Faculty News

CCR researchers receive a range of HHS awards

Three CCR researchers received prestigious awards from the Department of Health and Human Services. They are being recognized for their excellence, dedication and achievements in their respective research fields.

CCR researchers elected to the Association of American Physicians

Elaine S. Jaffe, M.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator in the Laboratory of Pathology, and Yves Pommier, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Developmental Therapeutics Branch, were elected as 2024 members of the Association of American Physicians. The organization seeks to inspire physician-led research across all fields of science and medicine to improve patient health care and the health of Americans.

Jung-Min Lee appointed Senior Investigator at CCR

The CCR community congratulates Jung-Min Lee, M.D., who has been appointed as a Senior Investigator in the Women’s Malignancies Branch. Lee’s research focuses on developing targeted therapies for ovarian carcinoma. Her studies have identified key proteins of DNA damage response pathways as therapeutic targets, opening up possibilities for novel therapies for this disease. Her research also emphasizes the collection of patient samples to better understand treatment response and tumor biology.

Leah Cook appointed Senior Investigator at CCR

The CCR community welcomes Leah M. Cook, Ph.D., who has been appointed as a Senior Investigator in the Cancer Innovation Laboratory. She is a cancer biologist with a focus on metastasis and the metastasis microenvironment. The goal of her research program is to identify mechanisms associated with bone metastatic prostate cancer and specifically, the underpinnings of the immune-tumor bone environment that contribute to metastatic disease.

First Cancer TIL Therapy Gets FDA Approval for Advanced Melanoma

On February 16, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved lifileucel (Amtagvi), the first cancer treatment that uses immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), for some people with advanced melanoma. TIL therapy was pioneered in the 1980s by Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch, and the final approval of this treatment has taken years of clinical trial research and ongoing partnerships among multiple institutions.

In Memoriam: C. Norman Coleman, M.D.

The CCR community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of C. Norman Coleman, M.D., Senior Investigator in the Radiation Oncology Branch.

Steven Rosenberg receives AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has awarded Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch, the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research. He is being recognized for his paramount contributions to cancer research and patient care, most notably his pioneering research in establishing cancer immunotherapy as a major treatment strategy for many cancer types. He will receive the award at the 2024 AACR Annual Meeting.

In Memoriam: S. Perwez Hussain, Ph.D. (1960 - 2023)

The CCR community is profoundly saddened by the passing of S. Perwez Hussain, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis. He died on November 24, 2023, after living with stage 4 colon cancer for many years.

Dr. Steve Rosenberg with President Biden

Steven Rosenberg receives the National Medal of Technology and Innovation

On October 24, 2023, President Biden awarded Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for pioneering the development of immunotherapy. The award is the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, bestowed by the president of the United States on America's leading innovators.

CCR researchers receive an array of HHS awards

Three CCR researchers received prestigious awards from the Department of Health and Human Services on September 28, 2023. They are being recognized for their excellence, dedication and achievements in their respective research fields.

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