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November 2025

Director's Message

Director's Message

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Your dedication, compassion and tireless pursuit of excellence are the foundation of the work we do at this cancer center. Every day, you bring hope to patients and families facing some of life’s most difficult challenges — and for that, I am profoundly thankful.

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Winners of OAVCR Excellence Awards who are affiliated with the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute include, seated, from left, Dr. David Stec, who serves on the CCRI Faculty Recruitment Committee, Meritorious Research Service-Faculty Award; Dr. Seema Singh, CCRI associate director of education and training, full member, bronze; Dr. Candace Howard-Claudio, full member, silver; Dr. Cynthia Karlson, full member, bronze; and standing, Dr. Ajay Singh, CCRI associate director of basic and translational research, full member, gold; Dr. Gailen Marshall, full member, platinum; Dr. Vinayak Nahar, affiliate member, Richard L. Summers Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research; Dr. Brigitte Martin, affiliate member, silver; Dr. Matthew Kutcher, clinical member, silver; and Dr. Yufeng Zheng, full member, bronze.

CCRI members shine in Excellence Awards

Cancer Center and Research Institute members were among the researchers honored during the 2025 Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research (OAVCR) Excellence Awards ceremony Nov. 12.

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Dr. Seema Singh, left, professor of cell and molecular biology and associate director of education and training at CCRI, presents Dr. Lan Zhou with a framed watercolor of UMMC.

Dr. Lan Zhou speaks in Hallmarks of Cancer series

Dr. Lan Zhou, professor of pathology and genomic medicine at Houston Methodist Academic Institute and professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University, was the guest speaker for the latest Hallmarks of Cancer seminar on Nov. 5.

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Dr. Nicole Anderson

Anderson receives St. Baldrick's research grant

Research led by Dr. Nicole Anderson, assistant professor of cell and molecular biology, on bone metastasis in children with neuroblastomas has received a $330,000 Scholar Grant from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

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Recent publications

Recent Publications

Protocol for an observational study of imaging surveillance strategies of non-small cell lung cancer patients and the impact of discrimination on tobacco dependence among adolescents are topics of recently published studies.

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Congratulating Rededra Smith, third from left, are, from left, Sheila Clincy, nurse manager, Denise Ogden, surgical specialty RN coordinator, and Heather Sistrunk, CCRI administrative director of clinical affairs.

Rededra Smith is CCRI Employee of the Month

Coworkers at CCRI have praised Smith's dedication to collaboration and excellence in patient care.

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New Employee Spotlight: Gillian Goodloe

New Employee Spotlight: Gillian Goodloe

The Cancer Center and Research Institute welcomes Gillian Goodloe, project manager II in community outreach and engagement.

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November Observances: Cancer care in the spotlight

November Observances: Cancer care in the spotlight

November highlights awareness of cancer biomarkers as well as carcinoid tumors and cancers of the pancreas, lungs and stomach.

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