Faculty News

Chengkai Dai appointed to Senior Investigator at CCR

The CCR community congratulates Chengkai Dai, Ph.D., who has been appointed Senior Investigator in the Mouse Cancer Genetics Program. Dai’s laboratory is a pioneer in the field of proteomic instability of cancer. His ongoing research focuses on the molecular mechanisms through which proteomic instability may affect genomic stability, cell invasion and autophagy, areas which hold promise to unveil new molecular pathways that could be targeted in cancer therapy.

Peter Pinto awarded the AAGUS Barringer Medal

Peter A. Pinto, M.D., Senior Investigator in the Urologic Oncology Branch, was awarded the Barringer Medal by the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons (AAGUS). The AAGUS is an association of leading academic urologists from the United States, Canada and around the world, dedicated to the study of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Three CCR researchers elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D, Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch, Giorgio Trinchieri, M.D., Chief of the Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, and Sandra L. Wolin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the RNA Biology Laboratory, were elected as 2024 members of the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. The Academy is committed to furthering science in America, and its members are outstanding contributors to the international scientific community.

Jung-Min Lee elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation

Jung-Min Lee, M.D., Senior Investigator in the Women’s Malignancies Branch, was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. The organization seeks to support scientific efforts, educational needs and clinical aspirations of physician-scientists to improve the health of all people. Lee was selected for her merit as an internationally recognized expert in ovarian cancer and for being a highly respected clinician and physician-scientist.

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.

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