The Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel, made up of 28 scientific experts, cancer leaders, and patient advocates, released a 60-page report detailing recommendations for making progress against cancer. The Blue Ribbon Panel presented its report, which was authored at the request of Vice President Joe Biden, at a meeting of the President’s National Cancer Advisory Board on September 7.

David Klinke, Ph.D. and Patrick Ma, M.D., both of the WVU Cancer Institute,
are available to comment on the announcement of this report.

Dr. Klinke, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, was recently awarded $1.7 million to conduct research into how immunotherapy can strengthen the body’s own defenses to improve treatment for breast and lung cancers.

Dr. Ma is the co-leader of the WVU Cancer Institute’s Sara Crile Allen and James Frederick Allen Lung Cancer Program and Eminent Scholar of Lung Cancer Research. Dr. Ma’s special interest of clinical and translational research in thoracic malignancies includes lung cancer, mesothelioma, neuroendocrine tumors and cancer genomics.

“The Cancer Moonshot Report serves as an excellent blueprint for providing research direction in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Klinke. “Immunotherapies are poised to transform the therapeutic landscape for cancer, using the body’s own defenses to combat disease. At WVU, we’re attempting to identify additional pathways that can augment existing therapies so patients get a better clinical benefit, but reduce the side effects.”

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-WVU-

ts/09/09/16

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