City of Hope

Congratulations to Prajish Iyer, Ph.D., City of Hope staff scientist, on earning the prestigious Young Investigator Award from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Society (CLL Society) for his research project, "Delineating the Role of Mitochondrial Dysregulation in Richter’s Transformation (RT)." The award recognizes early-career scientists committed to advancing the knowledge and treatment of CLL/SLL (small lymphocytic lymphoma). Dr. Iyer explains that although Richter’s Transformation (RT) is rare, it is a devastating event as most patients do not survive more than a year after diagnosis. “The goal of my research, supported by the CLL Society, is to understand the biological processes involved, with the hope that this research will pave the way for new treatment options to effectively target this aggressive form of cancer and bring hope to those battling RT." Dr. Iyer, bravo for your recognition! We admire your courage to study a rare and aggressive condition, your passion for research and making hope a reality for CLL and SLL patients. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTuNEN4x

City of Hope's team is at the forefront of exciting therapeutic innovations for sarcoma. Three experts explain how sarcoma differs from other cancers, discuss clues that may indicate a person's risk for sarcoma and share advancements in sarcoma treatment. “This is a rare disease best handled by a specialized center,” shares Janet Yoon, M.D., clinical professor and medical director of the Pediatric Musculoskeletal Tumor Program at City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center. “You need an experienced, knowledgeable team. And we at City of Hope have such a team, along with researchers pushing the boundaries.” Read more: https://bit.ly/4f4zoZw

City of Hope employee Mari Uribe-Larios knows the devastating toll cancer can take firsthand: She is a two-time cancer survivor and lost her sister to the disease at 15 years old. Since 2016, Mari has honored her sister and her own story — by participating in our annual Walk for Hope. Together with her family by her side, she’s raised more than $10,000 to fight cancer. Mari, we applaud your commitment to making a difference and can’t wait to see you at this year’s Walk for Hope. Learn more and register today: https://bit.ly/4cFoWpO

We're honored to share insights from City of Hope’s Joanne Jeter, M.D., who is passionate about helping patients manage their genetic risk. Dr. Jeter is committed to providing education on the options available and guiding family members in addressing their own cancer risks. Now a member of its faculty, Dr. Jeter discusses her experience in the Intensive Course and Clinical Cancer Genomics Community of Practice (CCGCoP). Reflecting on her journey through the program at City of Hope, she shares how this transformative program can impact patients and their families.

City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, is ranked top 5 in the nation for cancer care, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024-25 rankings. The recognition marks the latest milestone for City of Hope as it enhances its ability to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients, families and communities nationwide. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LqJshK #BestHospitals

Congratulations to the 2024 graduating class of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope — marking the 30th anniversary of the school. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we couldn't be prouder. We are excited to see the amazing contributions you'll make in the next phase of your scientific journey. Cheers to the #ClassOf2024!

Researchers from City of Hope and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York are sharing promising results from a preclinical study (research conducted before human testing) that may transform how we treat diabetes in the future: A therapeutic combination has expanded human insulin-producing beta cells in vivo in diabetes, according to early findings published this week in Science Translational Medicine. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, a reduction in both the quantity and quality of insulin-producing beta cells causes high blood sugar. The researchers findings noted human beta cell numbers increased up to 700% with their combination of the natural product harmine and a widely-used class of type 2 diabetes therapy known as GLP1 receptor agonists over a three-month period. Currently, none of the many commonly used diabetes therapies increase human beta cell numbers. “This research brings hope for the use of future regenerative therapies to potentially treat the hundreds of millions of people with diabetes,” said Adolfo Garcia-Ocana, Ph.D., the paper’s corresponding author and City of Hope’s Ruth B. & Robert K. Lanman Chair in Gene Regulation & Drug Discovery Research and chair of the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology. The work was funded by grants from The National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and Breakthrough T1D, as well as from philanthropic donations to Mount Sinai, support from The Wanek Family Project for Type 1 Diabetes at City of Hope and additional generous philanthropic gifts. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4czQzR0 [Left image: Kidney after three months treatment with a placebo. Beta cells in green; Right image: Kidney after three months of treatment with harmin plus exendin4. Beta cells in green.]

City of Hope nurse Casey Thomas B.S.N., R.N., CCRN, BMTCN, is a compassionate and skilled leader in her field. She was recently honored with the Off the Chart award for nursing excellence by the Simms/Mann Institute & Foundation, a testament to her outstanding dedication and care. Furthermore, in 2022, she was celebrated as an Exemplary Professional Practice Nurse Leader. She is always thinking of new ways to improve her skills and care at City of Hope. For Casey, being a nurse is so fulfilling and rewarding, it fuels her heart to provide patients the best possible care. “When you get to be the nurse on the day your patient makes a big move forward, like standing up for the first time [after surgery] or finally realizing where they are after being ‘out of it’ for a long time, to see the joy and the hope of the family is a very wonderful thing to be a part of.” Casey, thank you. Your compassion and dedication to your patients at City of Hope are truly remarkable and deeply valued. Read about Casey’s story and her well-deserved recognition for her commitment to patients at City of Hope: https://bit.ly/45YiNCl

Physician scientists at City of Hope have made a discovery on how changing a patient’s gut microbiome could improve treatment for people with metastatic kidney cancer. The latest phase 1 trial, published in Nature Medicine (Nature Portfolio), reveals that patients who orally took the live biotherapeutic product CBM588 while undergoing treatment with immunotherapy and enzymatic tyrosine kinase inhibitors experienced improved health outcomes. “We at City of Hope are the first to demonstrate a live bacterial product’s ability to improve clinical outcomes for patients with kidney cancer treated with immunotherapy,” shares Sumanta Pal, M.D., professor and vice chair of academic affairs in City of Hope’s Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research. “CBM588 could be exciting in cancer treatment because of its potential to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based treatment, improve patient outcomes and modulate the gut microbiota in beneficial ways.” City of Hope is advancing research on the connection between a healthy gut and the effectiveness of immune therapies like CAR T cell therapy. The microbiome program, covering basic to clinical research, also explores the gut's role in protecting transplant patients during recovery. This research and commitment to the microbiome program brings new hope to patients and marks a step forward in cancer treatment. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRN53e5f

“I feel tremendous gratitude for the care and kindness I have received from people all around me and my ability to show up to play my part. This carries me through to the next day,” expresses Ellie Maghami, M.D., chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgery at City of Hope and The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation Endowed Professor in Head and Neck Cancer. As Dr. Maghami marks her 19th year at City of Hope, she acknowledges the privilege of her profession and its profound impact on patients' lives. Her leadership is guided by a deep-seated compassion, driven by the belief that “we are all interconnected in this universe ... it takes small acts of compassion to make everlasting impact all around us.” In honor of Pride Month, Dr. Maghami affirms the significance of authenticity and mental well-being, emphasizing that “being true to oneself and comfortable in one’s own skin is fundamental to mental health and wellness.” We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Maghami for her dedicated service, and for her unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of her work and life. #CityofHope #PrideMonth