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Research news

ASCO Scholar’s program selection for Mairead

Dr Mairéad McNamara is one of only 12 people to be selected to join the highly competitive ASCO Education Scholars’ Program.

Mairéad, who specialises in treating patients with heptopancreaticobiliary and neuroendocrine tumours, joins the second cohort of

individuals for the 2019/2020 program and is the only selected participant from the UK and outside of the USA. “What I am most looking forward to is the opportunity to learn and network with fellow clinicians and teaching experts to enhance my own abilities” Mairéad said. “While it will involve some travel to America for the seminars, I have tried to minimise disruption to clinics or teaching commitments. It will be extra work, but everything worth having is well earned.”

Congratulations to Corinne This year-long program trains participants to become exemplary teachers, who effectively spread the latest knowledge about cancer research and treatment to the oncology community, through ASCO’s educational offerings, as well as within the participants’ institutions. Additionally, this program provides participants with leadership skills to become effective change agents. The International Association for the study of Lung Cancer has selected Professor Corinne Faivre-Finn as the recipient of the prestigious 2019 James D. Cox Lectureship Award for Radiation Oncology in recognition of her long-standing work in the field of radiation oncology.

First patient on sponge study The first cytosponge procedure at The Christie was undertaken on a patient as part of a feasibility study in November. The CYTOFloc trial is aimed at patients who have recovered from cancer of the oesophagus. The patient swallowed the sponge which expands in their stomach and then drew cells with it when removed. This study aims to understand if the procedure can be tolerated by oesophagus cancer patients. It’s the first time this technique has been tested in an oncology setting and it is hoped that the information derived can be used to determine the impact of treatment on patients with oesophageal cancer following radiation therapy. Dr Ganesh Radhakrishna is leading the project and is aiming to recruit up to three patients per year.

The IASLC gave the award to Corrine for her extensive contributions in the lung cancer arena. She will accept the award and give a lecture at the WCLC in Barcelona later this year. Corinne said: “This is the highest distinction in my specialty from the International Association for the study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). This is a great honour as this type of award is often given to individuals at the end of their career.”

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