2024 News

Dr. Cara Schafer receives 2024 Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Young Investigator Award: October 24, 2024

Dr. Cara Schafer, Assistant Professor, USU, School of Medicine, Dept. of Surgery, and Scientist I, Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR), Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), recently received a 2024 PCF Young Investigator Award for her proposal, “Defining the functional and spatial immune repertoire roles of the prostate tumor microenvironment”.

Dr. Schafer’s two co-mentors on this award are Dr. Leigh Ellis, Scientific Director, CPDR, and Dr. Deborah Citrin, Scientific Director for Clinical Research, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI).

“I am very honored to receive this year’s Young Investigator Award from PCF!”, said Dr. Schafer. “This award will provide tremendous networking opportunities with other early career researchers as well as renowned scientists and physician-scientists in the field of prostate cancer.”

The PCF Young Investigator Awards identify and support promising early-career researchers who will drive the future of prostate cancer research with innovative thinking.

These awards provide crucial career and project funding to exceptional postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members, who are dedicating their careers to advancing prostate cancer research and treatment.

https://www.pcf.org/our-work/the-work-we-fund/young-investigator-awards/class-of-2024/defining-the-functional-and-spatial-immune-repertoire-roles-of-the-prostate-tumor-microenvironment/

Dr. Cara Schafer, Assistant Professor at CPDR

CPDR Paper Drop from the Shafi Lab: September 13, 2024

CPDR's Dr. Ayesha Shafi and team publish their findings on AR coactivators, CBP/p300, are critical mediators of DNA repair in prostate cancer in Oncogene. This study was led by Shafi lab post-bac, Sumaria Sardar, and in collaboration with several experts in the field.

Dr. Ayesha Shafi, Assistant Professor at CPDR

CPDR Paper Drop from the Su Lab: August 27, 2024

CPDR's Dr. Allen Su and team publish their findings on aneuploidy-associated cohesin/RAD21 gains in promoting aggressiveness in prostate cancer in PNAS.

This interdisciplinary study was led by Dr. Su and his team, in collaboration with multi-institutional experts in the epidemiology and molecular and cell biology field.

Dr. Xiaofeng (Allen) Su, Assistant Professor at CPDR

CPDR Paper Drop from the Ellis Lab: September 10, 2024

CPDR's Dr. Leigh Ellis and team publish their findings on a novel driver of phenotypic plasticity in prostate cancer in Cancer Research Communications. The study was led by Ellis Lab senior postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Beatriz German.

Dr. Leigh Ellis, Professor at CPDR

CPDR WRNMMC Clinic: April 16, 2024, Bethesda, MD

CPDR is proud to announce Dr. Gregory Chesnut, CPDR Director, was awarded the prestigious Joint Outpatient Experience Survey (JOES) “Best of the Best” Specialty Care Provider recognition for Q1 2024, based on patients’ experience. His dedication and exceptional care have truly made a difference in the lives of many!

In addition, we are equally proud to highlight the remarkable talents of Dr. Anastasia Pike, wife of Dr. Chesnut, who is also featured in an article as a remarkable harp musician whose soothing melodies bring comfort and solace to our cancer patients at Walter Reed, adding a unique dimension to our holistic approach to healthcare.

Read more about their contributions in the latest articles from DVIDS and WRNMMC:

Patients Rate Walter Reed Providers High

Harpist Provides Volunteer Performances at Walter Reed to Enhance Therapeutic Patient Care

US Navy CMDR Dr. Gregory Chesnut (Urology) is one of four Walter Reed providers patients gave a 100 percent satisfaction rating in the recent Military Health System’s (MHS) Joint Outpatient Experience Survey (JOES) Best of the Best in its first quarter of fiscal year 2024 report (October to December 2023)

Photo By Bernard Little DVIDSHUB.net

CPDR front and center at the 2024 Annual AACR Meeting, April 5-10, 2024, San Diego, CA:

The Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) principal investigators and student trainees recently participated in the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, held April 5-10, in San Diego, CA.

This year, CPDR’s PIs, including Dr. Shyh-Han Tan, Dr. Cara Schafer, Dr. Ayesha Shafi and Dr. Allen Su, participated in poster presentation sessions along with student trainees from the Shafi Lab and Su Lab.

“The AACR Annual Meeting is an important event for CPDR and especially our student trainees,” said Dr. Allen Xiaofeng Su, CPDR Principal Investigator and Research Assistant Professor, USU School of Medicine, Department of Surgery. “It allows our team to showcase their translational science and research from the past year, develop collaborations with other institutions and review new cancer research technology. It is a great opportunity for the trainees to meet with experts in the fields of cancer research, treatment and patient care.

They can see how their experience and training with CPDR can be adapted to many aspects in the cancer research field.”

CPDR PIs Dr. Shyh-Han Tan's and Dr. Cara Schafer's prostate cancer research, under the Murtha Cancer Center Research Program. Their work was highlighted by the AACR during the conference.

2024 CPDR First Annual Scientific Retreat

January 10, 2024, Bethesda, MD

CPDR held the first annual scientific retreat on January 10, 2024, at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) Home Office, in Bethesda, MD. The retreat included participation and presentations from prostate cancer researchers and stakeholders representing USUHS, the Joint Pathology Center, and NIH's National Cancer Institute.

In addition, Postdoctoral Fellows and Post Baccalaureates featured their research in a poster session with CPDR’s own Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Beatriz Germán-Falcón, receiving third place.

“The CPDR scientific retreat provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, foster collaborations and ignite innovation among the prostate cancer research community within the DMV area,” said Dr. Leigh Ellis, CPDR Scientific Director. “This event serves as a platform to shape the future of prostate cancer research and promote transformative first in human clinical trials aimed at curing prostate cancer patients of their disease.”

Beatriz Germán-Falcón, Ph.D., CPDR Postdoctoral Fellow, awarded 3rd Place, retreat poster session, Jan. 10, 2024

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