DCEG News Updates
The latest news and research findings from the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
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Laboratory of Translational Genomics Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Symposium
In December 2018, DCEG hosted a day-long symposium in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG). The symposium highlighted the history and key discoveries of the LTG and its investigators.
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Controlling Cervical Cancer: DCEG’s Ongoing Commitment to Improving Women’s Health
Scientists in DCEG are among the leaders of a growing global effort to greatly reduce deaths from cervical cancer
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iCURE Scholars Program Increases Diversity of the NCI Intramural Workforce
The Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (iCURE) program offers mentored research experiences for qualified individuals. Ms. Mone’t Thompson, in the Clinical Genetics Branch, is the first DCEG iCURE Scholar.
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Emily Vogtmann Appointed Earl Stadtman Investigator
Emily Vogtmann, Ph.D., M.P.H., was appointed as an Earl Stadtman tenure-track investigator in the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch (MEB) in November 2018. Dr. Vogtmann investigates the role of the human microbiome in cancer risk and progression.
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Patterns of Cause-Specific Mortality in Survivors of Retinoblastoma, 1914-2016
Mortality patterns among survivors of retinoblastoma differ by hereditary status, cause of death, calendar year of diagnosis, treatment, and time since diagnosis. Study conducted by NCI, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
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Khincha Receives Flex Award for Metformin Trial in Li-Fraumeni Patients
Payal Khincha, staff clinician in the Clinical Genetics Branch and Christina Annunziata in the Center for Cancer Research received Flex Award for their project, “Phase II clinical trial of metformin in patients with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS).”
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From Facebook to the Hill: Communicating Research
Megan Frone and Nicolas Wentzensen communicate effectively about their research to policy makers, clinicians, and the public.
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Cancer Risk in Non-Proband DICER1-Variant Carriers
A new report establishes the first quantitative, site-specific risk for benign and malignant tumors in over one hundred individuals with a germline DICER1 pathogenic variant.
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CHEK2 Identified as Intermediate-risk Driver of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Susceptibility
CHEK2 germline pathogenic variants are associated with a four-to-six times elevated risk for Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCT), and an average age at presentation six years earlier than carriers of wild-type alleles.
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Curie-NCI Collaborative Partnership Program Announces Inaugural Awardees
Three projects were selected for the inaugural Curie-NCI Collaborative Partnership Program. Each project has at least one investigator from the NCI and the Institut Curie.
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Drug Overdose Deaths a National Problem, not Limited to Poor, Rural Counties
Researchers in the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and collaborators at the National Institutes of Health conducted a formal analysis of overall death rates and death rates from drug poisoning among 25-64-year-olds in the United States. They compared rates across race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, rurality and geography to determine whether increases in these deaths are limited to poor, rural, white communities in regions with high unemployment.
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Interferon Lambda Experts Meet at NIH to Discuss Disease Impact and Translational Potential
In October 2018, researchers at the National Cancer Institute hosted, “IFN Lambda: Disease Impact and Translational Potential,” a meeting of international experts to enhance interdisciplinary communication and promote new collaborations on Interferon Lambda.
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AI Approach Outperformed Human Experts in Identifying Cervical Precancer
A research team led by investigators from NIH and Global Good has developed a computer algorithm that can analyze digital images of a woman’s cervix and accurately identify precancerous changes that require medical attention.
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BRCA Exchange Aggregates Data on Thousands of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants
BRCA Exchange is a global resource with data and expert classification on thousands of inherited variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that will improve cancer prevention, screening, and intervention for high-risk patients.
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Jonas Almeida Named Chief Data Scientist of DCEG
Jonas S. Almeida, Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Data Scientist in DCEG. He is internationally recognized for his work on integrative biomedical applications that combine systems biology, computational statistics, and software engineering.
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Michele Doody, Radiation Scientist, Retires from NCI
Michele Doody, M.S., a staff scientist in the Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB), retired at the end of December 2018 after more than 30 years of federal service. Her research focused on the role of low-dose radiation in carcinogenesis from both diagnostic and occupational exposures.
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Myotonic Dystrophy Type I Clinical Care Recommendations Influenced by DCEG Research
New consensus-based guidelines for the clinical management of adult patients with Myotonic Dystrophy type I (DM1) were based in part on research by investigators in the Clinical Genetics Branch.
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HPV Screening History Important for Management of New, Abnormal Results
HPV screening history of multiple negative HPV and cytology cotests important for management of current results in cervical cancer screening programs. The data come from over a million women aged 30 and older in Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
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Study finds elevated risk of certain rare blood cancers after chemotherapy for most solid tumors
Findings from a new study by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) show that patients treated with chemotherapy for most solid tumors experienced an increased risk of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (tMDS/AML).
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Ögmundsdóttir Delivers Seminar on Genetic Predisposition to Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia
On December 11, 2018, Professor Helga Ögmundsdóttir from the University of Iceland presented a seminar, “Genetic predisposition to Waldenström's macroglobulinemia - lessons from family studies”.