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The Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) is a multidisciplinary translational research program within the USU Department of Surgery, and the John P. Murtha Cancer Center, focused on studying prostate cancer and prostate disease in the US Military Healthcare System. Established by Congress in 1992, CPDR fulfills its mission primarily through three principal programs: the Clinical Translational Research Center, the Basic Science Research Program, and the Tri-Service Multicenter Prostate Cancer Database.
The Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) is a multidisciplinary translational research program within the USU Department of Surgery, and the John P. Murtha Cancer Center, focused on studying prostate cancer and prostate disease in the US Military Healthcare System. Established by Congress in 1992, CPDR fulfills its mission primarily through three principal programs: the Clinical Translational Research Center, the Basic Science Research Program, and the Tri-Service Multicenter Prostate Cancer Database.
These programs enable CPDR to conduct clinical research in collaboration with various military medical centers. CPDR consists of the comprehensive medical treatment and patient education clinic, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), and the state-of-the-art Dr. David G. McLeod Laboratory in Bethesda, MD.
The combined expertise of medical oncologists, research nurses and patient educators, scientists, genitourinary pathologists, biostatisticians, histologists and technicians allow for advanced technological resources and innovative collaborative research in prostate cancer and prostate disease.
CPDR 2025 NEWS
CPDR 2025 NEWS
CPDR Research Review Published in Cancer Medicine - Understanding Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer: A Multifaceted Approach
CPDR Research Review Published in Cancer Medicine - Understanding Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer: A Multifaceted Approach
Cancer Medicine published a research review in June 2025, authored by Dr. Ayesha Shafi, Dr. Gregory Chesnut and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences medical student Charles Cobbs IV (from the Shafi Lab). The review delves into the pressing issue of racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. African American men face higher rates of diagnosis and mortality compared to other racial groups, a disparity driven by complex and intersecting factors.
More on this story on our CPDR News page!
Dr. Arwa Fallatah, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Shafi Lab, was recently awarded a prestigious Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Young Investigator Award. Her project focuses on the role of a circadian rhythm protein, cryptochrome 1 (CRY1), in driving prostate cancer. Circadian rhythm—the body’s “internal clock” that responds to light and dark cycles—helps maintain balance in many biological processes.
Orly Richter Takes Second Place in Poster Competition at the AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, Baltimore, MD
Orly Richter Takes Second Place in Poster Competition at the AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Fallatah and Orly Richter Post-Baccalaureate Researcher, recently presented their work at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Baltimore, MD, September 18 - 21, 2025, where Orly won second place in the poster competition. Her poster, titled “Spatial transcriptomic analyses of patient-derived explants identifies biomarkers of aggressive disease,” focused on mapping gene activity within prostate tumors.
For additional details and news, see our CPDR News and Shafi Lab pages!
L-R: Dr. Arwa Fallatah (Shafi Lab), Dr. Leigh Ellis, CPDR Scientific Director, Dr. Gregory Chesnut, CPDR Director: AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, Baltimore, MD.
Orly Richter (Shafi Lab): AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, Baltimore, MD.
CPDR 2nd Annual Scientific Retreat Group Photo, April 17, 2025, HJF Headquarters, Bethesda, MD
CPDR 2nd Annual Scientific Retreat Group Photo, April 17, 2025, HJF Headquarters, Bethesda, MD
CPDR Hosts 2nd Annual Scientific Retreat at HJF Headquarters - April 17, 2025
CPDR Hosts 2nd Annual Scientific Retreat at HJF Headquarters - April 17, 2025
The CPDR 2nd Annual Scientific Retreat took place on Thursday, April 17 at HJF HQ in Bethesda, and we hosted 150 participants both in-person and virtually. The event included ten distinguished speakers, national leaders in prostate cancer research, and four young scientists from Johns Hopkins University and CPDR. The highlight was the Keynote Address presented by Dr. Isla Garraway, from the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine and the VA Healthcare System, entitled: The VA Multi-OMICS Analysis Platform for Prostate Cancer (VA-MAPP) - Activating a Learning Healthcare System Model to Improve Outcomes for Veterans. The day's agenda featured four insightful sessions covering critical research areas: Genomics of Prostate Cancer, Tumor Immune Microenvironment, Next Generations Cancer Therapeutics, and Advance Molecular Biology of Lethal Prostate Cancer. The 2025 retreat concluded with an impactful presentation from Dr. Artie Shelton, veteran and prostate cancer survivor, and an engaging poster session and award ceremony.
Go to our 2025 Scientific Retreat page for more photos and event details
500+ scientific articles have been published in the past 32 years
Over 268K biospecimen units collected from 9K+ patients
32K military patients with prostate cancer data, integrated with 5 DoD and 1 civilian medical centers in Multicenter National Database Study
CPDR Groundbreaking Discoveries
CPDR Groundbreaking Discoveries
Developed and validated emerging diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches through a long term (since 1993) bio-molecular specimen bank (230,000 units from 7000+ patients), e.g., ERG oncoprotein-based stratification of prostate cancer (PMID: 22331093) and Oncotype DX Prostate Cancer test (PMID: 25465337, PMID: 26723180).
CPDR WRNMMC
CPDR WRNMMC
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Building 19, 3rd Floor
4954 North Palmer Rd. Bethesda, MD 20889-5600
Phone: (301) 319-2900
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