(UPDATED 7/6/17) Video Coverage of Presentations are now available
Individual presentations
YouTube Playlist
OVERVIEW
(June 26, 2017) Nearly 60 pediatric oncology researchers and others from Baltimore-Washington arrived at the Giant Food Headquarters in Landover on June 7, 2017 looking forward to a day of research presentations, poster sessions and lively discussion. The Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. (CCF) Research Symposium, now in its second year, focused on the advancements on drug treatment for pediatric cancer patients. The brainchild of CCF’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair Jeffrey Toretsky, M.D., the CCF Research Symposium puts forth the belief that small local research dialogue will go a long way toward substantial research collaboration.
Dr. Jeff Toretsky of Georgetown Lombardi presents latest lab progress on Ewing’s Sarcoma
“We have a unique opportunity to capitalize upon a rich collection of top childhood cancer researchers in our region that includes leading pediatric oncology research departments,” says Toretsky, who is a professor at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. “Often, at international conferences where attendance numbers can reach into the tens of thousands, we miss the opportunity to talk about research with someone from literally down the street. The ability to regularly meet face-to-face helps grow a research community.”
WHO ATTENDED
Researchers from Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, Children’s National Medical Center, and National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute presented findings from their latest studies in treating leukemia, sarcomas, and other types of cancer. Research fellows, medical school students taking a year for full time mentored research training in a lab, found this symposium especially helpful, and gave them an opportunity to discuss their studies through the poster session.
Cancer survivor Noah Grove tells researchers his journey – putting a face on the important work they do
In addition to focusing on research advancements, the CCF event injects the human side of the research by including cancer survivors and their family. Noah Grove, a recent high school graduate, spoke of his challenging but rewarding life as a survivor of osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, which cost him his leg at the age of five. The audience also heard from Erica DeMille, the mother of a son who was diagnosed at infancy with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia, who spoke of her journey advocating for her son and finding hope, and cures, with Dr. Toretsky and his team.
KEYNOTE
The keynote speaker for the afternoon was Dr. Gregory Reaman, Associate Director for Oncology Science, at the FDA. A leading figure in pediatric oncology for decades, Dr. Reaman previously headed the Division of Hematology-Oncology at D.C.’s Children’s National Medical Center. In his presentation, Dr. Reaman expressed the FDA’s commitment to streamlining approval of drug treatments for childhood cancers, as well as specific guidance for researchers and practitioners seeking drug approval.
Also presenting his research was Dr. Jeffrey Rubens, a pediatric neuro-oncologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and last year’s recipient of the Giant Food Next Gen Award, a CCF research award given to a promising young researcher. “The Symposium gave me an opportunity to share my CCF-funded research to the local pediatric oncology community,” says Dr. Rubens. “I am grateful to CCF and their partnership with Giant Food in providing me with critical seed funding that will improve the lives of patients suffering from atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, an aggressive type of tumor in the brain.”
APPRECIATION
CCF looks forward to tracking the progress of connections made at the yearly Research Symposia and to report on profound breakthroughs for treating pediatric cancers. CCF is sincerely grateful to Giant Foods, and Board Member Terry McGowan, for hosting and catering.
For more questions about CCF or the symposia, please contact the office at 443-546-4479 or info@childrenscancerfoundation.org.
A LOOK AHEAD
Please mark your calendar for June 6, 2018 for the 3rd Annual CCF Research Symposium.
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS
Videos from the day’s presentations are currently available on the CCF YouTube Channel.
PHOTO GALLERY:
- This year’s Symposium focused on research leading to new medicines for treatment
- Cancer survivor Noah Grove tells researchers his journey – putting a face on the important work they do
- Dr. Jeff Toretsky of Georgetown Lombardi presents latest lab progress on Ewing’s Sarcoma
- Taking advantage of Giant Food’s comfortable meeting space
- Recent High school graduate and childhood cancer activist Valerie Nguyen meets keynote Dr. Greg Reaman
- Dr. Mona Elmacken of Children’s National Health system
- Advocate and pediatric cancer parent Erica DeMille speaks about the story of her son
- Thanks to CCF Board Members Steve Coombs, Terry McGowell, and Kathy Smith for working behind the scenes to make this a seamless event!
- Dr. Brigitte Widemann, of NIH
- Dr. Eric Raabe of Johns Hopkins discusses therapy findings for a pediatric brain tumor
- Symposium attendees included researchers, advocates, trainees, students, and survivors.
- Giant food NextGen awardee Dr. Paul Reubens of Johns Hopkins Hospital and University
- Dr. Kirsten William of Children’s National was selected to give brief presentation on her poster abstract of her research
- Dr. Cara Rabik discusses her abstract to CCF Executive Director Tasha Museles
- Pat Hanley, PhD of Children’s National and CCF President Jerry Chadwick, PhD discuss one of the abstracts during the poster session
- Dr. Uren (R) from Georgetown talks with abstract presenter at his poster
- CCF Vice President Lindley Bucci, Dr. Toretsky of Georgetown and CCF Exectutive Director Tasha Museles engage the poster presenters on their findings
- Dr. Kirsten William of Children’s National and Dr. Eric Raabe of JHH discuss their research
- Poster presenter discusses findings with Dr. Elmacken of Children’s National
- Parent advocate Theresa Beech presents her own genetic investigation into osteosarcoma
Links below direct you to individual video presentation. Please note that those presentations that are not linked here will not be made available publicly due to unpublished data. Thank you for your understanding.
- Aerang Kim, M.D., Children’s National Health System: Clinical overview of Ewing sarcoma and NF1 cancers
- Noah Grove, college-bound former patient
- Aykut Uren, M.D., Georgetown University: CD99 inhibition with small molecules in Ewing sarcoma
- Jeffrey A. Toretsky, M.D., Georgetown University: Combination of Vincristine with YK-4-279 in Ewing sarcoma
- Christine A. Pratilas, M.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital: NF1 Associated Cancers
- Garrett Graham, Ph.D. candidate, Georgetown University, Abstract Presentation
KEYNOTE
AFTERNOON SESSION SPEAKERS: EMBRYONAL TUMORS AND LEUKEMIAS
- Brigitte Widemann, M.D., National Cancer Institute, NIH: New Agents Overview
- Erica DeMille, parent advocate for her son, Tyler
- Patrick Brown, M.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Eric Raabe, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital: New Therapies for Medulloblastoma
- Jeffrey Rubens, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital: Brain Tumors
- Mona Elmacken, M.D., Children’s National Medical Center: New Neuroblastoma Targets
- Kirsten William, M.D., Children’s National Medical Center, Abstract Presentation
A special thank you to CCF Scientific Advisory Board Members:
- Chair, Jeffrey A. Toretsky, M.D., Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Amal M. Abu-Ghosh, M.D., Sinai Hospital
- Patrick Brown , M.D., The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Jeffrey Dome, M.D., Ph.D., Children’s National Health System
- Young Kwok, M.D., University of Maryland Medical Center
- Donald L. Trump, M.D., Inova Schar Cancer Institute
- Aykut Uren, M.D., Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Brigitte Widemann, M.D., National Cancer Institute