UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Spring 2016 | Page 2

contents 2016

• VOLUME XXXII • NUMBER 1
UAB COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER Director Edward E . Partridge , M . D . Deputy Director Ravi Bhatia , M . D .

news from the director

COVER STORY

FEATURES

A DRUG CALLED

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SURVIVOR PROFILE ................ 6
Jessica Sparks
CLINICAL UPDATE .............. 10
Endorsement of HPV Vaccine
RESEARCH UPDATE .............. 12
UAB Researcher Leads Innovative Work in Chile
CENTER PROFILE ................... 15
Mansoor Saleh , M . D .
CLINICAL UPDATE ................ 18
UAB Encourages Colorectal Cancer Screening

Hope

GIVING BACK

QUICK TAKES
2016 ARTBLINK GALA ....... 20
BCRFA PRESENTS RECORD-BREAKING DONATION ............................... 23
RESEARCH BRIEFS ................ 24
NEWS AND EVENTS ............ 26
INSIDE VIEW .......................... 28
The Artists of ArtBLINK

6

20

GIVING

TO THE CENTER
There are a variety of ways to give to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center . All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law and may be designated for the cancer or research area of your choice . Every dollar stays here in Birmingham and is directly applied to cancer research and treatment .
Donations may be made by visiting the Cancer Center ’ s Web site , uab . edu / cancer , or by calling the Office of Development and Community Relations at ( 205 ) 934-1603 .
Associate Directors Etty Benveniste , Ph . D . Smita Bhatia , M . D , M . P . H . Mary-Ann Bjornsti , Ph . D . Wendy Demark-Wahnefried , Ph . D ., R . D . Harry Erba , M . D ., Ph . D . Martin Heslin , M . D . Isabel Scarinci , Ph . D ., M . P . H . Richard Whitley , M . D . Director Emeritus and Advisor to the Director Albert F . LoBuglio , M . D . Senior Advisors Kirby I . Bland , M . D . James Bonner , M . D . Herbert Chen , M . D . Mona Fouad , M . D ., M . P . H . Associate Director for Administration Michael Bertram , Ph . D ., M . B . A .
OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Development Coordinator Courtney Armstrong Director of Communications Beena Thannickal Director of Education and Supportive Services Teri Hoenemeyer , M . S . H . A . Editor , Communications and Publications Josh Till , APR Manager , Corporate Development and Special Events Ashley Foster Senior Director of Development and Community Relations Chris Thomason , CFRE
UAB COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER MAGAZINE Editor Josh Till , APR Medical Advisor Edward E . Partridge , M . D . Project Manager Josh Till , APR Writers Tyler Greer Beena Thannickal Josh Till , APR Art Director Erick Guillen Copy Editor Josh Till , APR Photographers Nik Layman Dustin Massey Steve Wood Printing American Printing Co .
Produced by the Office of Development and Community Relations .
IN THIS ISSUE of UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine , we take an in-depth look at UAB ’ s new Phase I Clinical Trials Unit . This innovative program , led by Cancer Center senior scientist Mansoor Saleh , M . D ., is dedicated to conducting all phase I clinical trials at UAB , including those considered to be first-in-human . We are extremely proud of the work being done by Dr . Saleh and his team , and our ability to house these innovative trials in one unit will have a tremendous impact on our research and patient care enterprise .
This issue also highlights various initiatives the Cancer Center has here at home and even abroad . We are taking the lead on a program encouraging all eligible UAB employees to receive colorectal cancer screenings by 2018 . We also recently joined the nation ’ s other leading cancer centers to endorse the HPV vaccine , which has a national impact on cervical cancer rates . This issue also features a story on our work in Chile , which is a great example of our globalization efforts in cancer research .
As always , we spotlight those individuals and organizations giving back to the Cancer Center . Our annual ArtBLINK Gala , held in February , was another tremendous success and has truly become one of Birmingham ’ s premier fundraising events . We also recently received a record-breaking
For a free subscription to UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center , please call ( 205 ) 934-0321 or send an e-mail with your name and address to jtill @ uab . edu .
donation from our friends at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama , which will help our breast cancer program continue to grow as a national leader in the research and treatment of that disease .
Our vision at the Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer as a major public health problem . I firmly believe this will happen in the first half of this century , and it will happen with the support of people like you . We are all in this fight together , and I thank you for supporting your UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center .
Edward Partridge , M . D .
Director and Evalina B . Spencer Chair in Oncology