The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center reclaimed the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium's Institutional Leadership Award for 2022. The award is given each year to the institution that has achieved the greatest overall contribution to the success of the consortium as measured by investigator participation in the clinical trial working groups and patient accruals to Big Ten CRC studies.
The Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Accelerator (CD3A) team is dedicated to accelerating the journey from research to the clinic by fostering collaborations between university researchers, experienced pharmaceutical industry veterans, technology cores, and external research organizations.
As a valuable resource that can significantly impact your cancer drug discovery and development projects, CD3A provides comprehensive support and expertise throughout the drug development process. The team understands the challenges that researchers face when navigating the complex and often confusing drug development pipeline. No matter the stage of development of your cancer drug project, the CD3A team encourages all cancer center members to reach out to the CD3A team for assistance.
To learn more or schedule a consultation meeting with the CD3A team, contact Kaitlin Evans by email at kcondron@iu.edu.
Karen E. Pollok, Ph.D., has been named co-leader of the Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics (EDT) research program.
Pollok’s federally-funded research program intersects with investigators locally and nationally involved in experimental therapeutics for adult and pediatric cancers that encompasses early drug development and repurposing of drugs already in the clinic.
Pollok’s laboratory is identifying risk signatures, biomarkers of therapeutic response, and vulnerabilities in the tumor adaptive response in patients with aggressive solid tumors such as sarcomas and brain tumors.
Pollok, who has been a member of the cancer center since 2001, is an investigator in the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, associate professor of pediatrics, adjunct associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, and adjunct associate professor of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine.
Director of the cancer center’s Preclinical Modeling and Therapeutics Core, she also serves as MPI with Reuben Kapur, Ph.D., of the NIDDK-funded IU Cooperative Centers of Excellence in Hematology. She is a member of the IU Pediatric Molecular Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics research team, and she leads the Sarcoma Translational Research Team, a multidisciplinary working group of trainees, basic researchers, and physician-scientists to foster mentoring, collaboration and translation to the clinic.
Pollok also serves as the co-chair of the Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED) subcommittee at the cancer center. At the national level, she currently serves as a standing member of the NCI Cancer Center Study Section-A Initial Review Group.
Pollok succeeds Xiongbin Lu, Ph.D., and will serve as co-leader with Mat Opyrchal, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal branding resources can be accessed through the cancer center intranet within the communications section. Branded virtual backgrounds for Zoom and Teams, PowerPoint templates and scientific poster templates are all available for download.
Additional resources on the intranet include a directory of resources and department-specific intranets. The intranet is still under development and more resources will be available in the future.
Patrick Loehrer, M.D., received the Humanitarian Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in recognition of his service and leadership in reshaping cancer care around the world. The award was presented at the Mentorship and Career Development Roundtable: A Discussion with ASCO’s Special Award Recipients on June 4 during the society’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Tonna Thomas has joined the cancer center’s administration team as a contracts and grants specialist. She will assist in pre- and post-award research administration and will serve as a resource person for cancer center members, business managers and administrators. Before joining the cancer center, Tonna served as the grants coordinator at Sigma Theta Tau International. She will be working remotely. Tonna can be reached at tmsimpso@iu.edu or 278-4744.
The next Simon Says Expert Series will be at noon June 27, focused on prostate cancer. Clinton Bahler, M.S., M.D., and Mark Tann, M.D., will present; Mark A. Green, Ph.D., will serve as moderator.
Breast Cancer Science Social: Research, Results and Rosé will be 3:30-6 p.m. Friday, July 21, in Walther Hall. This free event is open to all with an interest in IU breast cancer research. Come see what philanthropy makes possible, chat with researchers, learn about the latest breakthroughs and tour research laboratories. RSVP by July 10.
See photos on Twitter from the second annual End Lung Cancer Now Survivor Celebration.
The Komen Tissue Bank held its inaugural male-only breast tissue collection this month. Read more about the event on Facebook
On LinkedIn, we are celebrating the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Institutional Leadership Award which was once again bestowed on the cancer center.
The cancer center’s summer programs are in full swing as we welcome this year’s cohort of summer students who are committed to making a difference in cancer research. See photos on Instagram.
 Champion  Pollok  Coté | Victoria Champion, Ph.D. (CPC), discusses results of a study that found a 3-in-1 approach for women in rural areas can boost cancer screenings in this NCI Cancer Currents blog post. |
Karen Pollok, Ph.D. (EDT), talked to Fox 59 about progress being made in pediatric cancer research thanks to the late Tyler Trent. Watch the segment. | |
Michele Coté, Ph.D., MPH (CPC), director of the Komen Tissue Bank at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer, and others oversaw the first-ever male-only healthy breast tissue collection by the tissue bank. News coverage included a front-page story in the Indianapolis Star, plus segments on WTHR, Fox 59, and CBS 4, and an Indianapolis Recorder story. |
