgetown.edu by this Friday, March 28. Sponsored by the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program and the Department of Mission & Pastoral Care. This event will be held in-person in MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Chapel with Zoom livestream option. RSVP to attend in-person. RSVP for Zoom link.

Call for Applications: GUMC Faculty Mentoring Program Fall 2025 Cohort

The GUMC Faculty Mentoring Program for New and Early Career Faculty is open for applications for a new cohort of 20 mentees and five pod leaders. Information sessions on March 25 at 12:00 p.m. and April 8 at 4:30 p.m. will discuss the program, explain what mentees and pod leaders can expect, and address any questions. RSVP for an information session. Learn more and apply on the GUMC Faculty Mentoring Program webpage. The deadline to apply is April 11. Contact gumcmentoring@georgetown.edu with any questions.

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. Download full eligibility criteria, application and submission instructions. Application deadline: Monday, May 5, 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.

Join Our Workshop Series

We had a successful and well-attended second session of the Georgetown Lombardi 2025 Workshop Series, where participants explored implicit norms, group dynamics, subconscious cues and multi-level communication in teamwork.

Don’t miss the next session with team dynamics expert Christy Foldenauer: “Enhancing Excellence in Academic Collaboration,” held in-person on Wednesday, April 23, from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. EDT. Lunch will be provided. Location: 2115 Wisconsin Ave, NW., Conference Room G-308, Ground Level.

Learn more and register for this and other upcoming workshops in the Georgetown Lombardi 2025 Workshop Series. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the early registration list, email lombardidei@georgetown.edu.

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Research Presentation: “Is Age Just a Number?”

Presented by Kathryn Lowry, MD, physician, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, associate professor, Department of Radiology, University of Washington. Join this presentation in G313 Conference Room, 2115 Wisconsin Ave. or via Zoom.

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

CDI Seminar: “Development of Modular CRISPR Base Editing and Prime Editing Platforms for Applications in Gene and Cell Therapy”

Presented by Shengkan (Victor) Jin, PhD, professor of pharmacology, Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Join this seminar via Zoom.

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

Spring 2025 University-Employed Research Track/Line Appointments and Promotions Workshop

A workshop for those interested in appointments, promotions and mentoring on the University-employed Research Track/Line in the School of Health, School of Medicine-BGE, and School of Nursing. Presenters will discuss criteria for appointment and promotion, the application process and faculty development options. Sponsored by the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs, the Appointments, Promotions and Tenure committees and the Committee on Appointments and Promotions. RSVP for this Zoom workshop.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Bhussry Seminar Series: “Brain MR Elastography: A New and Notable Neuroimaging Contrast”

Presented by Grace McIlvain, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and radiology, affiliated member of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, affiliated member of the Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York. Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. Join this seminar via Zoom.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

AI in Data Analysis

This session demonstrates how AI can assist in organizing large datasets and answering complex research questions. It includes practical tools for data organization and light coding assistance. Sponsored by CNDLS. Join this workshop via Zoom.

12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Difficult Conversations Workshop

Join Georgetown University’s Lisa Krim, senior advisor to the president for faculty relations, for a workshop focused on improving your ability to navigate difficult discussions. Sponsored by Georgetown Women in Medicine. Join this event in Leavey Center - Bulldog Alley. RSVP.

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Structure for Debriefing Microaggressions in the Learning Environment

This Equity Forward Faculty Workshop is presented by Sneha Daya, MD, associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Register for this Zoom workshop.

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

PhD Thesis Defense

Presented by Fatemeh Razavipour, PhD candidate in the Tumor Biology Program. Join this event in W302, New Research Building or via Zoom.

1:00 - 2:00 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 Zoom workshop.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Oncology Grand Rounds Series: “Deciphering the Role of Neutrophils in Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer”

Presented by Leah Cook, PhD, senior investigator, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute. Join in-person, New Research Building Auditorium, with Zoom option.

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Exploiting Metabolic Vulnerabilities in IDH1-Mutant Gliomas”

Presented by Mioara Larion, PhD, principal investigator, Cancer Metabolism, Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute. Join this seminar in Warwick Evans Conference Room, Building D or via Zoom.

1:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Research and Innovation Showcase 2025

This half-day event highlights discoveries, celebrates innovation, features new ventures, and connects academia with industry and investors. It includes research presentations, an industry panel discussion, and a venture fair presenting new entrepreneurial companies and teams from the Georgetown community. Sponsored by the Office of Technology Commercialization and Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative. Join this event in Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building. Register by 3/24.

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 this Zoom seminar series.

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Cancer Research Data Meeting

Presented by Prerna Singh. Join this meeting in-person in W302 New Research Building with Zoom option.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

PhD Thesis Defense

Arthur Patrick McDeed IV, MS, PhD candidate in Biostatistics, presents “Cell-Type Deconvolution of Liquid Biopsy Samples Using Methylated cfDNA: Methods and Clinical Applications.” Join this event in Proctor Harvey Amphitheater, North, Med-Dent Building.

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series: “Mind the Gap (Junction): Imaging the Dynamics of Hormone Secretion in the Pancreas”

Presented by Richard Benninger, PhD, professor of bioengineering and pediatrics, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus. Join this seminar in the New Research Building Auditorium or via Zoom.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Oncology Grand Rounds Series: “Epigenetic Regulators of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pathways in Melanoma”

Presented by Ze’ev Ronai, PhD, director, Translational Research Institute, professor, Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Join in-person, New Research Building Auditorium, with Zoom option.

Publications

Development, Review, and Activation of Thoracic Oncology Investigator-Initiated Trials



Generalized Evolutionary Classifier for Evolutionary Guided Precision Medicine

Targeting Prostate Cancer by New Bispecific Monocyte Engager Directed to Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen

Large Scale Multi-omic Analysis Identifies Anatomic Differences and Immunogenic Potential in Subtypes of Leiomyosarcoma

Differential Effects of IL4I1 Protein on Lymphocytes From Healthy and Multiple Sclerosis Patients

In the News

Pharmacy Practice News Breakthrough in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: Rybrevant Plus Lazcluze Extends Overall Survival

NEW: 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 early-career 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 for what is anticipated to be six grants. View full application information. Direct questions to Kelli Lozada Reese, pbp.2vp@gmail.com. Applications must be submitted via email as well as mailed to the office of the National Second Vice President by Tuesday, June 10.

FY26 Toulmin Pilot Project Awards

The Toulmin Pilot Projects are designed to target innovative multidisciplinary biomedical research that will lead to grant funding submission in the next fiscal year. Apply by Tuesday, April 1, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The program is open to full-time research faculty at GUMC.

• View the RFP for eligibility and application details.
• Submit applications via Google Form.

The Toulmin Pilot Projects are supported through the philanthropy of Harry and Virginia Toulmin.

Winn Career Development Award for Early Stage Physician Investigators

The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award for Early-Stage Investigator Physicians (formerly known as the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award) is now accepting applications for its fifth cohort of scholars. This a two-year program designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator physicians who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM) or who have a demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in clinical research and whose research focuses on cancer, cardiovascular disease or immunologic disorders. The program prepares participants to become independent clinical trial investigators engaged in advancing health equity through their research and mentoring. Read more about this program. Apply via this portal. Application Deadline: May 12. Submit questions to winncda@vcu.edu

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 March 21, 2025).

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 | Thesis defense: Fatemeh Razavipour | 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 | Leah Cook, PhD: “Deciphering the Role of Neutrophils in Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer | 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)