News and Events
Offering “life-sustaining” treatment without compromising quality of life
When Alison James received her diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, she was alarmed by the side effects associated with the standard of care. She traveled to the NIH Clinical Center for a CCR clinical trial that offered treatment with less impact to her quality of life.
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New insights show faulty immune cells are trained to become healthy
Researchers traditionally believed faulty T cells that have the potential to attack someone’s own tissues were eliminated before the cells leave the thymus. Now, research in mice shows that these autoreactive cells are evicted from the thymus and can mature into healthy cancer-fighting cells in the body’s peripheral tissues. This basic science discovery holds important implications for our understanding of autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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New technology assists T-cell therapy in eradicating solid tumors in mice
A new technology targeted at T-cell therapy may help immunotherapy overcome the treatment-hindering environment inside solid tumors.
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Clinical trial researches immunotherapy for cancers of the reproductive system
A trial led by Andrew Blakely, M.D., Assistant Research Physician in the Surgical Oncology Program, is researching immunotherapy for adults with cancers of the reproductive system.
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Center of Excellence In Chromosome Biology (CECB) Symposium
Date: October 17-18, 2024
Location: Natcher
The mission of the Center of Excellence in Chromosome Biology (CECB) is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in chromosome function, how aberrations in chromosomes and chromatin lead to disease and how these defects can be corrected. Towards achieving our mission, this symposium brings together internationally renowned experts in the fields of chromosome structure and function with the focus on chromatin reprogramming during development, chromatin organization and dynamics, chromatin in cancer and aging and chromatin as a therapeutic target. This meeting will foster interaction among major laboratories in the areas of chromosome biology and enhance the education and development of junior investigators and follows in NIH laboratories studying chromosome biology in various diseases.
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Past, Present, and Future of Cellular Immunotherapy: Scientific Symposium Celebrating Steven A. Rosenberg's 50 years at NCI
Date: September 26-27, 2024
Location: Masur Auditorium, Building 10
The symposium will discuss the development of cell therapy for the treatment of human cancer, from early studies from the Center for Cancer Research's Surgery Branch to current clinical and translational research being performed around the world. Sessions will focus on the initial development of cell therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma, the introduction of gene engineering into cell therapy, and the use of cell therapy to address common epithelial cancers.
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2024 NCI RNA Biology Initiative Workshop
Date: April 23, 2024
Location: NCI Shady Grove
The NCI RNA Biology Initiative aims to create an inter-disciplinary environment to facilitate the rapid exchange of information and expertise on the structure, function, and biological roles of RNA and to foster synergistic interactions amongst NCI investigators. We anticipate that insights into RNA biology and the development of RNA-based tools will define novel targets and accelerate the implementation of therapeutic interventions in cancer.
This one-day workshop will include internal and external speakers with expertise in the topic area. The aim is to foster interaction among major laboratories in the areas of RNA Biology and to enhance the education and development of junior investigators and fellows in NCI laboratories.
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Gene therapy proves successful in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare genetic disorder where males lack a gene critical for healthy blood and immune cell functioning. In a recent clinical trial, gene therapy for WAS was found to improve patients’ symptoms — an effect that was sustained for many years afterward.
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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.
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Clinical trial researches therapy for squamous cell carcinomas
Vassiliki Saloura, M.D., Ph.D., Stadtman Investigator in the Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, is leading CCR participation in a trial to research photoimmunotherapy with imaging for adults with head and neck or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
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New CAR T-cell therapy eliminates rhabdomyosarcoma in mice
After seeing excellent results of a CAR T-cell therapy against rhabdomyosarcoma in mice, a team of CCR researchers is preparing to test the immunotherapy in humans.
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