The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center hosted Doug Lowy, the acting director of the National Cancer Institute, for a full-day visit on June 28.

(Photo: Drs. Bryan Schneider (left) and Milan Radovich (middle) explain their work on the next generation of personalized medicine with Dr. Doug Lowy, acting director of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Lowy visited the IU Simon Cancer Center on June 28. Photo credit: IU Simon Cancer Center)

In a series of small-group discussions in the morning, he met with cancer center members (members’ names appear in bold) and others to learn about:

• Pediatric genomics with D. Wade Clapp, MD, and Jamie Renbarger, MD, MS
• Breast cancer research program with Hari Nakshatri, PhD
• Komen Tissue Bank at IU Simon Cancer Center with Anna Maria Storniolo, MD
• Precision health with Bryan Schneider, MD, and Milan Radovich, PhD
• Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and the Hoosier Cancer Research Network with Bert O’Neil, MD, Cynthia Burkhardt, RN, and Chris Fausel, PharmD
• Kenya and cancer with Patrick Loehrer, MD, Bob Einterz, MD, and Terry Vik, MD

In the afternoon, Dr. Lowy presented “NCI-supported Research: Concepts, Opportunities, and Applications” to cancer center members and others. Watch.

When asked about what surprised him most about his visit, Dr. Lowy mentioned the statewide health care system and the oncology work in Kenya.

“I was unaware of the extensiveness of the Indiana-wide cancer treatment network and how long it has been going on and how effective it seems to be, both for doing research and for what I assume is improving the quality of care statewide. That really struck me,” he said.

As for the cancer center’s global reach in Kenya, he said: “The Kenya project seemed to me that it’s a remarkable blend of delivering care and continually improving quality of care while at the same time conducting relevant research in the population.”

Dr. Lowy visited the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research the following day.

He is visiting the cancer centers to understand the strengths of each cancer center and the unique aspects of their programs in advancing cancer research and the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer.

Article source: IU Simon Cancer Center

About Hoosier Cancer Research Network:

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has initiated more than 160 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 350 publications. More than 5,000 subjects have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.