Juliette Barbera, Ph.D., the UF Health Cancer Center’s fall cancer policy intern, has been accepted by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat, as a health policy fellow for the fall semester. Rep. Soto sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over most health care matters, and is a very active participant in the health subcommittee. This is an incredible opportunity for her to get deeply involved in meaningful policy issues.

Dorina Avram, Ph.D., received a new Ro1 grant for her project, “PI: Role of BCL11B in CD4+ T Cells and Innate Lymphoid Cells,” for $2.26 million.

Dr. Avram also chaired a session on Transcriptional Control of Innate Immune Cell Development at the FASEB conference on The Molecular Mechanisms of Immune Cell Development and Function held July 28-Aug. 2.

Brittany Rogers, M.D., a hematology/oncology fellow, and her mentor, Dr. Merry-Jennifer Markham, M.D., FACP, presented their project titled, “Improving pregnancy screening prior to chemo: An institutional approach,” at the 2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.

Paul Crispen, M.D., has been promoted to Associate Chair of Clinical Affairs for the Department of Urology in the College of Medicine.

Thomas George, Jr., M.D., FACP, and Merry-Jennifer Markham, M.D., FACP, have been selected as ASCO Advocacy Champions for 2018 for their dedication to educating lawmakers on important policies. Dr. George and Dr. Markham are the only faculty or staff representing UFHCC in the group. They will be listed as an Advocacy Champion at the Speaker’s Club level in ASCO’s new Advocacy 101 Guide.

View the Advocacy 101 Guide here.

Tanmay Lele, Ph.D., Hugh Fan, Ph.D., and Blanka Sharma, Ph.D., have been selected as University Term Professorships. Selection of University Term Professorships is based on an assessment of academic accomplishment by either a faculty advisory committee and/or the department chair and approved by the dean.

Julie Johnson, Pharm.D., was presented the 2019 American College of Clinical Pharmacology, or ACCP, Distinguished Investigator Award during the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago. This award is given annually to recognize superior scientific expertise and accomplishments by a senior investigator, in a distinct area of research in basic or clinical pharmacology.

Daohong Zhou, Ph.D., and Guangrong Zheng, Ph.D., have received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study selective elimination of senescent cells. Their research has the potential to extend human lifespan by preventing and treating age-related diseases.

Jatinder Lamda, Ph.D., has been awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to develop a personalized therapy for pediatric cancer patients. UF Health Cancer Center, the UF College of Pharmacy and the Children’s Oncology Group will match the grant, bringing the total funding to $600,000.