From Cells to Cures: The IU Genitourinary Cancer Symposium

Michael O. Koch Research Excellence Award for Early Career Scholars

The Indiana University Department of Urology invites applications for the Michael O. Koch GU Oncology Research Excellence Award for Early Career Scholars. This award recognizes outstanding postdoctoral fellows conducting impactful research in genitourinary (GU) oncology, with a focus on prostate, kidney, bladder, or testicular cancers.

Applications for the award are open until Aug. 24, 2026

Submit applications to Urometab@iu.edu 
Subject line: 2026 Genitourinary Cancer Symposium
Letters can be addressed to Clint Cary, MD, Chair of Urology; Asmaa El-Kenawi, PhD

Symposium agenda

 

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Lunch & Registration

Check-in and lunch, R3 Z299 Atrium

1 – 2:35 p.m.

SESSION 1: MOLECULAR FOUNDATIONS FEATURING LINEAGE PLASTICITY, R3 C20

1 - 1:05 p.m.

Welcome
Department of Urology Chair, Clint Cary, MD, MBA, MPH
Asmaa El-Kenawi, PhD (Pharm)

1:05 - 1:30 p.m.

Ping Mu, PhD (Yale School of Medicine)
"Integrative AI-Driven Multi-omics Identifies Drivers of Lineage Plasticity and Metastatic Progression in Prostate Cancer"
20 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

1:30 - 1:55 p.m.

Leigh Ellis, PhD (USU F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine)
"Spatial Mapping of Epigenomic Landscapes in Prostate CancerDisparities"
20 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

1:55 - 2:15 p.m.

 

Peter Hollenhorst, PhD (Indiana University)
"Regulation of Cellular Plasticity in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer by the ETS Family Transcription Factor ERG"
15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

2:15 - 2:35 p.m.

Shaghayegh Nouruzi, PhD (Vancouver Prostate Centre)
"ASCL1-Driven Epigenetic and Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Prostate Cancer"
15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

 

2:35 – 2:40 p.m.

Coffee Break

2:40 – 4:05 p.m.

SESSION 2: RESEARCH IN THE CLINIC, R3 C203

2:40 - 3:05 p.m.

Sarah Kerns, PhD, MPH (Medical College of Wisconsin)
"Who Is at Risk? Genetic and Clinical Predictors of Late Toxicity in Prostate and Testicular Cancer Survivors”
20 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

3:05 - 3:25 p.m.

Misty Shields, MD, PhD (Indiana University)
"Insight and Investigation of Drivers of Lineage Plasticity and Response to Therapeutics in Small Cell Lung Cancer"
15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

3:25 - 3:45 p.m.

Emily Dykhuizen, PhD (Purdue)
"SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodelers in Therapy-Resistant Prostate Cancers"
15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

3:45 - 4:05 p.m.

Yaru Xu, PhD (Yale School of Medicine)
"Decoding Hidden Regulatory Programs in Prostate Cancer Therapy Resistance"
15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A

4:05 - 5:15 p.m.

Clint Cary, MD, and Asmaa El-Kenawi, PhD
Closing remarks and symposium wrap-up
Michael O. Koch Young Investigator Award Recipient Presentation

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Posters and Networking Reception

Questions?

Contact Dr. Asmaa Elkenawi at urometab@iu.edu.

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