The UF Health Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Working Group held a successful networking event at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville campus during a dinner meeting from 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 19, in the WA “Mac” McGriff III Board Room, Learning Resource Center.
As a continuation of its efforts to establish an effective relationship between Gainesville and Jacksonville breast cancer researchers, a warm invitation was extended to researchers from Shahla Masood, M.D., FACP, a professor and chair in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at UF Health Jacksonville, medical director of the UF Health Jacksonville Breast Center, medical director of UF Health Jacksonville Laboratories and interim director of the UF Health Jacksonville Cancer Program. Masood is co-leader of the Breast Cancer Working Group along with Weizhou Zhang, Ph.D., the Dr. and Mrs. James Robert Spencer Professor of Pathology in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine in the UF College of Medicine, and Lusine Yaghjyan, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of epidemiology in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions.
The purpose of the event was to bring together breast cancer researchers at the University of Florida Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses to share ideas and spur new collaborations to advance breast cancer research. Researchers discussed how to leverage resources across both campuses, helping to ensure the research being conducted is ultimately best serving patients.
The event started with welcoming remarks delivered by Linda Edwards, M.D., an associate professor and dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. The events also provided an opportunity for the two recipients of the UF Health Cancer Center’s breast cancer pilot grants — Lina Cui, Ph.D., and Noah Hammarlund, Ph.D., — to share updates on their work. Learn more about their research projects.
Masood also showcased some of the outstanding achievements in breast cancer research conducted by researchers in Jacksonville, some through successful collaborations with researchers from Gainesville.
In addition, Rolf Renne, Ph.D., associate director for basic sciences at the Cancer Center, provided updates on the center’s National Cancer Institute designation and shared information about upcoming initiatives.
Demetra Christou, Ph.D., FAHA, a member of the working group and an associate professor in the department of applied physiology and kinesiology in the UF College of Health and Human Performance, thanked the organizers for putting on a helpful event. “Attending the event has allowed me to connect with investigators and clinicians at UF Health Jacksonville, and this has led to forming a collaboration on our ongoing trials,” she said.
Thank you to all who attended this productive event!
Learn more about the Breast Cancer Working Group.
