NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) announced today that the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has selected 19 abstracts authored by SCRI investigators to be presented at the 2015 AACR Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The meeting, which will be held April 18 – 22, brings together more than 18,000 researchers, patient advocates and other cancer professionals from around the world to discuss the latest in cancer research.
The theme of this year’s meeting, “Bringing Cancer Discoveries to Patients,” focuses on the direct link between drug development and new treatment standards, and reinforces the fact that research is the foundation for progress toward cancer cures.
SCRI’s presence at the meeting, including 12 posters and seven oral presentations encompassing work from 12 SCRI principal investigators, highlights early-phase research focusing on immunotherapies and molecular targeted agents for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
“With more than 20 years of experience in conducting clinical trials, we continue to see drug development advancing into new treatment options for patients,” said SCRI Chief Medical Officer Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, MD. “Immunotherapies and targeted treatments tailored to genetic mutations are providing promising insights into how cancer therapies are transforming, and we look forward to discussing our own work with these types of agents at this year’s annual meeting.”
Johanna C. Bendell, MD, director of the GI cancer research program; associate director, drug development program for SCRI, is the lead author presenting in an oral session on the phase I study of a cell-signaling therapy that targets proteins known as checkpoint kinases 1 / 2 for certain types of head and neck cancers. Additionally, Jeffrey Infante, MD, director of drug development for SCRI and Manish Patel, MD, associate director of drug development for SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists have been invited to participate in the AACR press and media relations program to discuss research related to targeted combination therapies for solid tumors, which are currently in phase I studies.
In addition, the following SCRI investigators have abstracts selected for oral and poster sessions: Hendrick-Tobias Arkenau, MD, PhD, FRCP, Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, MD, Todd Bauer, MD, Gerald Falchook, MD, Ian W. Flinn, MD, PhD, and Erika P. Hamilton, MD, Suzanne Jones, PharmD, Kent Shih, MD, and Donald K. Strickland, MD.
About Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is the research arm of HCA’s global cancer enterprise, Sarah Cannon. Focused on advancing therapies for patients, it is one of the world’s leading clinical research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials in oncology, cardiology and orthopedics through affiliations with a network of more than 1,000 physicians across the United States and United Kingdom. SCRI has led more than 150 first-in-man clinical trials since its inception in 1993, and has been a clinical trial leader in approximately 80 percent of approved cancer therapies in the last three years. Additionally, SCRI offers management, regulatory, and other research support services for drug development and industry sponsors as well as strategic investigator sites through its contract research organization (CRO), SCRI Development Innovations. For more information, visit sarahcannon.com.
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 35,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in 101 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 25 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with over 18,500 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
