September 7, 2016:

Researchers and leaders of Big Ten cancer centers will meet in Indianapolis Friday and Saturday for a first-ever cancer research summit among the institutions.

Representatives from 12 of the Big Ten cancer centers will meet for the inaugural Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Summit, hosted by the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.

In addition to the consortium institutions, the meeting will bring together biotech and pharmaceutical leaders to strengthen the academic and industry collaboration and explore opportunities for novel therapeutic advances in cancer research.

Researchers from the IU Simon Cancer Center and the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research will lead presentations on drug development and cell metabolism, while pharmaceutical and biotech representatives will explore how industry and academia can work together in the genomic era and what the future may hold for targeted drug combinations involving multiple companies.

“The Big Ten cancer centers are home to some of the most innovative minds in cancer research,” said Bert H. O’Neil, MD, a leading gastrointestinal cancer researcher and medical oncologist at the IU Simon Cancer Center and co-chair of the summit. “We look forward to productive meetings that will help us advance the development of novel therapies for our patients.”

The consortium opened its first clinical trial in March 2015 and completed enrollment in July 2016, about six months ahead of schedule.

“This trial confirms our ability to collaboratively develop and accrue to clinical trials quickly and efficiently,” said Susan Goodin, PharmD, executive officer of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. “With more than 50,000 new cancer patients cared for each year at the Big Ten cancer centers, we can move ideas rapidly from the laboratory to the clinic through the Big Ten CRC.”

Together, the Big Ten cancer centers:

  • Support the work of 2,600 cancer researchers
  • Care for more than 50,000 new cancer patients each year
  • Enroll 20,000 patients on cancer clinical trials

Follow the summit on Twitter at #bigtencrc16.

The following cancer centers compose the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium:

  • University of Illinois Cancer Center
  • Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center
  • Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa
  • University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center
  • Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
  • Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska
  • Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
  • Penn State Cancer Institute
  • Purdue University Center for Cancer Research
  • Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
  • University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to almost 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.