Researchers at Sylvester, including Lara Traeger, Ph.D., are leading a five-year, $3 million study funded by the National Cancer Institute to address sexual health concerns among bone marrow transplant survivors. The study evaluates SHIFT, a digital app that provides education and guided exercises to support patients facing intimacy challenges after transplant.
Researchers at Sylvester, including Sara Fleszar-Pavlović, Ph.D., Frank Penedo, Ph.D., and Nipun Merchant, M.D., received a $600,000 Department of Defense grant to study an eHealth-based stress management tool for pancreatic cancer survivors. The tool aims to address physical and emotional challenges, enhancing coping skills and reducing stress, potentially improving quality of life for these patients during and after treatment.
Jay Spiegel, M.D., Peter Hosein, M.D., Jashodeep Datta, M.D., Alejandro Villarino, Ph.D., and Defne Bayik, Ph.D., researchers at Sylvester, are leading V Foundation-funded projects totaling over $1.5 million. Dr. Spiegel combines CAR T-cell therapy with new drugs for B-cell lymphoma. Dr. Hosein and Dr. Datta are studying pancreatic cancer responses to immunotherapy, Dr. Villarino is developing a platform to study T-cell malignancies and Dr. Bayik is advancing glioblastoma research.
Sylvester researchers Sophia George, Ph.D., and Matthew Schlumbrecht, M.D., M.P.H., were awarded two $1 million Department of Defense grants and are leading studies on endometrial cancer in Black women. Their research focuses on genetics, examining populations from the U.S., Caribbean and West Africa. They are also developing awareness programs to address care and symptoms, working with Shakeya Allen, a patient advocate.
Researchers at Sylvester, led by Jashodeep Datta, M.D., assistant director of transdisciplinary research, received a $2.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to investigate new treatments for pancreatic cancer. The study focuses on disrupting a protective cellular network that makes tumors resistant to therapy. Findings could lead to clinical trials by 2026, improving survival rates for this deadly disease.
For 18 years, the American Cancer Society has supported junior faculty at Sylvester with institutional research grants. These seed grants help young researchers generate early findings to secure larger funding. This year's recipients included Namrata Chandhok, M.D., Emiliano Cocco, Ph.D., Martín Rivas, Ph.D., and Benjamin Spieler, M.D.
Carmen Calfa, M.D., breast cancer medical oncologist, received a grant from the Woman's Cancer Association, which advocates for universal genetic testing to identify inherited cancer-related changes. Her research aims to reduce financial barriers, focusing on promoting early detection and personalized care for future generations.