News and Events

Former Pediatric Oncology Branch patient donates toys to NIH Pediatric Clinic

In December, former patient Julie Jones donated over 1,000 toys to the Pediatric Clinic at the NIH Clinical Center. Jones is a former patient in the Pediatric Oncology Branch who was treated more than 20 years ago for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. She says, “I remember what it was like. What these children are going through at such a young age really breaks your heart. I’ve often said there’s nothing greater than seeing the smile on the face of a sick child.”

Binding preferences of Ras and Raf yield clues for developing targeted cancer therapies

Using living cells, researchers in CCR have found that a set of enzymatic proteins, known as Raf kinases, have differing affinities in how they bind to a class of cancer-related proteins, known as the Ras GTPases. This could offer new strategies for developing more effective targeted therapies.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors block cancer-driving gene networks by obstructing DNA folding

Studies of the pediatric cancer rhabdomyosarcoma have revealed an unexpected way to intervene in cell-identity-determining networks that are abused by many aggressive cancers.

Differences between anti-viral and anti-tumor T-cell responses could impact immunotherapy

A finding published in Cell Reports holds promise for resolving some of the conundrums surrounding CD4+ T cells and their potential in fighting cancer. The work found that CD4+ T-cell responses to tumor antigens are quite different from those to infections, highlighting a need to re-think how to harness the power of CD4+ T cells.

Differences between anti-viral and anti-tumor T-cell responses could impact immunotherapy

New findings hint at therapies for African Americans with lung cancer

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that two genes tend to be mutated at higher rates in cancerous lung tissue samples taken from African Americans, hinting that these patients may benefit more from certain therapies targeting those genes.

Christopher Buck recently featured in Nature Index article

Christopher Buck, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, was recently featured in a Nature Index article where he discussed US-China scientific relations and how collaboration between the two remains strong.

Ronald Gress discusses therapeutic potential of supercentinarian immune cells

Ronald Gress, M.D., Chief of the Experimental Transplantation and Immunotherapy Branch, was recently featured in a Forbes article about a unique feature of the immune system of supercentenarians—an increased frequency of certain subset of CD4 T-cells that could play a role in the longevity of these individuals. Dr. Gress discussed several important questions that must be investigated to understand the therapeutic potential of these T-cells.

Martha Zeiger elected President of the American Thyroid Association

Martha Zeiger, M.D., Head of the Surgical Oncology Program, was recently elected President of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and received the association’s 2019 Lewis E. Braverman Distinguished Award. The award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates excellence and passion for mentoring fellows, students and junior faculty, has a long history of productive thyroid research and is devoted to the ATA.

Newest Lasker Scholars Nirali Shah and David Takeda featured in Intramural Research Program blog

Nirali Shah, M.D., M.H.Sc., Investigator in the Pediatric Oncology Branch, and David Takeda, M.D., Ph.D., Investigator in the Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, are two of the five physician-scientists selected as the 2019 class of Lasker Clinical Research Scholars. In a recent Intramural Research Program blog, they discuss their research and how the resources at NCI and NIH have helped support their goals.

Breadcrumb