UF Health rectal cancer program earns national accreditation
Obtaining the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer’s stamp of approval is a group effort that requires the dedication of multidisciplinary teams to their work — and to their patients with rectal cancer.

Celebrating female trailblazers during Women in Medicine Month
Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., and Oluwadamilola T. Oladeru, M.D., were featured by the UF College of Medicine as role models who represent the importance of gender inclusion in medicine and exemplify the impressive accomplishments and impact of women in their fields.

UF researcher receives grant to study tobacco cessation interventions in Lebanon
Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., professor in the department of health outcomes & biomedical informatics, has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to compare the effectiveness of evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions in Lebanon.

Oncologist joins national committee to diversify leaders in research
Kate Hitchcock, M.D., Ph.D., was recently appointed to a National Clinical Trials Network committee tasked with improving diversity and inclusion efforts for national leaders in oncology research.

Immunotherapy in focus
Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., has received three grants that will use a novel type of imaging to advance research on cancer immunotherapy treatment and brain injury. The studies aim to provide researchers and clinicians with key insight into how patients with cancers such as refractory brain tumors respond to immunotherapy treatment.

Thomas George, M.D., comments on new rectal cancer study
A recent study in which patients with rectal cancer went into remission received widespread attention. Thomas George, M.D., provided context on the findings for a fact check published by Verify.

UF Health Cancer Center clinical trials navigator named AONN+ committee chair
Jennifer West, B.S.N., R.N., ONN-CG, a clinical trials navigator at the UF Health Cancer Center, has been named chair of the Clinical Trials Committee of the national Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+).

Incarceration associated with higher cancer mortality
Oluwadamilola Oladeru, M.D., is the lead author of this new study with Yale University finding a higher risk of cancer mortality among people in prison as well as among those diagnosed with cancer in the first year after release from prison.

Research sheds new light on effects of ‘betel nut’ stimulant used by millions worldwide
Hundreds of millions of people around the world chew betel nut, but its use can unfortunately also lead to oral disease and cancer. Now, University of Florida researchers and their collaborators know more about why one of the world’s most popular stimulants is so dangerous and addictive.

Celebrating postdocs: Here’s how they’re shaping the future
National Postdoc Appreciation Week was Sept. 19-23. UF featured the stories of two postdocs who are involved in cancer-related research: Mary Kate Koch, Ph.D., and Edward Kalkreuter, Ph.D.

Shahla Masood, M.D.: Ongoing disparities in outcomes for breast cancer patients
Shahla Masood, M.D., discussed the higher mortality rate of African American breast cancer patients in a recent column in the Florida Times-Union.

Carolyn Tucker, Ph.D., leads community-centered mental health initiative in East Gainesville
Through the initiative funded by the Florida Blue Foundation, local adults and youth are training to become mental health and well-being support coaches. They will then lead support groups for peers in the community. Tucker’s team has partnered with East Gainesville pastors who have deep ties to their communities and speak to participants from a shared background and perspective.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy decreases GI and urinary toxicity in endometrial and cervical cancer
A study reporting the updated results of a phase III trial by lead author Anamaria R. Yeung, M.D., was featured in OncLive.
