June 11, 2025: In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium spotlights a wide range of updates from our member institutions. This issue showcases groundbreaking discoveries, acts of philanthropy, and leadership that will shape not only the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium but also the future of cancer research itself. You’ll also find news of cancer conferences, new research facilities, and impactful research advances.
University of Illinois Cancer Center
Herb Paaren (BS ’71, MS ’73, PhD ’76), a University of Illinois Chicago alum, is helping launch the new Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion (DDCRP) with a $2 million gift. Designed to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment, screening, and prevention, the facility will allow experts from the Cancer Center, the College of Pharmacy, the Department of Chemistry, and the UICentre to work together under one roof.
Read more: https://stories.uic.edu/all-stories/herb-paaren/index.html
Cancer Center at Illinois
Researchers at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have successfully used metabolic labeling to chemically tag platelets. This breakthrough could expand targeted drug delivery for cancer and immune diseases. The study was published in Materials Today Bio and it marks the first time this technique has been applied to anucleate cells like platelets.
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Associate Professor of Urology at IU School of Medicine, Dr. Clint D. Bahler is focused on improving prostate cancer treatment through advanced imaging techniques. Bahler’s research aims to provide more precise treatment while also taking note of new therapies that could treat cancer anywhere in the body.
Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npOZc60fx_8
University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
James Byrne, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at UI Health Care and a member of Holden ComprehensiveCancer Center, is one of two authors of a new study about using tardigrade-inspired mRNA nanoparticles to protect healthy tissue during radiation therapy. Their approach could help minimize harmful side effects of radiation therapy in cancer patients.
Read more: https://radiationoncology.medicine.uiowa.edu/news/
University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Maryland Half Marathon and 5k has returned for the 17th year. All the proceeds from the race directly benefit the University of Maryland Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event is an important fundraiser and community engagement touchpoint for the center and serves to support important research and patient care.
Learn more: https://www.audacy.com/todays1019/latest/spotlight-on-maryland-umgcccs-maryland-half-marathon-and-5k
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
A new $50 million gift from Richard and Susan Rogel will establish the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. The center aims to double the survival rate for pancreatic cancer within 10 years by accelerating research, expanding clinical care, and driving new treatment innovations.
Read more: https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/news/
Michigan State University Cancer Research
At this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference, Michigan State University hosted a panel highlighting the difference federal funding can make in cancer research breakthroughs. They focused specifically on pancreatic cancer for example and warned that short-term cuts can stall progress and cost lives.
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Stephanie Huang, PhD, a researcher at Masonic Cancer Center, is helping lead a new approach to precision oncology through the ARPA-H ADAPT program. Her team’s work is revolutionizing cancer-care by developing patient-specific treatments that evolve in real time.
Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (University of Nebraska)
A University of Nebraska Medical Center research team led by postdoctoral research associate Muthamil Iniyan Appadurai, PhD, and assistant professor Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD, has uncovered information on how lung cancer could dodge the immune system. Their study focused on an enzyme called ST6GalNAc-I which helps lung cancer grow by hiding tumors form the immune system and supporting the growth of new blood vessels.
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Northwestern Medicine has developed a revolutionary generative AI system that dramatically improves radiology efficiency and offers a solution to the global radiologist shortage. The tool analyzes X-rays and CT scans, flags life-threatening conditions, and generates reports. Northwestern Medicine’s success demonstrates how health systems have options that are independent of tech giants or third-party AI tools.
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, has been named the new CEO of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Dr. Rathmell currently watches over the clinical and research aspects of Ohio State’s cancer program as well as seeing her own patients and maintaining a research lab.
Read more: https://health.osu.edu/health/cancer/james-cancer-center-new-ceo
Penn State Cancer Institute
Penn State Health has appointed Dr. Michael Kupferman as its next Chief Executive Officer. Kupferman, a physician executive with experience across academic medicine and health system leadership, will oversee Penn State’s health system and collaborate closely with the College of Medicine to advance clinical care, research and education. With leadership experience from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Kupferman brings expertise in oncology, system strategy, and physician operations.
Read more: https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2025/05/kupferman-named-penn-state-health-ceo/
Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research
Deputy Director of Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and professor of Biological Sciences, Andrea Kasinski, has received the 2025 Cancer Research Award from the Lafayette Lions Club. This honor celebrates her contributions to cancer research and her dedication to turning her findings into real-world impact.
Rutgers Cancer Institute
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have received national recognition as endocrine surgeons Dr. Amanda Laird and Dr. Toni Beninato earn the new Focused Practice Designation in Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery from the American Board of Surgery. The designation highlights their surgical excellence and commitment to patient-centered cancer care.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (University of Washington)
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center continues to lead women’s health research through its role in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). Directed by Dr. Garnet Anderson, head of Fred Hutch’s Public Health Sciences Division and principal investigator of the WHI Clinical Coordinating Center, Fred Hutch has helped guide this longstanding effort. With over 2,400 scientific publications, the WHI remains a prime example of collaborative “team science.”
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, in collaboration with UW Health and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, is advocating for expanded newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). cCMV is the most common viral infection that babies are born with in the United States and can cause non-genetic hearing loss.
Read more: https://www.uwhealth.org/news/experts-urge-expanded-screening-for-most-common-newborn-infection
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.
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