physician-scientist Leisha A. Emens, M.D., Ph.D., has been presented with the Sy Holzer Endowed Immunotherapy Research Fund Award to advance innovative research in cancer. Internationally recognized for her work in breast cancer immunotherapy, Emens is co-leader of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program and director of Translational Immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center at UPMC Hillman.
Emens has developed innovative combination immunotherapies that incorporate cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immune modulators with standard and novel treatments for breast cancer. She plays a vital role in leading the effort to advance translational cancer immunotherapy at UPMC Hillman and was the first to show that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy can extend the lives of women with triple negative breast cancer. Her research led to accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this treatment to address one of the
Dinah Singer, Ph.D.
NCI Deputy Director for Scientific Strategy and Development
As the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) deputy director for scientific strategy and development, Dinah Singer, Ph.D., works closely with the NCI director and other deputy directors to carry out the institute’s mission. Prior to taking on this role in 2019, she served as director of NCI’s Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), a position she held for 20 years.
As deputy director, Dr. Singer leads a number of key initiatives at NCI. In early 2020, as part of NCI’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the rapid creation of the Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) to expand serological testing capacity and research to characterize the immune responses elicited by the SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.
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PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Imvax, Inc., an emerging oncology leader that is revolutionizing immunotherapy for patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), today announced publication of Phase 1b clinical trial results in
Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The article Phase1b Clinical Trial of IGV-001 for patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma is available online.
IGV-001 is a first-in-class personalized immunotherapy that uses the patient s own tumor cells combined with an antisense molecule to induce a potent immune response. The treatment comprises irradiated autologous glioma cells with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed at the IGF-1R (Insulin-like Growth Factor type one Receptor) named IMV-001. Delivered through an implantable and removable bio-diffusion chamber, antigenic products are released and initiate both an innate and adaptive response.
Strategy: What will it take to get there?
What does success look like?
The panel’s recommendations are alos summarized in a short version and long version of the report, as well as in a video:
The recommendations include:
Create a clinical trials network devoted exclusively to immunotherapy
Develop ways to overcome resistance to therapy
Build a national cancer data ecosystem
Intensify research on the major drivers of childhood cancers
Minimize cancer treatment’s debilitating side effects
Expand use of proven prevention and early detection strategies
Mine past patient data to predict future patient outcomes
Develop a 3D cancer atlas
Woodcock’s extraordinary expertise will ensure excellent stewardship in her role as Acting FDA Commissioner PHILADELPHIA The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), which consists of more than 47,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; other health care professionals; population scientists; and patient advocates, strongly supports President Biden’s decision to appoint Janet Woodcock, MD, as acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “We look forward to working with Dr. Woodcock and her dedicated colleagues at the FDA to ensure the approval of safe and effective treatments for patients with cancer,” said AACR President Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, and director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Tumor Immunology Program. “Throughout her more than three decades of stellar service at the FDA, Dr. Wood