Research Newsletter

Indiana University and Purdue Cancer Center Hold Second Joint Retreat

p>Indiana University and Purdue Cancer Center held their second annual retreat in Indianapolis on April 21 to foster information exchange, collaboration and joint grant proposals.

The joint retreat was organized by James Klaunig, PhD, professor of Toxicology and an associate director of the IU Cancer Center, with assistance from Marietta Harrison, PhD, associate director of the Purdue Cancer Center. Over 60 members from both institutions, including basic, clinical and behavioral scientists, attended and rotated among four different working groups focused on a specific cancer type. Groups included colon, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Discussion revolved around the current scientific understanding and available prevention and treatment options for each cancer and the specific scientific questions which have yet to be answered. The ultimate aim was to identify collaborative opportunities and future investigators willing to study these cancers further.

“If after today we can get one scientist and one physician together, one relationship established, one new idea fostering clinical, basic or translational research – with this, one plus one can truly equal three or more,” said Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr., M.D., deputy director of the IU Cancer Center.

Colon and prostate cancer working groups have decided to meet on a regular basis to continue their discussion and efforts. Further information on the meeting of these working groups as well as other working groups will be posted in subsequent issues of the IU Cancer Center newsletter.