Blog

Nov 29, 2024, 18:45

Front Line Blog from SWOG Cancer Research Network: Thanksgiving Reflection

SWOG Cancer Research Network shared on swog.org:

“This Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude for your dedication to our patients and to SWOG’s mission of significantly improving lives through cancer trials and translational research.

Your work and commitment are both humbling and inspiring.

I’m also grateful to be able to announce that Dr. Jason Zell is the new co-chair of our prevention, screening, and surveillance committee, leading alongside continuing co-chair Dr. Banu Arun. He takes the spot vacated by Dr. Marian Neuhouser, who stepped down as committee co-chair at our fall group meeting.

Dr. Zell is known to many of you as principal investigator of our S0820 PACES study, testing whether the combination of eflornithine and sulindac can reduce the rate of high-risk adenomas and second cancers in patients previously treated for colorectal cancer. This phase III study closed to accrual last year and is now in follow-up.

A graduate of SWOG’s Early Stage Investigator Training Course, and a past Coltman Fellow, Dr. Zell has also served on The Hope Foundation’s board of directors and in numerous other leadership roles within SWOG, the NCI, and his home institution of the University of California – Irvine.

He is an outstanding choice for partnering with Dr. Arun to lead our prevention, screening, and surveillance committee, and I thank the search committee for their work in ensuring SWOG’s research in this area will continue in great hands.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day weekend!”

About Charles D. Blanke

SWOG

Charles D. Blanke, MD, FACP, FASCO, is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Oregon Health and Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute. He is a leading expert in targeted systemic agents and played a key role in developing imatinib mesylate for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Dr. Blanke has served on the ASCO Board of Directors and various ASCO committees, including Ethics and Finance. He is the current Chair of SWOG and has held prominent roles in gastrointestinal cancer research. Dr. Blanke completed his medical education at Northwestern University and his training at Gundersen Medical Foundation and Indiana University.

About SWOG Cancer Research Network

SWOG

SWOG Cancer Research Network is a global community dedicated to cancer research, designing and conducting publicly funded clinical trials. Since its inception in 1956, SWOG has contributed to saving over 3 million years of life by testing innovative treatments, prevention strategies, and improved care methods for cancer survivors.

Further Reading:

Thanksgiving Day 2024: A Time for Gratitude and Reflection