A group of investigators from the University of Notre Dame recently traveled to the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, part of the Loyola University Health System, to continue collaborative research efforts between the two institutions.
Led by Dr. Sharon Stack, Director of the Harper Cancer Research Institute (HCRI) and Dr. Patrick Stiff, Medical Director of the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, this research summit was divided into several sessions covering many aspects of cancer research such as bioinformatics and epigenetics, cellular and tissue regeneration, tumor microenvironments, nanotechnology, and synthetic chemistry. Researchers from each institute presented their strengths and needs in order to facilitate the creation of effective collaborations. Additional presentations focused on shared resources available in imaging, tissue banking, and cancer clinical trials, among others. Planning is currently underway for a subsequent meeting later this year allowing HCRI to play the host and continue to build upon this foundation.
These clinical partnerships are a natural extension of the multi-disciplinary research conducted at HCRI that provide key translational insight and strengthen the mission of discovery. HCRI is dedicated to conducting innovative and integrative research that confronts the complex challenges of cancer.
Leadership in attendance were (left to right): BAHMAN EMAMI, MD, FACR, FASTRO, Chair, Radiation Oncology; Professor, Radiation Oncology Loyola University; AL GUTIERREZ, President & CEO, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Inc., SHARON STACK, Ph.D., Ann F. Dunne & Elizabeth Riley Director Harper Cancer Research Institute, Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry University of Notre Dame, PATRICK STIFF, MD, Coleman Professor of Oncology, Medical Director of the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center and Director of the Hematology/Oncology Division at Loyola University Health System, LARRY M. GOLDBERG, President and CEO, Loyola University Health System, and PAUL C. KUO, MD, MBA, FACS, Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Director of the Oncology Research Institute at the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.