In the Spotlight

Celebrating CCR Careers: Zhengping Zhuang, M.D., Ph.D.

Zhengping Zhuang, M.D., Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert in experimental pathology, cancer genetics and cancer therapeutics. He has contributed to biotechnological advancements, drug development and clinical translation of his work in tumor biology. After 32 years serving the NCI, he has announced his retirement.

Shioko Kimura, Ph.D., in her CCR lab in 2014.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Shioko Kimura, Ph.D.

Shioko Kimura, Ph.D., is a biochemist who specializes in endocrinology. She studies how certain genes and proteins work in the thyroid gland and the lungs. After almost 40 years at NCI, she has announced her retirement.

Jim Mitchell in front of a machine and a sign that says X-ray on

Celebrating CCR Careers: James B. Mitchell, Ph.D.

James (Jim) B. Mitchell, Ph.D., is a radiation biologist whose research focuses on evaluation of agents in combination with radiation that either enhance tumor sensitivity or protect normal tissues. After nearly 50 years at the NCI, Mitchell has announced his retirement.

New Milestones publication now available

Every year, CCR makes remarkable contributions to the understanding, detection, treatment and prevention of cancer. This digital-only issue of our annual publication, Milestones, features 13 of our top scientific advances from the previous year. These discoveries fall everywhere on the spectrum from basic science to clinical research, ranging from a deeper understanding of the gut-liver axis and how bacteria move, to results and stories from three promising clinical trials. Our researchers have developed AI models to predict when tumors will respond to treatments, built scaffolds of biomaterials to assist with drug delivery, investigated how mitochondria function in healthy and diseased liver cells, and more.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Steven Z. Pavletic, M.D., Ph.D.

Steven Z. Pavletic, M.D., Ph.D., is a renowned expert in chronic graft-versus-host disease, a serious late complication that can happen after allogeneic bone marrow transplants. After serving at the NCI for over 20 years, he is now announcing his retirement.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Ira Pastan, M.D.

Ira Pastan, M.D., who pioneered receptor biology in animal cells and mentored several generations of scientists, announces his retirement from the NCI.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Len Neckers, Ph.D.

For over 40 years, Len Neckers, Ph.D., worked to develop molecularly targeted therapeutic approaches to modulate cancer cell growth and survival. He retired from CCR in November 2024.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D.

Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D., who discovered the first metastasis suppressor gene, nm23, announces her retirement.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Jay A. Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D.

Jay A. Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D., a chemist-turned-immunologist who pioneered cancer immunology and immunotherapy strategies, announces his retirement from the NCI.

Celebrating CCR Careers: Alan Rein, Ph.D.

Alan Rein, Ph.D., is a known expert in the field of viral assembly, particularly in retroviruses like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After an extensive career studying molecular mechanisms of retroviral replication and pathogenesis, he has announced his retirement.

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