Research Newsletter - October 2025

The 2025 Vera Bradley Foundation Classic raised more than $1 million to support discoveries at the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

With this gift, the foundation’s cumulative contributions to breast cancer research now stand at nearly $43 million. Their generosity supports more than 30 researchers as they make advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you to the Vera Bradley Foundation for their unwavering commitment to advancing breast cancer research.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recently unveiled the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2025: Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine: A Continuum of Innovation for Impact at a special event in Washington, D.C. This milestone report provides the latest statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and survivorship, while highlighting groundbreaking advances of the past year, and the lifesaving impact of federal investments in cancer research. View report.

The Outpacing Prostate Cancer event on Aug. 16 brought together more than 200 prostate cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters for brunch, an educational program and a celebratory 1.2 mile walk on the downtown canal.

Led by Nabil Adra, MD, the cancer center’s multidisciplinary group of prostate cancer researchers is committed to delivering world-class treatment and driving new discoveries.

Check out the energy and impact of the inaugural event in this short recap video.

Crystal Baker, cancer center project manager and CD³A translational research coordinator, has been chosen for the 2025 cohort for the IU School of Medicine Emerging Leaders program. The two-year program was established to promote professional growth and leadership skills among staff members demonstrating potential to advance to higher leadership roles.

Sarah Vivo has been named director of the Indiana Cancer Consortium (ICC). Vivo is responsible for providing leadership to the ICC through the development and advancement of its strategic plan and statewide initiatives, increasing high-level collaborative partnerships, and facilitating on-going training, technical assistance, and data support for its membership in realizing the goals of the Indiana Cancer Control Plan.

The cancer center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement serves as the fiscal agency of the consortium.

Previously, Vivo was the adolescent program manager for the Indiana Immunization Coalition, working with state and national initiatives as well as partners to implement the coalition’s statewide programs and projects and planning events such as the National HPV Conference. Previously, Vivo was the adolescent program manager for the Indiana Immunization Coalition, working with state and national initiatives as well as partners to implement the coalition’s statewide programs and projects, plan events such as the National HPV Conference, and provide resource supports.

Vivo holds a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and is currently enrolled in the master of public administration program in Bloomington.

Vivo will work a hybrid schedule. Her on-campus office will be in Gatch Hall, CL 601.  Her university email is svivo@iu.edu.