July 8, 2021:

Murali Janakiram, MD, MS, a medical oncologist at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, and Attaya Suvannasankha, MD, a medical oncologist at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, have been named co-chairs of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium’s Multiple Myeloma Clinical Trial Working Group.

Dr. Janakiram is a graduate of Madras Medical College in Chennai, India. He completed his residency at Case Western University and MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and his fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His research interests include disparities in multiple myeloma, genomics of adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma, and immune checkpoints PD-L1, B7-H3, B7x, and HHLA2. His clinical expertise includes cellular therapy and bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

Dr. Suvannasankha is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. She completed her residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and a fellowship at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. She joined the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2003 and currently serves as an associate professor at the IU School of Medicine and researcher at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Suvannasankha’s research interests are in the molecular mechanism of drug resistance in hematologic malignancy and precision medicine. Her clinical expertise includes hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplant. Read More

July 8, 2021:

Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators are determined to give adolescents and young adults (AYA) a fair shot in overcoming cancer by addressing the systemic challenges that are often roadblocks to the best care, including access to cancer clinical trials.

AYAs range in age between 15 to 39. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 88,260 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed among AYAs and about 85% of AYAs diagnosed with cancer will survive their cancer beyond five years after their diagnosis, some left with chronic side effects and fertility issues.

Incidence of cancer occurs significantly more often in AYAs than younger children. Between 2011-2015, according to data reported by the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, there were:
 

• 16 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 children ages 0 to 14 years
• 72 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years
• 953 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 adults ages 40 and older

Some of the most common cancers among AYAs are breast cancer, testicular cancer, melanoma, and thyroid cancer.

David Dickens, MD, FAAP, a hematologist-oncologist at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, is working alongside Amanda Parkes, MD, a medical oncologist specializing in sarcoma and breast cancer at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, to address barriers often faced by this age group as co-chairs of Big Ten CRC’s newly formed Adolescent and Young Adult Clinical Trial Working Group.

“When patients enter a lot of these big health systems, if you’re older than 18, you’d automatically go to the adult side,” said Dr. Dickens, the UI Dance Marathon Chair in Pediatric Oncology at the Carver College of Medicine. “The question is, when you present in this age group, how do you get them the best treatment possible?” Read More

July 7, 2021:

Within the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium, disease-specific Clinical Trial Working Groups are largely focused on developing novel therapeutics to treat and ultimately cure disease. The Big Ten CRC’s Population Science Working Group, led by co-chairs Sharon Manne, PhD, of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Electra Paskett, PhD, of The Ohio State University, has a different goal: To develop and implement population-based research within the Big Ten CRC.

“The ultimate goal of our working group is to develop and implement research that reduces the cancer burden in the Big Ten,” said Dr. Manne (pictured left), Chief of Behavioral Sciences and co-Director of the Center of Excellence in Cancer Survivorship at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. “In addition to implementing multi-site behavioral and epidemiological research collaborations that will evaluate and reduce cancer burden, we will foster collaboration between junior and senior investigators in population research.” Read More

July 6, 2021:

Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators presented a poster highlighting the BTCRC-AML17-113 study during the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021. Led by John Quigley, MD, of the University of Illinois Cancer Center, the single-arm, open-label, multi-center phase Ib, dose-escalation study examines the safety and efficacy of gemtuzumab ozogamicin and venetoclax in patients with relapsed or refractory CD33+ acute myeloid leukemia.

At the time the abstract was presented in April, researchers reported the study was open to the second dosing cohort and no dose-limiting toxicities had been encountered to date. Researchers reported that enrollment had been negatively impacted by COVID-19 but was expected to improve as vaccinations expand. Read More

June 29, 2021:

During the month of July, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and cancer center member Paul Christian Mayor, MD, MS, FACOG.

Paul Christian Mayor, MD, MS, FACOG
Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
Indiana University School of Medicine

Educational Background

• Medical Degree: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
• Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
• Fellowship: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

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June 27, 2021:

In this edition of Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights cancer research ranging from scientists studying links between high cholesterol and breast cancer recurrence to “brain fog” and cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy. We also share a study on the use of a robotic breast surgery option that may result in improved cosmetic outcomes without compromising cancer control, and how social media is influencing parents’ decisions about whether their children will or will not get the HPV Vaccine. Explore these studies, new appointments, publications, and other general news across the Big Ten CRC.

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June 24, 2021:

Earlier today, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, in partnership with the New Brunswick Development Corporation, broke ground on the state’s first freestanding cancer hospital. At the ceremony, it was also announced that the 510,000-square-foot structure will be named the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in recognition of the philanthropic leadership of Jack Morris, who has been a longtime supporter and pillar in New Brunswick development, and his wife, Sheryl.

The 12-story facility, to be located on Somerset Street, will house inpatient, outpatient and ancillary services, as well as state-of-the-art laboratories where research faculty can provide hands-on educational opportunities for students, and enable physician-scientists to translate scientific findings directly to patients. The Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center will enable ease of access for imaging and other diagnostic tests, treatment and follow-up exams all in one space. It will also have the capacity to offer wellness and education resources including offerings catered specifically to the needs of cancer survivors. The estimated project cost is $750 million.

Read full story at cinj.org.

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, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

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 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students 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, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.

June 18, 2021:

Amanda Parkes, MD, a medical oncologist specializing in sarcoma and breast cancer at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, has been named co-chair of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Clinical Trial Working Group and the Sarcoma Clinical Trial Working Group.

Dr. Parkes, an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has been a member of the consortium’s Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Working Group and the Sarcoma Clinical Trial Working Group since 2018. She has also participated as an investigator in several Big Ten CRC breast cancer trials and is leading the new breast cancer study, BTCRC-BRE19-409, which is currently enrolling subjects at the UW Carbone Cancer Center and will soon open at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago. Read More

June 11, 2021:

Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators presented six abstracts during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 Annual Meeting held virtually June 4-8. Read More

June 2, 2021:

This month, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights our member, Penn State Cancer Institute. Get to know more about Penn State Cancer Institute investigator Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP.

Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology

Penn State Cancer Institute, Next Generation Therapies

Educational Background

• Medical degree/MBBS: Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• Residency: UPMC Pinnacle, Harrisburg, Pa.
• Fellowship: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.
• Specialist Registrar (Fellow): University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, England, United Kingdom

Research and Clinical Interests

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