Research Newsletter - April 2025

Join the Heroes Foundation for the 2025 Fit4Heroes campaign

Join the Heroes Foundation for Fit4Heroes, Powered by American Health & Wellness, and put your best moves to a great cause April 1-30. No matter how you move, you’re fighting cancer. Sign up as an individual or form a team. Then, choose a physical activity to focus on for the month of April. Walk your dog, run, bike, swim … the options are endless (and yes, you can do multiple). Register at www.heroesfoundation.org/fit4heroes and start logging movement and create a fundraising page.

The mission of the Heroes Foundation is to provide meaningful support to cancer patients, education to promote cancer prevention and resources to advance research for a cure. The foundation has been a consistent and enthusiastic supporter of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2002 and has cumulatively given more than $1 million to support cancer research at IU. The Heroes Foundation has supported a variety of special projects and programs over the years. Annually, it funds pediatric cancer research via the Team Joey initiative, and it has funded a clinical research scholar at IU through the SJP Endowed Research Fund since 2007.  In addition to philanthropic support, Vince and Cindy Todd, who launched the foundation in 2001, are active members of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Development Board.

Cancer Research Day is May 8

Cancer Research Day, the cancer center’s signature research event, will be held Thursday, May 8 at the IU Indianapolis Campus Center. The full agenda is now available. Registration, which is now open, is free and highly encouraged.

Member headlines and highlights

Leng Han, PhD (HHM), was inducted into 2025 Class of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. This honor recognizes Han’s pioneering contributions to cancer research, including pan-cancer analysis, novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to enhance immunotherapy. Learn more.

Nabil Adra, MD (EDT), talked to the Indianapolis Business Journal about the impact of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium for this article, “Big Ten schools team up when it comes to cancer research.

Misty Shields, MD, PhD (EDT), is highlighted in a member feature story by the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.

#ResearchCuresCancer

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