On November 6th, 2017, the Etiology and Pathology of Oral Cancer (EPOC) Affinity Research Collaborative (ARC) hosted its final annual symposium. Five cancer researchers presented on their current work and future opportunities to an audience of researchers, students, and clinicians.
The Symposium opened with a lunch reception and remarks from Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), and co-Director of the EPOC ARC.
The keynote speaker, Dr. David J. Waxman, presented on Regulation of Mouse Liver Chromatin Accessibility, Histone Modifications and Early Gene Responses by the Nuclear Receptor CAR. Dr. Waxman, PhD, is Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology in the Department of Biology and Bioinformatics Program; Professor of Medicine, BU School of Medicine; and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, BU College of Engineering.
The Symposium was an opportunity for junior and senior researchers alike to present on their work. The other presenters were:
- Luskasz Stawski, PhD; Research Scholar, Arthritis Center, BU School of Medicine. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) presents an attractive therapeutic agent for radiation-induced skin fibrosis.
- Anna Belkina, MD, PhD; Senior Research Specialist, Flow Cytometry Core Facility, and Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, BU School of Medicine. New Platforms to Integrate Single Cell Technologies into your Translational Research Workflow.
- Kevin Chandler, PhD; Post-doctoral Fellow, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectometry, BU School of Medicine. Inhibition of β-catenin/CBP Signaling in Oral Cancer Alters EGFR N-Glycosylation and Abundance
- David Sherr, PhD; Professor, Environmental Health, BU School of Public Health. Simultaneous Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells and the Immune Response Via the AHR in HNSCC.
Closing remarks were given by Dr. Kukuruzinska and Dr. Maria Trojanowksa, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Arthritis Center, BU School of Medicine, and EPOC ARC co-Director.
“The EPOC ARC has been very successful as evidenced by the resulting publications, presentations and grant applications, as well the many trainees that have participated” said Dr. Kukuruzinska. “We look forward to continuing the exciting and productive collaborations that have developed.”
The EPOC ARC is co-funded by GSDM and the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research. This is the final year of the EPOC ARC, but the research collaborations it has built over the years will continue. Each ARC, as a part of the Evans Center, consists of a team of investigators who develop institutional research cores, provide educational opportunities for researchers, enhance BU’s educational mission, and promote collaboration.
“Thank you to Drs. Kukuruzinska and Trojanowska for their tireless efforts in leading the EPOC and organizing the final symposium,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “They have helped BU continue to cement itself as a leading research institution.”