UCLA researchers receive recognition from Conquer Cancer Foundation awards

UCLA continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing the next generation of physician-scientists and advancing breakthrough research in the field of cancer. Several of its faculty members have recently received prestigious awards for their groundbreaking work.

One of the recipients is Dr. Jingran Ji, a clinical instructor in the division of hematology/oncology at UCLA. Dr. Ji's research will evaluate changes in physical function and biological markers of aging in postmenopausal women who have undergone chemotherapy.

Another recipient is Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf, also a clinical instructor in the division of hematology/oncology at UCLA. Dr. Lipsyc-Sharf will be partnering with industry to lead a Phase II clinical trial testing a ctDNA blood test for estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers.

The Conquer Cancer Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), has recognised the promising work of two UCLA researchers. Dr. Yuliya Zektser, a hematology-oncology fellow at UCLA, received a Conquer Cancer Merit Award for her study on frailty and clinical outcomes in older adults with early breast cancer. Dr. Zektser conducted her research under the mentorship of Dr. Mina Sedrak, a worldwide leader in cancer and aging research at UCLA.

Dr. Alexis LeVee, a new clinical instructor in the division of hematology/oncology at UCLA, received a Young Investigator Award for her research on the gut microbiome and immunotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer.

Dr. Sedrak praised the team members for their ongoing translational work, with Dr. Aditya Bardia, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of Translational Research Integration at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, echoing her sentiments.

The Career Development Award is a three-year, $200,000 mentored grant for early-career physician-scientists. In addition to Dr. Ji and Dr. Lipsyc-Sharf, Dr. Zektser also received this award. The awards received by these researchers underscore UCLA's commitment to fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of cancer research.

The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, a cancer research centre at UCLA, continues to be a hub for cutting-edge research and collaboration in the field of oncology. With the promising work of these researchers, the future of cancer treatment at UCLA looks bright.