Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Across the Consortium: November/December 2025

December 23, 2025

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights the innovation, discovery, and impact happening across our member institutions. From novel therapies to community-focused initiatives, this issue showcases the depth of research that drives progress in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment throughout our member institutions.

University of Illinois Cancer Center

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are studying pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, by targeting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that spread through the bloodstream during surgery. Using a microfluidic device developed by Ian Papautsky, PhD, the team can isolate these rare cells with high accuracy, enabling study of how lidocaine infusion may reduce their aggressiveness and lower the risk of metastasis.

Cancer Center at Illinois

Susan Leggett, PhD, assistant professor of bioengineering at the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL), is developing a 3D “peritoneal cavity-on-a-chip” to study how ovarian cancer cells spread through fluid spaces in the abdomen, a process called transcoelomic spread. Working with Dr. Maggie Mullen at Siteman Cancer Center, Leggett’s team recreated the environment of the peritoneal cavity to observe how cancer cells migrate and colonize distant tissues

Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Indiana University and Eli Lilly have launched a five-year partnership to expand patient access to clinical trials, to advance discovery and care for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cell and gene therapy. The collaboration will leverage IU Health’s statewide network and clinical trial infrastructure to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative therapies. The partnership will also provide students and researchers with real-world experience in clinical research and drug development.

University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

James Byrne, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Iowa and member of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, is developing a small, floating device called DRIFT (Drug-Releasing Intravesical Floating Technology) to make chemotherapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) less invasive and more convenient. The dime-sized device delivers one of the two-drug gemcitabine/docetaxel regimen directly in the bladder, allowing patients to go about their day instead of remaining in the clinic during treatment. Early testing in large animal models shows the device reliably delivers therapy while preventing urethral obstruction. Byrne and his team plan pharmacokinetic and safety studies before moving to human trials.

University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Graeme Woodworth, MD, chair of neurosurgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of the Brain Tumor Program at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, led a clinical trial using MRI-guided focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier in glioblastoma patients. The trial, which included 34 patients, found nearly a 40% increase in overall survival when ultrasound was combined with standard chemotherapy. The procedure also allowed for the detection of tumor biomarkers in the blood, providing a potential new method to monitor disease progression.

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Goutham Narla, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Michigan have identified a new drug strategy that could help prevent treatment resistance in non-small cell lung cancers with KRAS mutations. The team developed a “molecular glue” compound that stabilizes a tumor-suppressing protein complex (PP2A). In preclinical studies, combining this compound with existing KRAS-targeting drugs extended treatment effectiveness and reduced tumor growth. The researchers plan to advance the approach to clinical trials.

Michigan State University Cancer Research

Bryan Smith, PhD, at Michigan State University, has developed a shampoo-like gel designed to help protect patients from chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Tested in animal models, the gel works by reducing blood flow to hair follicles, limiting exposure to chemotherapy drugs that typically damage follicles and cause hair to fall out. Smith and his team are working to advance the gel toward clinical trials, aiming to offer a less invasive option than current methods.

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Abbie Begnaud, MD, a pulmonologist at the University of Minnesota Medical School and researcher with the Masonic Cancer Center, is helping lead an effort to expand lung cancer screening access and outcomes across Greater Minnesota. Through a team-coaching model, clinics serving rural communities increased screening orders for eligible patients to 30%. This work is now informing larger statewide initiatives and advancing the university’s goal to reduce late-stage lung cancer diagnoses through improved outreach, screening systems, and provider education.

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (University of Nebraska)

Matthew Lunning, DO, interim chief of the Division of Hematology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has been named the inaugural recipient of the James O. Armitage, MD, Chair in Hematological Malignancies. The endowed chair honors Dr. Armitage’s legacy as a pioneer in lymphoma care and research, and recognizes Dr. Lunning’s leadership in advancing clinical research, CAR-T cell therapy innovation, and patient care at UNMC and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. The appointment reflects the institution’s commitment to supporting visionary clinician-scientists and driving progress in hematologic malignancies.

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University 

A Northwestern Medicine research team led by Qi Cao, PhD (pictured), Yang Yi, PhD, and RendongYang, PhD, uncovered how a well-known cancer-related protein drives prostate cancer growth by influencing RNA modification. Their study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, reveals that the protein EZH2 increases levels of m6A, a major RNA modification linked to tumor progression, through a newly identified molecular pathway. Blocking EZH2, especially in combination with an m6A inhibitor, significantly reduced tumor growth in laboratory models, pointing to a promising therapeutic strategy.

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

A phase III clinical trial led by Jennifer Woyach, MD, director of Hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center –James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, found that the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor pirtobrutinib performed as well as ibrutinib in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The study, the first head-to-head comparison of these BTK inhibitors and the first to include previously untreated patients, reported a higher overall response rate with pirtobrutinib. Results were featured during the ASH Annual Meeting press program and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. These findings point to pirtobrutinib as a potential first-line BTK inhibitor option for select patients whose disease has stopped responding to other therapies.

Penn State Cancer Institute

Researchers at Penn State, led by Pak Kin Wong, PhD, professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering, have created a personalized cancer treatment approach using microbial product cocktails (MPCs) to enhance the immune system’s attack on bladder cancer. The team uses AI to design optimal bacterial mixtures and tests them in patient-derived tumor organoids, allowing highly tailored therapies. Preclinical studies in mice demonstrated that MPCs resulted in more than a doubling of long-term survival compared with traditional BCG immunotherapy, while also increasing the recruitment of cancer-fighting immune cells.

Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research

Nadia Lanman, PhD, research associate professor at Purdue’s Institute for Cancer Research and the College of Veterinary Medicine, uses computational biology to help cancer researchers make sense of large datasets. By applying AI, neural networks, and advanced statistical methods, Lanman identifies patterns in genetic, proteomic, and imaging data to understand cancer progression and optimize treatments.

Rutgers Cancer Institute

Researchers at Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, reported promising results from two clinical studies on HPV-related cancers. Led by Christian Hinrichs, MD, co-director of the MacMillan Cancer Immunology and Metabolism Center of Excellence, the studies highlight the potential of novel T cell therapies to induce durable tumor regression. In a Phase II trial, genetically engineered E7-directed T cells produced substantial responses, including complete remission in patients with previously incurable advanced cancers. In a separate study, two patients with metastatic cervical cancer achieved ongoing complete remission a decade after a single tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) infusion.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (University of Washington)

Taran Gujral, PhD, assistant professor in Purdue’s Human Biology Division, studies the tumor microenvironment to uncover therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer. Using 3D “microtumors” that preserve interactions between cancer cells and supporting fibroblasts, Gujral’s lab identified drugs such as doramapimod that disrupt tumor-promoting stroma and inhibit growth in breast and pancreatic cancers.

University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Led by Nabeel Zafar, MD, MPH, the Global Oncology Program at UWCCC hosted the Global Oncology Symposium, “Uniting for Impact: Advancing Cancer Care Through Collaboration,” bringing together trainees, researchers, clinicians, and faculty to share ideas, build partnerships, and advance cancer care worldwide. Launched in 2020, the program aims to streamline communication and research on a global scale to address disparities in cancer care.

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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Across the Consortium: November/December 2025

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Maryland

Michigan

Michigan State

Minnesota

Nebraska

Northwestern

Ohio State

Penn State

Purdue

Rutgers

Washington

Wisconsin

UIC