National Cancer Institute acting director to visit Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The acting director of the National Cancer Institute will visit the Purdue Center for Cancer Research on June 29 to meet with university research leaders and participate in a series of presentations.

Dr. Douglas R. Lowy has been the NCI’s acting director since 2015. He leads the primary federal institute that funds cancer research. President Donald Trump’s administration recently named Norman Sharpless to succeed Lowy as a permanent director, but it is not yet clear when he will officially take this position.

During the visit, Lowy will meet with Timothy Ratliff, the Robert Wallace Miller Director of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, and Suresh Garimella, vice president for research and partnerships, about studies taking place on campus. The Purdue Center for Cancer Research is an NCI-designated facility where studies are ongoing on cancers from inside the cell where they start. The center develops new medicines and advanced treatment and detection methods by utilizing interdisciplinary teams. This is the first time an NCI director has visited the center.

 “It is an honor for the Center for Cancer Research and Purdue to host Dr. Lowy for a day,” Ratliff said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for Dr. Lowy to see and discuss with our scientists the cutting-edge cancer research that is developing new treatments and impacting the understanding of how cells become cancerous.”

From noon to 1 p.m. in Pfendler Hall’s Deans Auditorium, Lowy will present on the progress of former Vice President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. The initiative aims to maximize the global financial investment in cancer research and comprehensive care. He also will discuss the current national policy on biomedical research, the NCI’s efforts in cancer research and how centers like Purdue’s help solve the cancer problem.

Among the presentations during the morning, Ratliff will provide an overview on Purdue’s Center for Cancer Research. Other morning presenters from 8:30-10 a.m. include:

• Graham Cooks, the Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.

• Philip Low, the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, director of the Purdue Center for Drug Discovery.

• David Nolte, the Edward M. Purcell Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy.

• Craig Goergen, assistant professor of biomedical engineering.

• Bumsoo Han, professor of mechanical engineering.

Presenters from 10:10 a.m. to noon include:

• Ourania Andrisani, professor of basic medical sciences.

• Michael Wendt, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology.

• Andy Tao, professor of biochemistry.

• David Thompson, professor of chemistry.

• Debbie Knapp, the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Veterinary Medicine.

• Emily Dykhuizen, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology.

Anyone interested in attending can RSVP at https://pccrnci2017.eventbrite.ca/. 

Writer: Grace Winn, 765-496-2993, gwinn@purdue.edu

Source: Jasmine Moisides, 765-494-1109, JRMoisides@prf.org