October 10, 2024:

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) study, BTCRC-GI15-015, led by Al B. Benson III, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, was published in The Oncologist on September 18, 2024. The article is titled, “A phase II study of FOLFOX combined with nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic or advanced unresectable gastric, gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium trial.”

Congratulations to all co-authors and study teams whose hard work led to this publication.

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October 1, 2024: 

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) for its 2025 Kenneth and Verna Mae Jessen Award. This award will provide $65,000 in funding. It is expected that 100% of the award will support direct research costs. The Big Ten CRC Foundation will provide up to 10% overhead (F&A) from other funding sources.

The Big Ten CRC Foundation established the Kenneth and Verna Mae Jessen Award to support basic, correlative, clinical, or population science oncology research based at a Big Ten CRC institution. The award is made possible through the generous support of the Verna Mae Jessen Trust.

The Jessen family’s passion for oncology research stems from their long history with cancer. Several members of the family, including Kenneth, Verna Mae, and two of their siblings fought battles with cancer.

“Our family recognizes the great strides already made and the importance of continuing to fund cancer research,” said Tom Jensen, nephew of Kenneth and Verna Mae Jessen and administrator of the Verna Mae Jessen Trust.

Award recipients must be employed by Big Ten CRC member institutions.

Applicants should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) describing the proposed project to Jonathan Ang at jang@hoosiercancer.org by December 1, 2024.

Read the full RFA here: 2025 Jessen Award

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative clinical trials and observational studies that seek to improve the lives of cancer patients in the diverse communities we serve by leveraging the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium creates a unique team research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to treatment and prevention. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow. Since its founding, the Big Ten CRC has activated nearly 40 clinical trials across a wide range of cancer types, more than 1,000 participants have enrolled in Big Ten CRC studies, and more than 500 researchers have joined Big Ten CRC Clinical Trial Working Groups.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 18 Big Ten institutions provide direct financial support for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.