Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, elevated to associate director for cancer quantitative sciences

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Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, has been elevated to a new role as associate director for cancer quantitative sciences. She will provide high-level strategic leadership and administrative direction for Cancer Center researchers. This support aims to ensure high-quality data, rigorous and reproducible analyses, and effective reporting, fostering collaborative scientific endeavors.

“Dr. Lee has played an essential role in the development of our Cancer Center, and her membership in the executive leadership indicates how seriously our center takes the role of quantitative sciences and scientific rigor reproducibility and integrity as a key value of our mission,” said Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., director of the Cancer Center. “We are immensely proud of Dr. Lee's contributions to collaborative quantitative sciences and biostatistical work as recognized by her leadership in the American Statistical Association.”

Genetic score advances personalized AML treatment

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UF Health researchers led by Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., have developed a genetic score to predict patient outcomes with a targeted AML drug treatment.

$12M grant funds study on alpha-particle emitters

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Wesley Bolch, Ph.D., and a team of UF researchers, along with collaborators at Johns Hopkins University, were awarded an NCI project grant of $12.9 million to conduct studies into the imaging, dosimetry and radiobiology of cancer radiopharmaceuticals labeled with alpha-particle emitters.

Noninvasive blood testing method shows promise

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UF Health researchers showed in a pilot study that a noninvasive blood testing method can effectively detect cancerous liver tumors and evaluate changes during treatment.

UF fellow receives grant for immunotherapy study

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Leighton Elliott, M.D., chief UF hematology and oncology fellow, received a 2023 Kate Amato Foundation Grant Award for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research.

Laura Parra selected for national COE certificate

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Congratulations to Laura Parra, M.P.H., CHES, a community programs specialist with the COE, who was selected for a 10-week certificate program in community outreach and engagement run by Cedars-Sinai. The certificate is a national training program for cancer center community outreach staff.

3D models help evaluate immunotherapy

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UF Health Cancer Center researchers developed a promising method to evaluate how CAR T-cell therapy kills tumor cells.

New algorithm predicts targets for immunotherapy

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UF researchers led by Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., developed an algorithm to predict which proteins expressed within brain tumor cells could serve as targets to stimulate a potent anti-tumor response.

Sharon Hiemenz to retire

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Sharon Hiemenz, R.N., CHRC, ACRP-CP, who has been an integral part of the UF Health Cancer Center, will retire on May 31.

Sharon has made a significant impact on the lives of countless patients and trainees throughout her career. Her work has had a far-reaching impact, not just through her direct contact with patients, but also through her contributions on the compliance and administrative fronts. She has worked with many research departments at UF. In her most recent role as a protocol activation coordinator with the center, she has guided various clinical teams in the study startup process.

Sharon's years of experience and technical know-how will be sorely missed. Please join us in congratulating Sharon on her retirement and wishing her all the best for the future.

Member spotlight: David Iglesias, M.D.

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David Iglesias, M.D., serves as the chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at UF Health and the Nell Bryant Kibler Professor in Ovarian Cancer Research. He is passionate about forming strong relationships with his patients and their families, as well as pursuing research in clinical trial development and implementation.

Upcoming Events

Research Showcase: Jan. 31

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Our annual Research Showcase is Wednesday at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. This event includes a keynote presentation by Christopher Mason, Ph.D., a judged poster session with prizes for the top trainee posters and three-minute thesis presentations by the Predoctoral Award recipients.

Black History Month Lunch & Learn

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Join us for a presentation, titled "Epidemiology, Collaborative Research & Independent Research: How They All Align," by Fern J. Webb, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of surgery at UF Health Jacksonville and co-director of the Center for Health Equity & Engagement Research.

Lunch is provided!

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