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Annual Cancer Research Symposium

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The Annual Cancer Research Symposium is a long-standing event that brings together the many talents and passions of investigators devoted to solving the problem of cancer across the entire spectrum from prevention to survivorship. This event introduces new faculty, features research by students, and promotes programmatic and multidisciplinary interactions.

The symposium highlights groundbreaking cancer research from within UC Davis and beyond. Each year, focused sessions, which include invited keynote speakers, highlight population sciences and health disparities research; basic and translational science; clinical research; career development and training opportunities; and community outreach and engagement. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are weaved throughout all sessions. Additionally, the event includes a poster and exhibition session enabling early career and established scientists to share new and emerging equipment, services, and technologies and prizes rewarding innovative science relevant to cancer research, diagnosis, and/or treatment.

30th Annual Cancer Research Symposium

Date: October 10 and 11, 2024In Person Event, Comprehensive Cancer Center and Education Building.

Registration is free for UC Davis and LLNL affiliates until Friday, October 4th at 11:59 P.M. Register today

30th Annual Cancer Research Symposium

30th Annual Cancer Research Symposium October 10 and October 11, 2024 Download the program for the 30th Annual Cancer Research Symposium (PDF) Download the agenda
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Time	Title		Location
7:30-8 a.m.	Breakfast		Boardroom Foyer
SESSION I: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity And Accessibility Chair: David Tom Cooke, M.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
8 -8:15 a.m.	Introduction and Welcome	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
8:15-9 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: “Improving Diversity and Representativeness in Clinical Trials – The SWOG Experience”	Colmar Figueroa-Moseley, Ph.D., M.P.H. Co-chair, SWOG GI Health Equity and Research Development Subcommittee, Member, SWOG GI Committee, SWOG Veterans Committee, and SWOG Recruitment and Retention Committee	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
SESSION II: Population Sciences And Health Disparities Chair: Shehnaz Hussain, Ph.d., Sc.M.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
9-9:30 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: “Challenges of Lung Cancer Screening. Are We Up to the Task?”	Robert Smith, Ph.D. Senior Vice President, Early Cancer Detection Science, American Cancer Society	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
9:30-9:45 a.m.	Q&A
9:45-10 a.m.	“The External Exposome and Cancer: Using Spatial Data to Study Environmental Drivers of Cancer Risk”	Peter James, Sc.D., M.H.S. Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences and Director, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
10-10:05 a.m.	Q&A
10:05-10:20 a.m.	“Flavored Tobacco Sales Restrictions and Youth E-Cigarette Behavior”	Melanie Dove, M.P.H., Sc.D. Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences
10:20-10:25 a.m.	Q&A
10:25-10:40 a.m.	“Geriatric Oncology and Ongoing Supportive Care Clinical Trial”	Alex Fauer Ph.D., RN, OCN Assistant Professor, Family Caregiving Institute, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
10:40-10:45 a.m.	Q&A
10:45-11 a.m.	Break
SESSION III: Career Development And Education Chair: Frederick J. Meyers, M.D., MACP
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
11-11:45 a.m.	“Mentoring for Impact”	Maxine Umeh Garcia, Ph.D., M.S. Instructor, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Assistant Director for Mentoring, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Alan Lombard, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Department of Urologic Surgery, Assistant Research Program Leader, Molecular Oncology Program, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
11:45-1:15 p.m.	Poster Session and Lunch		Education Building, 1st/2nd Floor Foyers
SESSION IV: Basic and Translational Science Chairs: Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D. and Nicholas Mitsiades, M.D., Ph.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
1:15-1:45 p.m.	“Integrating Genetics Information for Precision Prevention of Cancer in Diverse Populations”	Christopher Amos, Ph.D. Professor and Chief, Epidemiology and Population Science Director for the Institute of Clinical and Translational Medicine Associate Director of Quantitative Science, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Baylor College of Medicine	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
1:45-2 p.m.	Q&A
2-2:15 p.m.	“The Development of a Canine Tumor Genome Atlas: Leveraging Spontaneous Canine Disease to Accelerate Discoveries for Human Cancer”	Christine Toedebusch, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences
2:15-2:20 p.m.	Q&A
2:20 – 2:35 pm	“Characterization of PARP Inhibitor Response in Prostate Tumor Cells Reveals Drug Tolerant Persistent Phenotype”	Alan Lombard, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Department of Urologic Surgery, Assistant Research Program Leader, Molecular Oncology Program, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
2:35-2:40 p.m.	Q&A
2:40-2:55 p.m.	“Modeling Tumor Heterogeneity”	Janai Carr-Ascher, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis
2:55-3 p.m.	Q&A
SESSION V: Organization Of The New Basic Science Research Program Chairs: Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
3:15-3:30 p.m.	“Organization of the New Basic Science Research Program”	Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D. Robert E. Stowell Endowed Chair in Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chief Science Officer, Associate Director for Basic Science, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
3:30-4 p.m.	Discussion		Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
End of Day 1

Friday, October 11, 2024
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
8-9:30 a.m.	Poster Session and Breakfast		Education Building, 1st/2nd Floor Foyers
SESSION VI: Community Outreach and Engagement Chairs: Moon S. Chen, Ph.D., M.P.H. And Elisa K. Tong, M.D., M.A.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
9:30-10:15 a.m.	Panel: “Co-designing Intervention Research Among Native Americans: A Collaborative Academic-Community Grant Application in Progress”	MODERATORS: Moon S. Chen, Ph.D., M.P.H. Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Senior Advisor to the Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, and Population Science Elisa K. Tong, M.D., M.A. Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine and Bioethics, Department of Internal Medicine, Assistant Director, Population Science and Medical Director, Stop Tobacco Program, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center PANELISTS: Judith Surber Pulitzer Center recognized Native American author, Native Cultural Consultant, Hoopa, CA Angie Brown B.S.N., PHN, CSN Director of Nursing, K’ima:w Medical Center, Hoopa, CA Teresa Martens, M.S.N., RN Director, Outreach and Community Health, Northern Valley Indian Health, Chico, CA	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
SESSION VII: Clinical Research Chair: Megan Daly, M.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
10:15-10:45 a.m.	David R. Gandara Lectureship on Developmental Therapeutics: “What is Next for Patients Whose Tumors Progress After 3rd Generation EGFR TKI?”	Edgardo S. Santos Castillero, M.D., FACP, FASCO Medical Director - Broward, Florida The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation Clinical Associate Professor/Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Florida Atlantic University Vice-President, Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) President, FLASCO Foundation	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
10:45-11 a.m.	Q&A
11-11:10 a.m.	Break
11:10-11:25 a.m.	“Lung Cancer in Aging Populations: The Bench, Bedside, and Beyond”	Surbhi Singhal, M.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Oncology
11:25-11:30 a.m.	Q&A
11:30-11:45 a.m.	“Feasibility Pilot Study of a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula edodes Mycelia (AHCC®) on Quality of Life for Ovarian Cancer Patients on Adjuvant Chemotherapy”	Hui (Amy) Chen, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
11:45 - 11:50 a.m.	Q&A
11:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.	“Combining Immunotherapy, TGF-Beta inhibition and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the management of Oligometastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma”	Shyam Rao, M.D., Ph.D Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
12:05-12:10 p.m.	Q&A
12:10-12:20 p.m.	Closing Remarks and Poster Awards Announcement	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Symposium Close

29th Annual Cancer Research Symposium

29th Annual Cancer Research Symposium October 5 and October 6, 2023 Download the program for the 29th Annual Cancer Research Symposium (PDF) Download the agenda
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
8-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast		Boardroom Foyer
8:30-8:45 a.m.	Introduction and Welcome	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
SESSION I: Population Sciences and Health Disparities Chair: Shehnaz Hussain, Ph.D., Sc.M.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
8:45-9:30 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: "Searching for Clues for the Etiology and Risk Disparities of Multiple Myeloma and its Precursor" Recording available here.	Wendy Cozen, DO, M.P.H. Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine; Department of Epidemiology, School of Population Health; Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences; Co-Director, Experimental Tissue Resource Leader, Translational Cancer Epidemiology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
9:30-9:45 a.m.	Q&A
9:45-10 a.m.	"Obesity and the Risk of Early-age-onset Colorectal Cancer: Decoding Relationships and the Impact of Bariatric Surgery" Recording available here.	Hisham Hussan, M.D. Associate Professor, Gastroenterology, UC Davis
10-10:05 a.m.	Q&A
10:05-10:20 a.m.	"Utilizing Silicone Wristbands to Detect Environmental Contaminants within the Yurok Tribal Community"	Elizabeth Rose Middleton, Ph.D. Associate Director of Environmental and Climate Justice, Professor and Yocha Dehe Endowed Chair in California Indian Studies, Native American Studies, UC Davis
10:20-10:25 a.m.	Q&A
10:25-10:40 a.m.	"Between Two Worlds: Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology in Latin America" Recording available here.	Elysia Alvarez, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UC Davis
10:40-10:45 a.m.	Q&A
10:45-11 a.m.	Break
SESSION II: Career Development and Education Theme: Implementation Science Chair: Frederick Meyers, M.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
11-11:45 a.m.	Presentations and Panel on: “Career Paths in Implementation Science”	Ulfat Shaikh, M.D., M.P.H. Professor, Pediatrics, UC Davis Recording available here. Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. Professor, Internal Medicine, UC Davis Recording available here. Brittany Garcia, Ph.D. Research Program Manager, Division of General Internal Medicine and Bioethics, UC Davis Recording available here.	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
11:45-1:15 p.m.	Poster Session and Lunch		Boardrooms, 1101 and 1103 Cancer Center
SESSION III: Basic and Translational Science Chairs: Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D. and Nicholas Mitsiades, M.D., Ph.D.
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
1:15-1:45 p.m.	Keynote Presentation: "Cancer in the New Era of Precision Medicine: Novel Multimodal Targeted and Immunotherapies" Recording available here.	J. Silvio Gutkind, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine Associate Director Basic Science, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
1:45-2 p.m.	Q&A
2-2:15 p.m.	"Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging in Surgical Oncology" Recording available here.	Laura Marcu, Ph.D. Professor, Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis
2:15-2:20 p.m.	Q&A
2:20 – 2:35 pm	"Epigenetic Alterations Promote Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Metastasis” Recording available here.	Chang-il Hwang, Ph.D., D.V.M Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Davis
2:35-2:40 p.m.	Q&A
2:40-2:55 p.m.	"Metabolic Adaptations in Renal Cell Carcinoma” Recording available here.	Shuchi Gulati, M.D., M.S. Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis
2:55-3 p.m.	Q&A
End of Day 1

Friday, October 6, 2023
Time	Title	Presenter	Location
8-9:30 a.m.	Poster Session and Breakfast		Boardrooms, 1101 and 1103 Cancer Center
SESSION IV: Community Outreach and Engagement Chair: Laura Fejerman, Ph.D.
9:30-10:15 a.m.	Presentation and Panel on: "Insights from Successful Community-Research Partnerships” Recording available here.	Ysabel Duron Founder, The Latino Cancer Institute; Member of the National Cancer Advisory Board Chester Austin, M.D. Medical Director, Northern Valley Indian Health Gerardo Mackenzie, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Nutrition, UC Davis Julie Dang, M.P.H., Ph.D. Assistant Adjunct Professor, Public Health Sciences Executive Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, UC Davis	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
SESSION V: Clinical Research Chair: Megan Daly, M.D.
10:15-10:45 a.m.	David R. Gandara Lectureship on Developmental Therapeutics: “The Future of Lung Cancer Therapy and Pragmatic Trial Designs” Recording available here.	Karen Reckamp, M.D., M.S. Director, Division of Medical Oncology Associate Director, Clinical Research Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, CedarsSinai Cance	Goodnight Auditorium, 1100 Cancer Center
10:45-11 a.m.	Q&A
11-11:10 a.m.	Break
11:10-11:20 a.m.	"Pulmonary Functional Image Guided Radiotherapy” Recording available here.	Tokihiro Yamamoto, Ph.D., D.A.B.R Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology, UC Davis
11:20-11:25 a.m.	Q&A
11:25-11:35 a.m.	“Tobacco and Cancer Quality Outcomes with the UCDCCC Stop Tobacco Program” Recording available here.	Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. Professor, Internal Medicine, UC Davis
11:35 – 11:40 a.m.	Q&A
11:40-11:50 a.m.	“Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer: A New World” Recording available here.	Jonathan Riess, M.D., M.S. Associate Professor, Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis
11:50-11:55 a.m.	Q&A
11:55-12:05 a.m.	“A Patient-Centered Approach to Perioperative Care for Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Resection” Recording available here.	Lisa Brown, M.D., M.A.S. Assistant Professor, General Thoracic Surgery, UC Davis
12:05-12:10 a.m.	Q&A
12:10-12:20 a.m.	Closing Remarks and Poster Awards Announcement Recording available here.	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Symposium Close

28th Annual Cancer Research Symposium

28th Annual Cancer Research Symposium October 6 and October 7, 2022 Download the program for the 28th Annual Cancer Research Symposium (PDF)
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Time	Title	Presenter
8-8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30–8:45 a.m.	Introduction and Welcome Recording available here.	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
SESSION I: Population Sciences and Health Disparities Chair: Shehnaz Hussain, Ph.D., Sc.M.
8:45-9:30 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: “The Convergence of COE, PED, and CRTEC in NCI-Designated Cancer Centers while Building Transdisciplinary Research: A Population Scientist’s View” Recording available here.	Elena Martinez, Ph.D. Sam M. Walton Endowed Chair for Cancer Research Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science Associate Director, Population Sciences, Disparities, and Community Engagement, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
9:30-9:45 a.m.	Q&A
9:45-10 a.m.	“Some Scientific Contributions to the Epidemiology of Hematological Malignancies by Major Subtypes” Recording available here.	Alain Monnereau, M.D., Ph.D. Research Program Director, Cancer Registry of Greater California, Public Health Institute
10-10:05 a.m.	Q&A
10:05-10:20 a.m.	“Personalized, Pandemic-Proof, Population Health” Recording available here.	Eric Chak, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, UC Davis
10:20-10:25 a.m.	Q&A
10:25-10:40 a.m.	“Heat Maps: Trends in Late-Stage Diagnoses of Screen-Detectable Cancers in California Counties, 2000-2018” Recording available here.	Frances Maguire, Ph.D., M.P.H., Epidemiologist, California Cancer Reporting and Epidemiologic Surveillance (CalCARES) Program, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC Davis Health
10:40-10:45 a.m.	Q&A
10:45-11 a.m.	Break
SESSION II: Diverse Career Development and Education Chairs: Frederick Meyers, M.D. and Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D.
11-12 p.m.	Panel: “Advancing Cancer Health Equity through Diverse Workforce Development” Recording available here.	Alexa Morales Arana, M.D. Candidate, Academic Research Careers for Medical Doctors (ARC-MD), UC Davis School of Medicine Charlotte Bergheimer, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, Public Health Sciences, UC Davis Valentina Zavala-Cordero, Ph.D., M.Sc., Postdoctoral Scholar, Public Health Sciences; AACR-Genentech Cancer Disparities Research Fellow, UC Davis Olivia Sattayapiwat, Ph.D. Candidate, Epidemiology, UC Davis
12-1:30 p.m.	Poster Session and Lunch
SESSION III: Basic and Translational Science Chairs: Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D. and Nicholas Mitsiades, M.D., Ph.D.
Time	Title	Presenter
1:30-2 p.m.	Keynote Presentation: “Sex Bias and Cancer Immunotherapy: Myth or Fact”	Zihai Li, M.D., Ph.D. Klotz Memorial Chair in Cancer Research Professor and Founding Director Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
2-2:15 p.m.	Q&A
2:15-2:30 p.m.	“Novel Peptide Vaccines against Labyrinthin for Adenocarcinomas” Recording available here.	Tianhong Li, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Clinical Medicine Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
2:30-2:35 p.m.	Q&A
2:35 – 2:50 pm	“Causes and Consequences of Genome Instability” Recording available here.	Jacqueline Barlow, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Davis
2:502:55 p.m.	Q&A
2:55-3:05 p.m.	Break
3:05-3:20 p.m.	“Targeting Killer within the Tumors for Immunotherapy”	Jogender Tushir-Singh, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis
3:20-3:25 p.m.	Q&A
3:25-3:40 p.m.	“Genetics, Genomics, and Precision Medicine for Gastric Cancer” Recording available here.	Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D. Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor and Auburn Community Cancer Endowed Chair in Basic Science, Genome Center and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis
3:40-3:45 p.m.	Q&A
End of Day 1

Friday, October 7, 2022
Time	Title	Presenter
8-9:30 a.m.	Poster Session and Breakfast
SESSION IV: Clinical Research Chair: Megan Daly, M.D.
9:30-10 a.m.	David R. Gandara Lectureship on Developmental Therapeutics: “Developing Role of ctDNA in GI Malignancies and the Potential Impact on Patient Care” Recording available here.	Cathy Eng, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.S.C.O. Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, David H. Johnson Endowed Chair of Surgical and Medical Oncology, Co-Director GI Oncology, Co-Leader Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program, Director, Young Adults Cancers Program, Chair, Developmental Research Program GI SPORE, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
10-10:15 a.m.	Q&A
10:15-10:30 a.m.	“Current Landscape of HCC Treatment: Evolving Fast and Furious (With Some Potholes)” Recording available here.	Edward Kim M.D., Ph.D. Medical Director, Office of Clinical Research, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Associate Professor, Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis
10:30-10:35 a.m.	Q&A
10:35-10:50 a.m.	“Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: Successes and Setbacks” Recording available here.	Arta Monjazeb, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Radiation Oncology, UC Davis
10:50-10:55 a.m.	Q&A
10:55-11:05 a.m.	Break
11:05-11:20 a.m.	“Define Synergism Correctly: A New PK-PD Model for Combination Therapy”	Aiming Yu, Ph.D. Director, Molecular Pharmacology Shared Resource Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis
11:20 – 11:25 a.m.	Q&A
11:25-11:40 a.m.	“Parametric PET of Liver Inflammation and Its Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy” Recording available here.	Guobao Wang, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Radiology, UC Davis
11:40-11:45 a.m.	Q&A
11:45-11:55 a.m.	Closing Remarks and Poster Awards Announcement Recording available here.	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Symposium Close

27th Annual Cancer Research Symposium

27th Annual Cancer Research Symposium September 30 and October 1, 2021 Download the program for the 27th Annual Cancer Research Symposium (PDF)
Thursday, September 30, 2021 All sessions presented on Zoom. (Not all presentations were recorded.)
SESSION I: Population Sciences and Health Disparities Chair: Shehnaz Hussain, Ph.D., Sc.M.
Time	Title	Presenter
8:30 – 8:40 a.m.	Introduction and Welcome	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
8:40 – 9:10 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: "Improving Effectiveness of Lifestyle Interventions" Recording available here.	Sarah-Jeanne Salvy, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, SOCCI Cancer Research Center for Health Equity, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center
9:10 – 9:25 a.m.	Q&A
9:25 – 9:40 a.m.	"Significance of the Gut-Liver Axis for Progression Along the Disease Continuum from NAFLD to HCC" Recording available here.	Shehnaz Hussain, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Associate Director for Population Sciences, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
9:40 – 9:45 a.m.	Q&A
9:45 – 10 a.m.	"Comparative Metabolomics of Hispanic and Caucasian Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study" Recording available here.	John Newman, Ph.D. Research Chemist, USDA ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Associate Adjunct Professor, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis
10 – 10:05 a.m.	Q&A
10:05 – 10:15 a.m.	Break
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.	"Genetic Diversity, Diet and Susceptibility to Hepatic Steatosis in Mice" Recording available here.	Brian Bennett, Ph.D. Research Leader, USDA ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Associate Adjunct Professor, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis
10:30 – 10:35 a.m.	Q&A
10:35 – 10:50 a.m.	"Bile Acid Dysregulation and Cancer Risk" Recording available here.	Yu-Jui "Yvonne" Wan, Ph.D. Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis
10:50 – 10:55 a.m.	Q&A
10:55 – 11:10 a.m.	"Hepatocyte p53 Ablation Induces Metabolic Dysregulation that is Corrected by Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in Mice" Recording available here.	Bethany Cummings, DVM, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, UC Davis
11:10 – 11:15 a.m.	Q&A
SESSION II: Career Development and Education Chair: Frederick Meyers, M.D., MACP
Time	Title	Presenter
11:15 – 12 p.m.	Panel: "Diverse Scholars Finding Success at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center"	Erin Doherty, B.S. Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Chemistry, UC Davis Luke A. Wittenburg DVM, Ph.D., DACVCP Associate Professor, Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis Alan Lombard, Ph.D. Assistant Professional Researcher, Department of Urologic Surgery, UC Davis Diedre Reitz, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Davis Nicole Coggins, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scholar, Genome Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis
12 – 1:30 p.m.	Poster Session
SESSION III: Basic/Translational Science Chair: Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D.
Time	Title	Presenter
1:30 – 2 p.m.	Keynote Presentation: "The Repertoire of Mutational Signature in Human Cancer" Recording available here.	Ludmil B. Alexandrov, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, UC San Diego
2 – 2:15 p.m.	Q&A
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.	"Therapeutic Targeting of Tumor Lineage Plasticity in Therapy-Resistant Prostate Cancer"	Hongwu Chen, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis
2:30 – 2:35 p.m.	Q&A
2:35 – 2:50 p.m.	"Spatial RNA Profiling Reveals Cell Type-Specific Biomarker Expression During Melanoma Development"	Maija Kiuru, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Pathology, Department of Dermatology, UC Davis
2:50 – 2:55 p.m.	Q&A
2:55 – 3:05 p.m.	Break
3:05 – 3:20 p.m.	"Targeting Epigenetic Vulnerabilities in Breast Cancer"	Sanchita Bhatnagar, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis
3:20 – 3:25 p.m.	Q&A
3:25 – 3:40 p.m.	"Disrupting the Rbm38-eIF4E Complex to Increase p53 Expression as a Potential Cancer Therapeutic Strategy" Recording available here.	Christopher Lucchesi, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, UC Davis
3:40 – 3:45 p.m.	Q&A
End of Day 1

Friday, October 1, 2021 All sessions presented on Zoom
Time	Title	Presenter
8 – 9:30 a.m.	Poster Session
SESSION IV: Clinical Research Chair: Karen Kelly, M.D.
9:30 – 10 a.m.	David R. Gandara Lectureship on Developmental Therapeutics: "Cancer Therapy Resistance: Mechanisms, Challenges and Opportunities" Recording available here.	Peter Nelson, M.D. Member, Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Head, Program in Prostate Cancer Research PI, Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE
10 – 10:15 a.m.	Q&A
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.	"Translation of Bladder Cancer Therapeutics"	Maria Mudryj, Ph.D. Professor and Vice Chair of Education and Outreach, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis Mamta Parikh, M.D., M.S. Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis
10:30 – 10:35 a.m.	Q&A
10:35 – 10:50 a.m.	"Targeting the DNA-Binding Domain of the Androgen Receptor in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer"	Paramita Ghosh, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Urologic Surgery, UC Davis Ruiwu Liu, Ph.D. Research Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis
10:50 – 10:55 a.m.	Q&A
10:55 – 11:05 a.m.	Break
11:05 – 11:20 a.m.	"Characterization and Novel Targeting of the AKR1C3/AR/AR-V7 Axis for the Treatment of Lethal Prostate Cancer"	Chengfei Liu, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Urologic Surgery, UC Davis
11:20 – 11:25 a.m.	Q&A
11:25 – 11:40 a.m.	"A Phase 2 Neo-adjuvant Biomarker Driven Clinical Trial for High-Risk Prostrate Cancer"	Marc Dall'Era, M.D. Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Urologic Surgery, UC Davis
11:40 – 11:45 a.m.	Q&A
11:45 – 11:55 a.m.	Closing Remarks and Poster Awards Announcement	Primo Lara, M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Symposium Close

Ralph de Vere White Symposium for Early Career Investigators in Cancer

The Ralph de Vere White Symposium for Early Career Investigators in Cancer, is an annual symposium highlighting the work students, postdocs, research staff residents, and fellows in cancer research. Through this event, early stage investigators meet experienced investigators, learn about potential research opportunities early in their career, and gain valuable career insights through presentations and networking.

Each year, early stage investigators are selected as symposium keynote and oral presenters with others offering poster presentations. Criteria used to judge the applications include scientific innovation, significance, and ultimate potential for clinical impact. The symposium also features “Round Table” discussions facilitating exchange between early career and senior investigators on critical aspects of career development.