March 3, 2021:

This month, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights our member, the University of Illinois Cancer Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In this member feature, we shine the spotlight on two University of Illinois at Chicago investigators who are actively involved in consortium studies and working groups: Irum Khan, MD, and Kent Hoskins, MD.

Irum Khan, MD

University of Illinois Cancer Center member
Co-chair, Big Ten CRC Myeloid Malignancies Clinical Trial Working Group

Educational background

• MD, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
• Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio
• Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago
• MS, Clinical and Translational Science, University of Illinois Chicago

Research and Clinical Interests
Irum Khan, MD, is as comfortable in a laboratory as she is a hospital. As a clinician, Dr. Khan cares for patients with acute and chronic myeloid malignancies, including leukemia, myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders. Her research is focused on translational studies in myeloid malignancies, identifying therapeutic targets in myeloid leukemia and serving as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials. Read More

March 3, 2021:

Big Ten basketball teams battle it out on the hardwood each March in hopes of making it to the madness that’s the national tournament, but this year the institutions are setting aside their rivalries to team up for Screening Madness.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month tips off each March, and the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and The Blue Hat Foundation, a Chicago-based colorectal cancer organization founded by colorectal cancer survivor Candace Henley, are uniting to raise awareness of the disease with a goal of increasing screenings. Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or the rectum, and nearly always develops from precancerous polyps, or abnormal growths. Screening tests can locate precancerous polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer, and the tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatments are more successful. Read More

February 17, 2021:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights current research, appointments, publications, general news, and expansions across member campuses.

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February 15, 2021:

Researchers leading a Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium phase Ib/II study of concurrent durvalumab and radiation therapy (DUART) in adults with unresectable, cisplatin ineligible locally advanced bladder cancer, reported promising results during recent virtual scientific meetings.

Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP, sponsor-investigator of the BTCRC-GU15-023 study, presented a rapid abstract session during the 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium on Friday, Feb. 12, that built upon data previously reported by study co-author Leonard C. Tuanquin, MD, during an oral scientific session at the ASTRO Annual Meeting, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Read More

February 3, 2021:

This month, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University as our featured member. Daniela Matei, MD, the Diana, Princess of Wales Professor of Cancer Research, professor of Hematology / Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and co-leader of the Translational Bridge Program at the Lurie Cancer Center, was featured in the story, “From Behind the Iron Curtain to a Career in Gynecologic Cancer Research,” in the ASCO Post.

Read the full story in the ASCO Post.

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.

February 1, 2021:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium recently appointed Elisavet Paplomata, MD, assistant professor of hematology/oncology at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, and Eugenia Girda, MD, FACOG, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, as new co-chairs of the Big Ten CRC’s Gynecologic Clinical Trial Working Group.

Their leadership will support collaboration and mentoring opportunities within the working group, and will guide the development of Big Ten CRC gynecologic clinical trials, from initial LOI submission, review, and approval, to expert feedback throughout the life of each ongoing study, and final publication. Read More

January 24, 2021:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights emerging research, new appointments and initiatives that support advancement in the health and treatment of those with cancer.

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January 8, 2021:

Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP, associate professor of medicine at Penn State College of Medicine and a medical oncologist at Penn State Cancer Institute, has been appointed as the chief scientific officer of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. She succeeds Ruth O’Regan, MD, who now serves as chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester.

The Big Ten CRC announced Dr. Joshi’s appointment during the consortium’s Virtual Summit on January 8. She will serve a three-year, renewable term in her new role.

“I’m excited and very honored to be appointed as the CSO for the prestigious Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium,” Dr. Joshi said. “I want to thank my predecessor, Dr. O’Regan, who has done a wonderful job for the Big Ten CRC. Our hope is that we will continue to build upon the growth of the consortium. I also want to thank the Big Ten CRC administrative team and the cancer center directors for placing their trust in me. Additionally, I am grateful to my mentors and my family, who continue to support my career growth.” Read More

January 8, 2021:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) honored Indiana University and Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr., MD, director of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, with two new awards during the Big Ten CRC Virtual Summit, hosted by the Cancer Center at Illinois, on Friday, January 8.

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Institutional Leadership Award is a new award that will be presented annually to the member institution that provides the greatest overall contribution to the success of the Big Ten CRC. The award is given to the institution that led all member institutions in combined Clinical Trial Working Group participation and patient enrollment on Big Ten CRC clinical trials during the past year.

“Under the leadership of Pat Loehrer and his team, the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center has championed one of the main goals of every cancer center — applying cancer research to patients as rapidly as possible,” said Howard Bailey, MD, director of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, and chair of the Big Ten CRC Cancer Center Directors. “Their leadership and contributions to the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium are a key aspect of our current success.”

The second award is the Pat Loehrer Award for Exemplary Collaboration in Cancer Research, which will be presented annually to an individual researcher who best demonstrates collaboration within the Big Ten CRC, as determined by Big Ten CRC leaders. Dr. Loehrer, whose vision and leadership were key in the Big Ten CRC’s establishment and continued growth, was chosen for the inaugural award named in his honor. Read More

December 28, 2020:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights recently published research, grants, professional appointments, oral presentations, and developments in basic scientific research across Big Ten cancer centers and universities. Stay current on what’s happening within our Big Ten universities. Read More