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Big Ten CRC Jessen Award supports research on digital intervention for prostate cancer survivors

May 1, 2025: 

Right: Roberto Benzo, PhD Left: David Cella, PhD

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Foundation announces that Roberto Benzo, PhD, of The Ohio State University, and David Cella, PhD, of Northwestern University, have been awarded the $65,000 Kenneth and Verna Mae Jessen Award for their research proposal, “Development of a Digital Intervention to Promote Cardiovascular Health in Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Cardio-Oncology Approach.”

The project was one of 21 proposals submitted for funding consideration through an RFP announced by the Big Ten CRC in late 2024. Proposals were reviewed by a committee of Big Ten CRC leaders and peer investigators, chaired by Kari Wisinski, MD, of the University of Wisconsin.

Drs. Benzo and Cella are collaborating on this study with Peter Washington, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco. Co-investigators at The Ohio State University include Steven K. Clinton, MD, PhD; Adam Potter, MD, PhD; and Soledad Fernandez, PhD.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of non-cancer mortality among cancer survivors, particularly those with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy, which significantly increases cardiovascular risk. Despite these known risks, there are no widely adopted digital solutions to proactively monitor cardiovascular health and guide tailored interventions in this vulnerable population.

The proposed project seeks to develop and evaluate a mobile health intervention, “mHealthy Hearts,” to enhance cardiovascular health monitoring and promote physical activity engagement among prostate cancer survivors.

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.

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.

Across the Consortium: April 2025

April 30, 2025: 

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium spotlights advancements in colorectal cancer research, collaborative efforts in prostate cancer studies, recent research grant recipients, new podcast episodes, lung cancer research and prevention initiatives, brain cancer discoveries, leadership transitions, and the critical role of clinical trials.

University of Illinois Cancer Center

UI Health surgeon Gerald Gantt, Jr., who specializes in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, was featured on radio and TV shows in Chicago and Wisconsin during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. In Chicago, the WVON Morning Show with Rufus Williams featured an extended conversation with him about screening and prevention.

Read more.

Cancer Center at Illinois

For most of us, ecology is external—something we simply admire on road trips and hiking expeditions. For Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) member Christopher Gaulke and his research team, however, the most fascinating kind of ecosystem resides inside of us, as we are each hosts to trillions of microorganisms living inside our body’s microbiome. Though the human body can house microbes in many locations, the gut microbiome is what interests Gaulke and his team, as it holds important implications for various diseases and gastrointestinal cancers.

Read more.

Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Fierce athletic rivals Purdue and Indiana universities have joined forces to claim a victory that far transcends sports. Together, these Big Ten universities have propelled Pluvicto™  — a therapy invented by Philip Low of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) — from the lab into the lives of patients battling advanced prostate cancer.

Read more.

University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Three early-career scientists have each been awarded a one-year, $40,000 American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant through University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. These seed grants help junior faculty members and independent research scientists start their careers in cancer research and provide funds to explore new ideas related to the cause, prevention, and treatment of cancer.

Read more.

University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cancer Center Director Taofeek Kunle Owonikoko, spoke on an episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, titled, “The Directors: Louis Weiner and Taofeek Owonikoko on keeping up morale amid uncertainty.” In this episode, he recalled recent conversations with two junior faculty members at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Listen here.

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Four Rogel Cancer Center members earned election to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2024. They are among 13 from the University of Michigan to be elected this year. The AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society, announced 471 members of the 2024 class, elected for their “efforts on behalf of the advancement of science, or its applications, are scientifically or socially distinguished.”

Read more.

Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center

Four dedicated researchers from Michigan State University have received grants totaling more than $3 million from the American Cancer Society, or ACS, to find new ways to prevent, detect, treat and help patients survive colorectal, breast and cervical cancer.

Read more.

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC), University of Minnesota has been committed to advancing cancer research and education to improve health outcomes across all communities. As the center continues to evolve and grow, so do their collaborations with Minnesota’s communities. They have announced a new partnership with Positive Image, an organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of Black communities through education, advocacy, and access to resources! Together, they’ll be putting on a multi-event series throughout 2025 specifically focused on Black men’s health, called “Power Over Cancer.”

Read more.

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (University of Nebraska)

The University of Nebraska System has released the newest episode of its “Heart to Heart” podcast series. Hosted by University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, the podcast features in-depth conversations with leaders, researchers, educators, alums and partners who are making a difference in Nebraska and beyond. In this episode, Dr. Gold is joined by Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC. 

Read more.

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered how a testis-specific protein contributes to tumor growth and progression in lung cancer, according to a study published in Science Advances. Previous research in the laboratory of Lu Wang, PhD, assistant professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and co-senior author of the study, found that the transcription elongation factor BRDT was overexpressed in lung cancer.

Read more.

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

Researchers have found that targeting an enzyme called PGM3 can help stop the growth of glioblastoma, the most dangerous type of brain tumor. This enzyme plays a vital role in the hexosamine synthesis pathway, which is involved in the processes of protein and lipid glycosylation that allow tumors to rapidly grow. Lipid glycosylation is a process where sugar molecules attach to fats (lipids) in the body.

Read more.

Penn State Cancer Institute

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a new rule to limit nicotine in cigarettes and certain other tobacco products, like cigars and pipe tobacco, bringing nicotine down to minimal or nonaddictive levels. If finalized, this change would be a major step in addressing the public health concerns of smoking and tobacco use in the United States.

Read more.

Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research

Purdue University scientists have identified the Supinoxin small-molecule drug as a possible new therapy for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). “Some cancer types are incredibly difficult to treat, one of them being small-cell lung cancer,” said Elizabeth Tran, professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture. Usually associated with smokers, SCLC accounts for only 15% of all lung cancer types. Despite the low percentage, SCLC causes about 250,000 deaths worldwide annually.

Read more.

Rutgers Cancer Institute Of New Jersey

After a national search, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, have appointed H. John Pounardjian, MBA as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Deputy Director for Administration and Planning.  Pounardjian will take over for Linda Tanzer who will be retiring after 30 years in the position.

Read more.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (University of Washington)

In 2023, the Rivkin Center partnered with the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund to fund $1 million in grants for research institutions in Washington state to unlock answers in ovarian cancer. This year, researchers Megan Shen, PhD, and Mary L. “Nora” Disis, MD, of Fred Hutch Cancer Center and UW Medicine respectively, have each been recently awarded $300,000 in grants under the Rivkin Center and CARE Fund partnership for projects that aim to improve outcomes of the disease. On April 1, the Rivkin Center merged with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

Read more.

University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Early phase clinical trials play a crucial role in developing new cancer treatments, creating the bridge that takes promising lab discoveries into human study. Phase I trials, the earliest stage of clinical studies, have historically been used to evaluate safe dosages of new treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation. Later phases of clinical trials would evaluate how effective those approaches are in treating cancer.

Read more.

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.

Big Ten CRC featured in the Indianapolis Business Journal and Inside Indiana Business

March 25, 2025: 
The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) and Inside Indiana Business (IIB) recently interviewed Brian Stemme, CEO of Hoosier Cancer Research Network, which serves as the consortium’s administrative headquarters, for separate pieces highlighting the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.

The IBJ also interviewed Dr. Nabil Adra, a genitourinary medical oncologist at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Big Ten CRC Steering Committee representative for Indiana University.

Both pieces tied into local events this month, as the city of Indianapolis hosted the Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

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.

BTCRC-GU15-023 presented at ASCO GU

February 13, 2025:

A correlative study related to the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) clinical trial, BTCRC-GU15-023, titled, “Phase Ib/II Study of Concurrent Durvalumab And Radiation Therapy (DUART) Followed by Adjuvant Durvalumab in Patients with Urothelial Cancer (T2-4 N0-2 M0) of the Bladder,” will be presented as a poster presentation at American Society of Clinical Oncology® (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2025 by Adriana S. Ramos-Medero of Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine.

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Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium adds Fred Hutch Cancer Center

February 11, 2025: 

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC), a collaboration of the cancer centers of Big Ten Conference universities united to transform cancer research by leveraging their scientific and clinical expertise, welcomed new member Fred Hutch Cancer Center, an independent, nonprofit organization that serves as the cancer program for UW Medicine (the University of Washington’s health system). It is the first new institution to join the consortium following the recent expansion of the Big Ten Conference.

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BTCRC-GI21-500 presented at ASCO GI 2025

January 22, 2025: 

A Big Ten CRC study, BTCRC-GI21-500, will be presented as a Trials in Progress poster at the American Society of Clinical Oncology® (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2025 in San Francisco. This study is led by Ashish Manne, MBBS, of The Ohio State University.

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BTCRC-LYM20-463 abstract poster presented at ASH 2024

December 17, 2024: 

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium trial, BTCRC-LYM20-463, titled, “A Phase I/II Study of Tazemetostat Combined with Abbreviated Rituximab/Bendamustine Therapy for High Tumor Burden Follicular Lymphoma in Frontline Treatment: A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Study,” was presented as a poster presentation at the 2024 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting on December 9, 2024. 

Congratulations to Vaishalee P Kenkre, MD, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Andrew M Evens, DO, MBA, MSc, of Rutgers Cancer Institute and all co-authors!

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BTCRC-BRE16-042 abstract accepted for a poster presentation at SABCS 2024

December 6, 2024:

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) trial titled, “A Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Plus Fulvestrant in Hormone Receptor Positive, HER-2 Negative Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium BTCRC-BRE16-042” has been accepted as a poster presentation (P2-07-21) at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 11, 2024 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Congratulations to all co-authors and study teams involved in the study!

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BTCRC-BRE19-409 abstract accepted for a poster presentation at SABCS 2024

December 4, 2024: 

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium trial titled, “Alpelisib (BYL719) with continued endocrine therapy following progression on endocrine therapy in hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative, PIK3CA-mutant metastatic breast cancer: A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Study (BTCRC-BRE19-409)” has been accepted for a poster presentation at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 11, 2024 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm.

Congratulations to all co-authors and study teams involved in the study!

Read More

Big Ten CRC non-small cell lung cancer correlative study published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology

December 2, 2024: 

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) study, BTCRC-LUN16-081, led by Greg Durm, MD, of IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, was published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology in October 2024. The article is titled, “Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA Predicts Outcomes of Short-Course Consolidation Immunotherapy in Unresectable Stage III NSCLC.”

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

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