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AACR Grantees Present Their Work at the AACR Annual Meeting 2023

Between April 14 – 19, the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 will welcome the best cancer scientists from all over the world to the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. We are excited to announce the AACR grantees selected to present their work in oral and poster presentations. We are extremely proud and excited to hear of the progress they have made with support from the AACR and its funding partners!

Please explore the breadth of topics that will be covered over the 5 days and follow the links to learn more and add the sessions to your online itinerary!

Friday, April 14th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

Models for Aging and Cancer

4:45 – 6:15 p.m., Room W311 E-H – Convention Center

James V. DeGregori, PhD, 2018 AACR-Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Innovation Science Grant

Saturday, April 15th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

Sentinel Lymph Nodes: What Do They Tell Us About Progression and Response to Therapy

8:00 – 9:30 a.m., Room W311 E-H – Convention Center

Amanda Lund, PhD, 2022 AACR-Bristol Myers Squibb Midcareer Female Investigator Grant

Dennis Jones, PhD, 2022 Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Award to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Sunday, April 16th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

Role of Aging in Cancer

1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Room W414 – Convention Center

Sandra S. McAllister, PhD, 2023 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Rising Innovator Research Grant, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR

Contributions of the Tumor Glycome to Immune Suppression and Immunotherapy Resistance and Opportunities for Therapeutic Intervention

1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Room W224 – Convention Center

Avery Posey, PhD, 2021 Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Pancreatic Cancer Career Development Award, In Honor of John Robert Lewis

Tumor-Body Interactions: Emerging Insights into the Interplay Between Tumor Micro- and Macroenvironments: A Tumor Microenvironment Working Group Town Hall Meeting and Networking Reception

6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Windermere X – Hyatt Regency

Xue-Yan He, PhD, 2021 AACR-AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship

Tumor Heterogeneity at Single-cell Resolution in Space and Time 

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Tangerine Ballroom 1 (WF1) – Convention Center 

Joseph Minhow Chan, MD, PhD, 2021 AACR-AstraZeneca Lung Cancer Research Fellowship 

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Adaptive Immunity to Tumors

T cell antitumor function requires potassium transport

Robert Eil, MD, 2020 AACR-MPM Oncology Charitable Foundation Transformative Cancer Research Grant

Cancer-associated Inflammation and Microbiome

Immunological aging slows triple-negative breast cancer progression and impedes response to therapy 

Sandra S. McAllister, PhD, 2023 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Rising Innovator Research Grant, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR 

Cytokine CCL9 mediates oncogenic Kras-induced pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia through ROS

Geou-Yarh Liou, PhD, 2017 AACR-Bayer Innovation and Discovery Grant

Molecular Modeling, Sequence, and Integrative Analysis

Identifying plasma exosomal small non-coding RNAs as potential biomarkers for lung cancer early detection

Yuanyuan Fu, PhD, 2022 AACR-Merck Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship

Mouse Models of Human Cancer

In vitro and in vivo investigation of tumor treating fields for treatment of spinal metastasis

Claudio Tatsui, MD, 2021 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant

Omics and Imaging Approaches in Cancer Risk, Early Detection, and Response Assessment

A genome-wide association study identifies the association of common variants in the major histocompatibility complex with cervical cancer in black South African women

Abram Kamiza, PhD, 2022 Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat)

Radiation Oncology / Radiation Science 

Establishing the cytotoxic benefit of Tumor Treating Fields on radiation sensitive and acquired radiation resistant glioblastoma patient derived xenograft pairs 

Christopher Douglas Willey, MD, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant 

Dominant-negative TP53 variants confer radiation resistance in endometrial cancer 

Roberto Vargas, MD, 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Cancer Research 

MDM2 inhibition as a novel radio-sensitizing strategy for endometrial cancer 

Roberto Vargas, MD, 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Cancer Research 

Signaling Pathways in Cancer Metabolism

Lysosomal cyst(e)ine regulates melanoma de-differentiation and sensitivity to ferroptosis

Deyang Yu, PhD, 2022 AACR-Merck Immuno-oncology Research Fellowship

Targeting Replication Stress and the Immune Microenvironment

DPY30 loss leads to DNA re-replication and immunoediting in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Francesca Citron, PharmD, PhD, 2022 AACR-AstraZeneca Stimulating Therapeutic Advances through Research Training (START) Grant

Tumor Heterogeneity 1 

Multiregional profiling revealed intra-tumor transcriptomic heterogeneity associated with the prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer 

Jianjun Jay Zhang, MD, PhD, 2018 AACR-Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Innovation Science Grant 

Tumor Dormancy and Metastasis

Reprogramming of the preinvasive breast microenvironment identified by spatial nucleus barcoding

Zhenna Xiao, PhD, 2022 AACR-Pfizer Breast Cancer Research Fellowship

Untangling the connection between stress and metastatic breast cancer 

Xue-Yan He, PhD, 2021 AACR-AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship 

Monday, April 17th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

AACR-Bayard D. Clarkson Symposium on Cancer and Metastatic Stem Cells: Resistance to Therapy and Immune Evasion

12:30 – 2 p.m., Room W224 – Convention Center

Karuna Ganesh, MD, PhD, 2020 AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research

Minisymposium: Late-breaking Research

2:30 – 4:30 p.m., Room W307 – Convention Center

Eirini P. Papapetrou, MD, PhD, 2021 AACR-MPM Oncology Charitable Foundation Transformative Cancer Research Grant

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Autophagy, Mitochondrial Function, and Ferroptosis

Tumor treating fields exposure causes an imbalance of reactive oxygen homeostasis likely through the cytosolic function of the fanconi′s anemia genes

Narasimha Kumar Karanam, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Career Development Award for Tumor Treating Fields Research

New Analysis Tools 

TimiGP: Dissect the tumor immune microenvironment and its association with survival and immunotherapy response 

Jianjun Jay Zhang, MD, PhD, 2018 AACR-Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Innovation Science Grant 

Cancer Disparities Research  

Understanding the perspectives of Latino smokers on physical activity: A qualitative study 

Francisco Cartujano, MD, 2021 AACR-Genentech Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship 

Cancer Disparities 2

Evaluating treatment data concordance among young Black women diagnosed with breast cancer

Mya L. Roberson, PhD, MSPH, 2022 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR

Combination Immunotherapies 2

Tumor treating fields combined with the PULSAR paradigm for radiotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances antitumor efficacy in vivo

Debabrata Saha, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant

Gene Regulation in Solid Tumors

Delineating the oncogenic mechanisms of NAT10 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Daniel Arango, PhD, 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Cancer Research

Genomic and Epigenomic Profiles for Response Prediction

Clic1 and Clic4 ion channels as bioelectric targets for tumor treating fields in pediatric high-grade glioma

Stuart Smith, BM, BCh, PhD, 2022 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant

Immune Response to Therapies

Tumor treating fields induce immune modulation in non-small cell lung cancer

Suhe Wang, MD, PhD, 2021 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant

Tuesday, April 18th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

Increasing the Reach and Efficacy of Evidence-Based Interventions for Tobacco Dependence

10:15 – 11:45 a.m., Room W311 A-D – Convention Center

Paul M. Cinciripini, PhD, 2019 AACR-Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Innovation Science Grant

Dr. Yuxuan ‘Phoenix’ Miao

AACR Gertude B. Elion Cancer Research Award Lecture

12:00 – 12:30 p.m., Room W240 – Convention Center

Yuxuan ‘Phoenix’ Miao, PhD, 2022 AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award

Community Engagement to Reduce Cancer Disparities

12:30 – 2:00 p.m., Room W311 A-D – Convention Center

Francisco Cartujano, MD, 2021 AACR-Genentech Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship

AACR-Irving Weinstein Foundation Distinguished Lectureship

4:45 – 5:30 p.m., Room W331 – Convention Center

Andrea Schietinger, PhD, 2021 AACR-Bristol Myers Squibb Midcareer Female Investigator Grant

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

GWAS/Post-GWAS

Regulation of genes located in 6q25 by an Indigenous American genetic variant in breast cancer patients from Peru

Valentina Zavala, PhD, 2021 AACR-Genentech Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship

Inflammation and Tumor Progression

Spatial architecture of tumor-infiltrating macrophages orchestrates tumor immunity and therapeutic response

Yuanyuan Zhang, MD, PhD, 2021 Conquer Cancer-AACR Young Investigator Award for Translational Cancer Research

Pediatric Cancer 2: Biology and Therapeutics

Discrete extracellular matrix-secreting tumor cell subpopulations remodel the Ewing sarcoma tumor microenvironment to promote invasion

Emma Wrenn, PhD, 2022 AACR-QuadW Foundation Sarcoma Research Fellowship in Memory of Willie Tichenor

Role of Mitochondria and Signaling Pathways in Cancer 

Improving the efficacy of dual ERK-MAPK and autophagy inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 

Kristen L. Bryant, PhD, 2015 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Pathway to Leadership Grant 

3D and Tissue Recombinant Models

Evaluation of tumor treating fields (TTFields) effects at 200 kHz on a glioblastoma, an anaplastic ependymoma and an oligodendroglioma sample in a patient-derived ex vivo organoid model

Carsten Hagemann, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant

Head and neck cancer HuBiogel-embedded microtumor assay system for therapeutic efficacy testing of patient tumor specimens 

Christopher Douglas Willey, MD, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant 

Wednesday, April 19th

ORAL PRESENTATIONS: 

Global Cancer Burden: Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation

10:15 – 11:45 a.m., Room W311 E-H – Convention Center

Chemtai Mungo, MD, MPH, FACOG, 2022 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Cancer Stem Cells and Therapeutic Resistance 

The impact of tumor-treating fields on cancer stem-like cells isolated from the sub-ventricular zone of glioblastoma patients 

Sara G.M. Piccirillo, PhD, 2021 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant  

DNA Damage Response

PARP inhibitors preferentially sensitize splicing factor mutant myeloid neoplasms

Hai Dang Nguyen, PhD, 2022 AACR Career Development Award to Further Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Cancer Research

DNA-reactive Agents, HDAC and Methyltransferase Inhibitors, and Tubulin Agents

The discovery and preclinical characterization of the SAM-competitive PRMT5 inhibitor UCT-000445

Martina McDermott, PhD, 2022 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia & AACR

Preclinical Therapies and Clinical Observations in Pediatric Oncology

Targeting urea cycle dysfunction to prevent and treat osteosarcoma

Rachel Offenbacher, MD, 2023 AACR-D-Team Sarcoma Research Fellowship

Tumor-Stromal Cell (Including Immune Cell) Interactions and Therapy Responses

Inhibition of AURKA destabilizes glioblastoma primary cilia and sensitizes cells to tumor treating fields (TTFields) in vitro and ex vivo

Matthew R. Sarkisian, PhD, 2022 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant