2024 Georgia Cancer Center Research Retreat

The goal is to highlight basic and translational research progress at GCC and to foster internal collaborations to empower Cancer research. The keynote speaker will be Raymond N. DuBois, MD, PhD, Director of the Hollings Cancer Center, The Medical University of South Carolina.

The event will include plenary sessions, trainee elevator talks (chosen from abstracts), and lunchtime networking and poster presentations.

  Friday, June 28, 2024

  Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center

Oglethorpe Ballroom (Second Floor)

2 10th Street

Augusta, GA 30901

 

Registration Only     Registration & Abstract Submission     Award Nominations

Agenda

 

7:30 – 8:00 am

Registration & Breakfast

8:00 – 8:15 am

Welcome
David Hess, MD, EVP, Medical Affairs and Dean, Medical College of Georgia

 

8:15 – 9:30 am

Keynote Lecture
Raymond N. DuBois, MD, PhD, Director of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

9:30 – 10:00 am

Path Towards NCI Designation
Jorge Cortes, MD, Director, Georgia Cancer Center

 

10:00 – 10:30 am

Break

10:30 – 11:30 am

Molecular Oncology & Biomarkers Research Program

10:30-10:45 am

Molecular Oncology & Biomarker Research Program, Present & Future
Nahid Mivechi, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology & Program Leader for Molecular Oncology & Biomarker Research Program

10:50-11:05 am

Kidney, Bladder & Prostate Research Program at Georgia Cancer Center
Balakrishna Lokeshwar, PhD, Professor, Georgia Cancer Center

11:10-11:25 am

Blockade of TREM1 signaling as a novel therapeutic approach for cancer treatment
Anatolij Horuzsko, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

11:30 – 12:00 pm

State of the Research in Georgia Cancer Center
Balveen Kaur, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Associate Director, Georgia Cancer Center

 

12:00 – 2:00 pm

Lunch & Poster Presentations

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Cancer Immunology Research Program

2:00 – 2:15 pm

Cancer Immunology Program Overview
Catherine “Lynn” Hedrick, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Head of Cancer Immunology, Inflammation, & Tolerance (CIIT) Division of GCC

2:15-2:30 pm

The CD73-ADO immune checkpoint during tumor progression and therapy
Yan Cui, PhD, Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

2:30-2:45 pm

Targeting the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway to unleash antitumor immunity
Gang Zhou, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

2:45-3:00

CAR T cell affinity: Moderate is better
Yukai He, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

3:00 – 3:30 pm

State of Clinical Research
Vamsi Kota, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant Program

 

3:30 – 4:15 pm

Outstanding Awardee Talks (Two 20-minute talks)

4:15 – 4:30

Posters & Art of Cancer Science awardee announcements

 

     2024 GCC Cancer Retreat Agenda

Keynote Speaker |Raymond N. DuBois, MD, PhD

Dr. Raymond Dubois

Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and the associate provost of cancer programs at MUSC. As a physician-scientist, DuBois is passionate about cancer research and patient-centered care. He drives the strategy to strengthen and grow Hollings’ impact on cancer care in South Carolina. An international leader in the cancer community, DuBois has more than 30 years of research experience and over 20 years of concurrent leadership experience, including senior roles at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019, which places him in the company of an elite group of internationally renowned scientists and doctors.

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Call for Abstracts

The Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at Augusta University is pleased to release a call for Abstracts for poster presentations at the 2024 Annual GCC Cancer Center Retreat. Trainees are especially encouraged to submit research abstracts for poster presentations relevant to cancer prevention, diagnosis, discovery, and treatment in order to compete for awards.

Eligibility

Poster/Abstract Presentation Awards will be given to top-scoring abstracts for cancer-related projects in the following categories:

    • Graduate Students
    • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Residents and Fellows
    • Undergraduate Students/Research Assistants

 

Abstract Submission Instructions:

Submission Form and Abstract must be submitted as a single pdf using the link below:

Registration & Abstract Submission

Deadline

Abstract Submission Deadline is June 6, 2024

Required Proposal Content

(please download and use application template)

Submission Form

  • Presenter name, degree, title, institution, department/unit, email, phone
  • Title of poster
  • Names and affiliations of all authors on the poster
  • Name and affiliation of Principal Investigator (PI); include the Research Program if PI is GCC member

Abstract (all documents should be provided in standard NIH format, 0.5” margins, Arial 12 font)

  1. All documents to be provided in standard NIH format, with 0.5” margins and 12-point Arial font
  2. 300-word limit (excluding project title and author names and affiliations)
  3. Organized as follows:
      • Project Title
      • Authors
      • Background and Significance
      • Methods
      • Results and Conclusions

Awards

Award

Nominations to Include:

GCC Outstanding Researcher Award

 
  • PMIDs in last year*, specifying senior, first, & middle authorships;
  • Active extramural CANCER-related grants in the last year;
  • National/international recognition includes committees, study sections, & similar professional service, invitations as speakers, session chairs, etc.

GCC Outstanding Young Investigator Award

(within 5 years of first Assistant Professor position)
  • PMIDs in last year*, specifying senior, first, & middle authorships. (Pubs accepted & in press are acceptable.)
  • Active extramural CANCER-related grants in the last year;
  • National/international recognition includes committees, study sections, & similar professional service, invitations as speakers, session chairs, etc.

GCC Outstanding Mentor Award
  • Students and postdocs mentored in last 5 years*, where they are now, & their awards and accomplishments.
  • Any education or mentoring awards;
  • Service for education, training-related activities.

Administrative Staff Award for Service to the GCC

Examples of going above & beyond, being helpful & cheerful overall, & possessing good communication, problem solving, & leadership skills.

Art of Cancer Science

(for Graduate Students & Postdocs)

Graduate Student & Postdoc artwork will be displayed at the event, where judges will evaluate based on creativity, innovation, & visual display. This can include but is not limited to: graphic or microscopic images, models, canvases, etc. A couple of sentences describing the art should be included.

Artists must register their artwork submission by the nomination deadline (May 31) to receive a submission number & secure a display spot at the competition.  Submissions are subject to size limitations:

  • § Please limit the size of 2-D submissions to 2 square feet
  • § Please limit the size and weight of 3-D submission to 2 cubic feet and less than 20 pounds.

Artists are responsible for bringing their art to and from the event location.
  • Self-nominations allowed & encouraged.
  • *All years refer to the academic year: please include dates.
  • All nominations (including Art of Cancer Science registration) are due May 31, 2024 .