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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Establishes Center for Cancer Immunotherapy Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) received a significant gift from Susan and Steve Kelly, local philanthropists and long-time supporters of CHOP, to establish the Susan S. and Stephen P. Kelly Center for Cancer Immunotherapy.FigureThe new center, led by Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD, will allow CHOP to create a more robust infrastructure to expand pediatric clinical trials and accelerate the FDA approval of novel treatments; increase the pipeline of innovative therapeutics and diagnostics; recruit and train top investigators and postdoctoral researchers to become the next generation of cancer immunotherapy experts; and increase equity and access to cell therapy clinical trials for socioeconomically disadvantaged patients.Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD: Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD“Cell and gene therapy is a major emphasis at CHOP. With this significant investment from Steve and Susan, CHOP is now positioned, unlike any other academic medical center, to leverage our clinical and scientific expertise in the cell and gene therapy space to better care for pediatric patients and families in Philadelphia and around the world,” said Grupp, the inaugural Director of the Susan S. and Stephen P. Kelly Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Chief of the Cellular Therapy and Transplant Section in the Division of Oncology at CHOP. “The Kellys' unwavering commitment to CHOP and the Cancer Center will allow us to forge ahead and identify new therapies for sick children sooner, bringing us one step closer to our ultimate goal: prescribing every child diagnosed with cancer a targeted therapy based on their genetic makeup, their cancer's makeup, and the makeup of their own immune system.” Steve and Susan Kelly have a longstanding partnership with CHOP's Cancer Center and have supported Grupp's research in developing CAR T-cell therapy for children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The combined efforts of Grupp and his team, along with investigators from the University of Pennsylvania and other researchers, paved the way for the first-ever FDA approval of a CAR T-cell therapy in August 2017. To date, CHOP's pediatric oncology program has treated more than 440 children with CAR T-cell therapy, recently publishing a >95 percent remission rate for patients with relapsed ALL. Emily Whitehead, the first child to undergo experimental CAR T-cell therapy treatment, remains cancer free nearly 10 years later. “We are honored our gift will help CHOP and Grupp to unlock the tremendous potential of cancer immunotherapies,” said Steve and Susan Kelly. “We hope that our gift helps children around the world overcome the toughest forms of cancer and reclaim their lives, so that their future is defined by their dreams and not by a cancer diagnosis.” The Kelly family's transformative gift will also advance CHOP's ability to deliver cell therapies to even more patients, using procedures to genetically modify a patient's own bone marrow stem cells to cure inherited blood disorders, which affect more than 100,000 patients in the United States. “This is just the beginning of bringing the cell therapy revolution to patients with inherited disorders,” Grupp noted. John E. Dick, PhD, FAACR, Receives Award for Blood Cancer Research The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) honored John E. Dick, PhD, Fellow of the AACR Academy, with the inaugural AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research. The organization established this award to recognize an individual for meritorious achievements and contributions to basic, translational, or clinical research related to blood cancer or associated disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome or myeloproliferative neoplasms.John E. Dick, PhD: John E. Dick, PhDDick is being honored for discovering and characterizing the mechanisms by which stem cells contribute to normal and leukemic hematopoiesis. He is widely recognized for his seminal discovery of leukemic stem cells and for developing the first hematopoietic xenograft assay using human hematopoietic cells transplanted into immune-compromised mice, a technique capable of giving rise to distinct blood lineages. Using this assay, Dick has developed xenograft models of human acute lymphoid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and chronic myeloid leukemia that have provided crucial insights into the onset and progression of such diseases. Importantly, his research findings have uncovered a gene signature of leukemia stemness that can be used to predict survival rates and response to treatment. This research has highlighted actionable targets for drug development, while it has provided the foundation for clinical trials that are actively recruiting participants. Additionally, Dick's research has also led to the identification of genetic mutations that characterize pre-leukemic hematopoietic stem cells capable of contributing to therapeutic resistance and disease relapse. “The AACR is very proud to honor Dr. Dick as the first recipient of this special award,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), Chief Executive Officer of the AACR. “His innovative, groundbreaking, scientific discoveries have contributed greatly to our understanding of leukemia and how we may effectively treat this devastating collection of malignancies. We are thrilled to recognize [this] work that continues to propel the field of blood cancer research forward, leading to more progress for patients.” Dick has been a member of the AACR since 2006 and was elected as a Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2016. He is the Canada Research Chair in Stem Cell Biology, a senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and an investigator at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute at the University Health Network in Toronto. Additionally, Dick is Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto and co-leader of the Acute Leukemia Translational Research Initiative for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. He has also served as a senior scientist in the Department of Genetics at the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children. New President, Board Members, Awards Announced by ASTCT Brenda M. Sandmaier, MD, has become the new President of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) announced in 2022-2023. She is Professor in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She is a member of ASTCT and the American Society of Hematology (ASH).Brenda M. Sandmaier, MD: Brenda M. Sandmaier, MD“The opportunity to serve as President of ASTCT is an honor,” said Sandmaier. “My career has been focused on providing allogeneic transplantation immunotherapy to more patients with hematologic malignancies around the world, which is in line with the mission of ASTCT. With the ASTCT Board of Directors, I look forward to advancing science and education in this important and ever-evolving field of medicine.” Sandmaier previously served on several national committees for ASTCT, ASH, and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), including serving as Director at Large on the ASTCT Board of Directors, Member and Chair of the ASH Scientific Committee on Transplantation Biology, Member and Chair of the CIBMTR Nominating Committee and, most recently, Chair of the CIBMTR Acute Leukemia Working Committee. Professionally, Sandmaier's research focuses on extending the benefits of transplant immunotherapy to a broader range of patients, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients who are older or have medical comorbidities, and those who do not have fully HLA-matched donors. Translating from her laboratory's preclinical studies, she has conducted clinical trials to prevent graft-versus-host disease after transplantation with different donor types. Sandmaier's lab has also developed less-toxic conditioning regimens, including radio-immunotherapy, that have been translated clinically to treat patients with hematologic malignancies and also non-malignant, including inherited, blood disorders. In addition to Sandmaier, the ASTCT 2022-2023 Board of Directors includes the following individuals: Miguel-Angel Perales, MD, (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center); President-Elect Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute); Vice President Stella Davies, MBBS, PhD, (Cincinnati Children's Hospital); Past President Amrita Krishnan, MD, (City of Hope); Secretary Uday Popat, MD, MBA, (MD Anderson Cancer Center); Treasurer Shalini Shenoy, MD, (St. Louis Children's Hospital); Director of Community or Clinical Practice Betty Hamilton, MD, (Cleveland Clinic); Director of Community or Clinical Practice Nandita Khera, MD, MPH, (Mayo Clinic); Director of Community or Clinical Practice Leslie Kean, MD, PhD, (Boston Children's Hospital); Director of Laboratory Science Brian Betts, MD, (University of Minnesota); Director of Laboratory Science Alan Hanash, MD, PhD, (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center); Director of Laboratory Science Eneida Nemecek, MD, MS, MBA, (Oregon Health & Science University); Director at Large Kirsten Williams, MD, (Emory University School of Medicine); Director at Large Lori Muffly, MD, MS, (Stanford University); Director at Large Robert Korngold, PhD, (JTCT); Editor-in-Chief ASTCT also presented top awards to leaders in the field of transplantation and cellular therapy. Effie Petersdorf, MD, was honored with the 2022 ASTCT Lifetime Achievement Award. She is Professor in the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and Professor of Medicine, Medical Oncology Division, University of Washington School of Medicine. Petersdorf has devoted her research to the immunogenetics of the HLA system in transplantation.Effie Petersdorf, MD: Effie Petersdorf, MDThe 2022 ASTCT Public Service Award was presented to Damiano Rondelli, MD. He is the Michael Reese Professor of Hematology, Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, and Director of BMT at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Rondelli leads a global initiative dedicated to improving access and resources for transplant and cellular therapy centers, particularly in those countries with constrained resources. Notably, his initiative has assisted hospitals in Cuba, Nepal, and Ukraine.Damiano Rondelli, MD: Damiano Rondelli, MDThe ASTCT Board of Directors recognized James W. Young, MD, with the 2022 ASTCT Special Recognition for his outstanding contributions to the New Investigator Awards program. Young has led the New Investigator Awards application, review, and selection process for the last decade. During that time, more than 50 individuals were recipients of funding through the program.James W. Young, MD: James W. Young, MDUC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Launches New Health Equity Center To address cancer health disparities in the region, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is launching the Center for Advancing Cancer Health Equity, which will conduct community-engaged research and interventions using multi-level approaches. The new center will build on the progress made to date in reducing health disparities, particularly through the cancer center's population sciences and health disparities research programs along with the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “We need to continue to address the root causes of cancer health disparities,” said Primo “Lucky” Lara, Jr., MD, Director of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Avoiding or surviving cancer should not depend on your zip code and that's why we have established the Center for Advancing Cancer Health Equity because everyone deserves an equal chance at a healthy life.” The new center will be at the forefront of culture change regarding health equity at UC Davis and beyond. “The ultimate goal is to achieve cancer health equity for all communities living in central and northern California,” said Luis Carvajal-Carmona, PhD, Director of the new center. “The concerted efforts of the Center for Advancing Cancer Health Equity will not only contribute to improved health outcomes in our underserved populations, but will also result in a body of work that will influence cancer-related policy decisions at the county, state, and national levels.” Simultaneously, the new center will make important contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence by promoting and supporting the careers of women, people of color, and those from other under-represented groups at UC Davis. “We cannot achieve health equity if our clinicians, scientists, staff, and trainees do not reflect the racial/ethnic and socio-economic background of the patients and communities we serve,” said Carvajal-Carmona, who was also recently appointed as the cancer center's Chief Diversity Officer and who will oversee the new Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Cancer health outcomes are not equal across populations. Rural residents and communities of color face numerous challenges that nearly always increase their cancer burden. Cancer health disparities are the differences in cancer incidence and outcomes between population groups. They're impacted by social determinants such as socioeconomic/education/income level, English language fluency/culture, access to adequate, affordable health care, availability of fresh produce and other healthy food, lifestyle behaviors, genetic susceptibility, and surrounding environment (i.e., exposure to pollution or pesticides) The new center will support these key areas by generating knowledge and identifying barriers that help our policymakers, stakeholders, and communities implement better and more targeted cancer education, prevention, and treatment efforts. Share Your News! Send information on career developments and cancer center news for this column to [email protected].

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