The American Cancer Society and their advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), hosted an exceptional group of North Carolina-based leaders for the North Carolina Research Symposium at SAS Institute in Cary in March.
Panelists included:
- Dr. Ned Sharpless, former director of the NCI and current professor of cancer policy and innovation at the UNC School of Medicine (moderator)
- Dr. Erik Sulman, interim executive director of Duke Cancer Institute and chair of Duke Radiation Oncology
- Dr. Robert Ferris, director of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Dr. Ruben Mesa, director of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
Panelists shared updates and optimism about the future of cancer research – with biology, AI and advocacy all playing important roles.
“I think the time is right now for cell-based therapies to really take off,” shared Dr. Sulman when asked what most excites him the most about the current state of cancer research. “These are therapies that we've seen a lot of progress in the liquid tumors, but I think in the solid tumors, we're going to see a lot more happen.”
The symposium also featured presentations by ACS-funded researchers from around North Carolina, including Dr. John Hickey from Duke.
"Despite everything that's happened the past year, when I speak to my faculty, there's still tremendous optimism and excitement about where we're headed in terms of cancer research and improvement in cancer outcomes," Dr. Sulman said. "The future is bright. Progress is going to be made at a record pace. AI will help that, but it’s really the hard work of thousands and thousands of clinicians, providers and investigators that really make it possible, and the advocacy is the way that happens."
Duke Radiation Oncology faculty Eugene Vaios, MD, MBA, and Scott Floyd, MD, PhD, were also invited and in attendance.