Jan. 7, 2020:

Investigator Spotlight:

Benjamin Teply, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research interests:

I am a medical oncologist engaged in clinical and translational research in genitourinary malignancies, with a special focus in prostate cancer. I have worked on novel treatment strategies for prostate cancer, with a focus on mechanisms other than suppression of androgen signaling, in both treatment-naïve (such as PARP inhibition) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (such as therapeutic high-dose testosterone). I am also dedicated in optimizing the use of approved therapies to maximize patient benefit. Read More

Dec. 3, 2019:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) congratulates researchers who recently received grants to continue their work to fight against cancer. We also zoom in on the work researchers are doing to understand and treat breast cancer both during and after surgery and/or treatment. Read More

Nov. 13, 2019:

H. Rex Gaskins, PhD, associate director for education at the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) and Keith W. and Sarah M. Kelly Professor of Immunophysiology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed to represent the university on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee.

As a collaboration among Big Ten universities, the Big Ten CRC leverages the scientific and clinical expertise of its members by developing and conducting early phase oncology clinical trials. In 2018, CCIL established itself as a research institute on the Urbana-Champaign campus and joined the consortium earlier this year. The cancer center brings its strengths in basic science and engineering to develop new methods in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. Read More

Oct. 31, 2019:

Applications are now open for a nationwide integrative oncology training program. The Integrative Oncology Scholars Program at the University of Michigan is funded by a National Cancer Institute R25 grant. It has the joint goals of training 100 integrative oncology (IO) leaders over 4 years and facilitating partnerships between IO leaders and complementary practitioners within their communities. Read More

Oct. 10, 2019:

Investigators from Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) member institutions gathered at Big Ten Conference Headquarters in Chicago for the consortium’s annual summit, September 21. The 2019 Summit, hosted by the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, featured topics presented by Big Ten investigators and industry representatives, and opportunities to discuss current and potential collaborations. Read More

Oct. 1, 2019:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) welcomes members to new leadership roles. We also highlight some of the work universities are doing to support cancer survivors and increase their quality of life after cancer, while researchers continue to explore novel approaches to improve survival and prevent relapses. Read More

Sept. 25, 2019:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights a wide range of topics from newly activated Big Ten CRC studies, research with cancer and genomics, rare cancers, and developing new strategies to integrate patient education in regular cancer care visits. Read More

Sept. 18, 2019:

Muhammad Furqan, MD, a medical oncologist and clinical associate professor of internal medicine – Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, will represent the university on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee.

As a collaboration of Big Ten universities, the Big Ten CRC leverages the scientific and clinical expertise of its members by developing and conducting early-phase oncology clinical trials that can provide access to novel treatments to patients with cancer.

Dr. Furqan specializes in lung cancer and leads the thoracic multidisciplinary oncology group at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. This group includes physicians and researchers from various disciplines who work collaboratively to enhance patient care and science. Since Dr. Furqan joined the university in 2014, he has been involved in many working groups to advance oncology research and has witnessed many advancements, including the broad use of immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Dr. Furqan also supervises clinical services at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center as medical director.

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Sept. 16, 2019:

Every year, selected junior investigators learn how to design effective clinical trials for therapeutic interventions in treating cancer during an intensive week-long workshop hosted jointly by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The conference, known in oncology circles as the “Vail Workshop,” is held in Vail, Colo. and is an ideal backdrop for clinical and research oncologists to unplug, network, and gain valuable feedback from leading investigators in oncology in a retreat-like setting.

“For junior investigators, the ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop offers invaluable educational and professional development experience,” said ASCO Chief Medical Officer Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO. “By attending, these young scientists and researchers will get to spend an intensive week working with leaders in the clinical oncology field, collaborating with specialists in biostatistics, imaging, pharmacology, and pathology to help support their project development. They also will get input from and access to patient advocates for the patient perspective that will inform their protocols.”

During the ASCO/AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, held July 27-Aug. 2, 2019, several members of Big Ten universities and cancer centers participated as faculty and selected fellows. Read More

Sept. 3, 2019:

The Ohio State University has appointed Peter Shields, MD, to serve as the university’s representative on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee.

Dr. Shields, a thoracic medical oncologist and deputy director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), oversees the scientific research programs and research infrastructure of the OSUCCC-James, which includes more than 340 cancer researchers and their teams from 11 of Ohio State’s 15 colleges. His research focus and interests are in how cancer forms and how to prevent it, with an emphasis on developing tests to identify people who are at greatest risk of cancer. Read More