May 17, 2017 | UAMS joined with two other research entities to co-sponsor the spring 2017 Cancer Research Conference in Memphis, attracting more than 100 cancer researchers and provided networking opportunities for collaborative projects.
The May 2 event was hosted by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in partnership with UAMS and West Cancer Center in Germantown, Tennessee. The event showcased cancer research from the three institutions.
“The meeting displayed the wide range of innovative cancer research that is being conducted by UAMS, UTHSC and West Cancer Center investigators,” said Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research at UAMS. “I came away optimistic that we will see new collaborations that will accelerate the discovery of new cancer treatments and that will address health disparities that impact individuals who live in the areas served by the three institutions.”
Four faculty from UAMS gave presentations, including Peter D. Emanuel, M.D., director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and professor in the College of Medicine. In a talk titled “Overview of Cancer Research at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute,” Emanuel spoke about efforts to become an NCI-designated cancer center and pinpointed areas where further interaction and collaboration with scientific partners in the geographic area may be helpful.
“From a broad perspective, I think this initial conference was a wonderful opportunity to allow administrators and scientists from both universities some insights as to the priorities and strengths of the other side,” Emanuel said. “From a scientist’s perspective, the talks, the posters and the opportunity to interact were wonderful. I am certain that many interactive research projects will result from this conference and future meetings.”
Hong-yu Li, Ph.D., professor in the College of Pharmacy, spoke about “Translational Drug Development: Research that Takes you from Bench to Beside and Beyond.”
L. Joseph Su, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor in the College of Public Health, spoke about the “Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.”
Daohong Zhou, M.D., professor in the College of Pharmacy and director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, presented “Targeting Senescent Cells to Improve Cancer Therapy.”