June 10, 2020:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights the advances our members continue to make in the fight against cancer, despite the challenges they face during the current pandemic. Read More

June 10, 2020:

Vu Hong Duong, MD, was recently appointed to represent the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee. Dr. Duong serves as associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and chair of the UMGCCC’s Clinical Research Committee. Read More

June 4, 2020:

A randomized phase II Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium study for adults with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will evaluate whether giving the monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab following surgical resection improves disease-free survival compared to observation following surgical resection in patients with primary tumors measuring 1-4 centimeters.

The multi-site study, BTCRC-LUN18-153, led by researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, is now open to accrual. Read More

June 1, 2020:

As New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s team of internationally recognized physicians and researchers is driven by a singular focus and mission, to help individuals fight cancer. Through the transformation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, we target cancer with precision medicine, immunotherapy and clinical trials and provide the most advanced, comprehensive, and compassionate world-class cancer care to adults and children. This mission is being accomplished in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health. Rutgers Cancer Institute physicians and scientists work side by side to make sure the most sophisticated treatments are delivered to our patients quickly and safely – the future of cancer treatments today. Read More

May 29, 2020:

The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program will feature abstracts from four Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium studies. The program, taking place May 29-31, will feature more than 250 oral abstract presentations and 2,500 poster presentations from 24 disease-based and specialty tracks.

The abstracts featuring Big Ten CRC studies include poster discussions for BTCRC-GYN15-013 and BTCRC-LUN16-081 and posters for BTCRC-AML17-113 and BTCRC-ESO14-012. Read More

May 1, 2020:

Since 1978, the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research has been a National Cancer Institute-designated basic research cancer center. Only seven institutions in the United States have earned this title. Being a basic research center means we don’t treat cancer patients directly. Our work focuses on investigating cancers where they begin — at the cellular level — to investigate the cause of and cure for one of the most devastating diseases of our time.

Doctors and scientists throughout the world use our discoveries to develop methods, medicines, and medical devices to save and enhance patients’ lives.

Learn more at: https://www.purdue.edu/cancer-research/.

Investigator Spotlight

Humaira Gowher, PhD, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research

Educational background

• PhD in Biochemistry: Justus Leibeg University, Germany
• MSc in Biochemistry: Aligarh Muslim University, India

Research interests

The overarching goal of our research is to elucidate epigenetic mechanisms that control cell identity and determine how these mechanisms are disrupted in cancer. Using embryonic stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells as model systems, our research specifically focuses on the activity of distal regulatory elements of developmental genes, called enhancers, and insulators. We also study the effect of somatic mutations of DNA and histone methyltransferases commonly found in cancer and other developmental disorders on the biochemical activity of these enzymes. Read More

April 22, 2020:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights the tireless work of researchers to develop new therapies to kill cancer. Despite the difficult times our world is facing, we are grateful that our member institutions are finding creative ways to continue the fight against cancer. Read More

April 13, 2020:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium recently appointed Kari B. Wisinski, MD, associate professor of hematology/oncology, Department of Medicine at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, as chair of the consortium’s Steering Committee. She succeeds Al B. Benson III, MD, professor of medicine-hematology/oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who completed his one-year term.

Peter G. Shields, MD, deputy director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James), will serve as vice chair of the Steering Committee for one year and as chair the following year. Read More

March 18, 2020:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights new tests and genomic research that could help identify cancer earlier in its development. We also congratulate those who received awards for their research, and we remember champions of cancer research who recently passed away. Read More

March 17, 2020:

Christopher Lao, MD, was recently appointed to represent the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Steering Committee. Dr. Lao is clinical professor of internal medicine – hematology/oncology, and medical director of clinical trials for oncology at the University of Michigan.

The Steering Committee is composed of one researcher from each Big Ten CRC member institution and meets on a regular basis to review activities of the consortium and decide matters of policy. The Steering Committee determines the criteria for approving concepts for development with the Big Ten CRC. Read More