Article Category: In the Media

Siteman Catalyst Awards Support Groundbreaking Science

Four researchers receive new funding to explore brain‑sparing radiation, smarter leukemia drugs, better BRCA1 risk prediction and new strategies against aggressive pancreatic cancer

Four WashU Medicine researchers at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, have received Siteman Catalyst Awards to pursue innovative ideas that could change how cancers are detected and treated.

Each awardee is receiving $100,000 for an early-stage project that is too new for traditional funding but has strong potential to benefit patients. Together, these efforts aim to move promising science from the lab toward real advances in cancer care.

The researchers are:

  • Adam Bauer, PhD, associate professor of radiology and of biomedical engineering, who aims to better protect memory and cognitive ability in people who need whole-brain radiation.
  • Alireza Ghanbarpour, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, who is researching a new weak point in leukemia cells’ energy machinery, which could lead to new therapies.
  • Priyanka Verma, PhD, associate professor of medicine, who seeks to improve how doctors interpret BRCA1 gene changes that affect breast cancer risk, information that could sooner mitigate the chances of breast cancer development.
  • Max Wattenberg, MD, associate professor of medicine, who is studying new ways to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdomen.

Please see below for more details on each project.

Reducing Radiation Induced Cognitive Decline Through Inhibiting Neuroinflammation

Principal Investigator: Adam Bauer, PhD

Goal: To determine whether a drug called azeliragon can help protect memory and thinking after whole-brain radiation treatment


Summary: Many brain tumor survivors experience progressive and disabling cognitive decline within months of radiotherapy, leading to impairment and reduced quality of life. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and there are currently no strategies to accurately predict, monitor or prevent this decline. This project will leverage novel optical neuroimaging to establish how radiotherapy and neuroinflammation separately influence brain activity in mice to determine early biomarkers of radiation-induced cognitive decline. Researchers will also determine whether inhibiting radiation-induced neuroinflammation using a novel drug prevents cognitive decline and corresponding changes to neuroimaging biomarkers. Their long-term goals are to develop neuroimaging-based biomarkers to predict cognitive decline in brain tumor survivors after radiotherapy and to develop novel, preventative treatments for brain tumor patients.

Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Protein Degradation in Cancer

Principal Investigator: Alireza Ghanbarpour, PhD

Goal: To understand how a special protein called ClpXP supports survival in leukemia cells. By better understanding how this process works, researchers will have the knowledge to guide the development of new cancer therapies for leukemia


Summary: Cancer cells require large amounts of energy to grow and divide rapidly. To meet this demand, they rely heavily on mitochondria, the structures in cells that produce energy. Because mitochondria in cancer cells operate under high stress, they depend on systems that remove damaged proteins and maintain mitochondrial function. One such system is ClpXP, a molecular machine that keeps mitochondria healthy by identifying and destroying damaged or unnecessary proteins. Cancer cells appear to depend on ClpXP more than normal cells, meaning that blocking its activity could selectively harm cancer cells while causing fewer side effects in healthy cells. This project will identify the mitochondrial proteins controlled by ClpXP and determine how this system recognizes and destroys its targets, which may help guide the development of new cancer therapies.

Defining the Pathogenicity of BRCA1 Germline Mutations in Predisposition to Breast Cancers

Principal Investigator: Priyanka Verma, PhD

Goal: To develop a platform to predict breast cancer preposition risk in individuals with mutations in the BRCA1 gene


Summary: This project aims to develop ways by which an individual’s genetic information can be used to predict if they are more susceptible to developing breast cancers as compared to general population. Having this information in a timely manner can be used to undertake available preventive measures to mitigate the chances of breast cancer development.

Investigating Peritoneal Anti-Metastatic Programs in Pancreatic Cancer

Principal Investigator: Max Wattenberg, MD


Goal: To understand how the immune system interacts with pancreatic cancer cells in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen) and find new ways to treat cancer that spreads to these sites

Summary: Pancreatic cancer often spreads to the peritoneum, the lining of the belly, causing serious health problems such as pain, bowel obstruction and fluid buildup. These sites of cancer spread are hard to treat because they resist current drugs, and there are no effective treatments specifically for them. This project uses studies with mice and patient samples to examine how pancreatic cancer cells and the body’s immune system interact in the peritoneum. By understanding these interactions, researchers hope to develop new treatments to help the immune system better fight pancreatic cancer.

mRNA Technology Opens Doors for Potential New Ways of Preventing and Treating Cancer

WashU Medicine researchers at Siteman Cancer Center are leading next-generation cancer vaccine development.

The advent of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the Nobel-prize–winning technology is being adapted to fight cancer, with mRNA vaccines in clinical trials for melanoma, small cell lung cancer and bladder cancer, among others, opening the door to new ways of preventing and treating the disease.

Scientists assumed that one specific immune cell subtype was required for mRNA vaccination to activate the immune system. But WashU Medicine researchers at Siteman Cancer Center show in a new study in mice that even without these cells, the mRNA vaccine still triggers strong cancer‑killing responses. That’s because, they found, a cousin to this subtype of immune cell can also stimulate anti-tumor immune activity — an unexpected finding given that this related subtype is not involved in responses to other vaccines.

The findings are published April 15 in Nature, offering a deeper understanding of how the immune system responds to mRNA vaccination and guiding the optimal design of a cancer vaccine.

“There is a lot of interest in applying the mRNA vaccine approaches used during the COVID-19 pandemic to the problem of inducing anti-tumor immunity,” said senior author Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, the Eugene Opie Centennial Professor of Pathology & Immunology at WashU Medicine and a leader in cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center. “By dissecting which immune cells are involved and how they coordinate the response, we’re offering vaccine developers some additional mechanistic insights to consider in their goal of optimizing these vaccines against tumor proteins.”

Unconventional immune pathway

mRNA vaccines work by delivering instructions, in the form of messenger RNA biomolecules, for immune cells to produce bits of protein that trigger the immune system to destroy cells bearing these proteins. So-called dendritic cells produce the protein bits from the mRNA instructions, and T cells — another immune cell — are the ones that seek and destroy. mRNA vaccines can be designed to generate protein bits unique to a tumor so that T cells eliminate those cancerous cells.

cDC1, a classical type 1 dendritic cell, has long been known to be an effective teacher, priming T cells to attack cells infected by a virus. But less is known about how T cells become activated after an mRNA vaccine, whether against a virus or a tumor. In collaboration with the study’s co-corresponding author William E. Gillanders, MD, the Mary Culver Professor of Surgery at WashU Medicine and a leader in cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center Murphy and members of his lab used mouse models that lacked cDC1 or a related cell subtype known as cDC2 to tease out the role that different groups of dendritic cells play in priming T cells after mRNA cancer vaccination.

Gillanders, a physician-scientist and surgical oncologist who also has developed an investigational vaccine against triple-negative breast cancer, treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center.

The researchers found that mice immunized with an mRNA vaccine generated strong T-cell responses even in the absence of cDC1s. In addition, they found that immunized mice without cDC1s were able to clear sarcoma tumors — cancers that develop in connective tissues such as fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, bone and cartilage. This indicated that some other cell type must be stimulating the T-cell response.

Indeed, their study found that cDC2s also participate in generating an immune response from T cells and preventing tumor growth. The study also found that T cells turned on by cDC1s and cDC2s each showed slightly different molecular “fingerprints.” These differences could help scientists design better versions of vaccines in the future.

Similarly, immunized mice lacking cDC2s and mice that had both cell subtypes produced an immune response and rejected tumor growth, demonstrating that mRNA vaccination uses both dendritic cell subtypes to stop cancer.

Further investigation of cDC2s suggested they activate T cells through an outsourcing process that relies on other cells to use the mRNA instructions to make the protein, chop it up and present small fragments on its surface. Once the protein is processed and presented, those cells then transfer the membrane complex that holds the fragment in place on the cell’s surface to the cDC2 to engage with the T cells — through an already-known process referred to as “cross dressing.”

“This work uncovers a new way mRNA vaccines engage the immune system — through both cDC1 and cDC2 — which helps explain their power and gives researchers concrete targets for making future mRNA cancer vaccines more effective,” Gillanders said. “It could improve vaccine formulation and dosing, potentially explain why some patients respond better to vaccines than others and guide strategies for making vaccines more effective.”

Siteman Cancer Center Experts to be Recognized, Present Key Research at AACR Annual Meeting

Two WashU Medicine physician-scientists will be honored, and 30 faculty members and others will present findings at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17-22 in San Diego.

At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, WashU Medicine scientists and physician-researchers at Siteman Cancer Center are demonstrating the scale, depth and translational impact of cancer research. With national leadership represented across scientific presentations, prestigious honors and governance of one of the field’s leading research organizations, Siteman’s presence at AACR underscores its role as a driving force in advancing cancer outcomes worldwide.

More than 20,000 scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients and advocates gather at the annual conference each year to share and discuss the latest breakthroughs. Topics range from population science and prevention to cancer biology, translational and clinical studies to survivorship and advocacy.

Thirty WashU Medicine faculty members, fellows and others associated with Siteman Cancer Center will present their findings this year. They include two researchers who will each receive one of AACR’s highest honors and a third who will be installed as one of the newest members of the AACR Board of Directors.

“Siteman Cancer Center is proud to continue our strong presence at the AACR Annual Meeting, where collaboration and discovery are accelerating progress against cancer at an unprecedented pace,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman, which is based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis. “The work our researchers are sharing reflects not only scientific excellence, but also a deep commitment to improving outcomes for patients everywhere. Being part of this global exchange of ideas helps ensure that innovations developed here can translate into real-world impact for the communities and individuals we serve — and beyond.” 

Prestigious Awards for Two Internationally Renowned Siteman Cancer Center Investigators

Two preeminent WashU Medicine physician-scientists from Siteman will be honored with prestigious awards at the ACCR Annual Meeting:

John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, the Virginia E. and Sam J. Golman Professor of Medicine and director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunology, will receive the ACCR’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research.

Internationally recognized for oncology research and clinical breakthroughs, DiPersio is a pioneer in advancing treatment options in hematologic malignancies such as leukemia as well as advances in stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy. His work has been essential to the development of the hematopoietic stem cell mobilizing agents plerixafor and motixafortide. Among his most recent accomplishments is an innovative immunotherapy for rare and aggressive types of blood cancer — called WU-CART-007 — that received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March. DiPersio will lecture at the AACR Annual Meeting on the latest advances in leukemia biology and emerging cellular therapies.

Award Presentation: AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research
Lecture: Killing the bad without the good: CART for T-cell malignancies
When: April 21, 4:15-5 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30, San Diego Convention Center



Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, will be presented with the ACCR-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology. The award recognizes scientists whose outstanding research has a major impact on the understanding of cancer. Murphy, the Eugene Opie First Centennial Professor in pathology and immunology at WashU Medicine, is credited for groundbreaking research showing how different types of dendritic cells develop and take on specific roles in controlling the body’s immune responses. He uncovered the genetic “programs” that tell immature cells to become specific kinds of dendritic cells, including discovering how a gene called BATF3 helps create a specific dendritic cell that is critical for activating “killer” T cells to destroy infected or cancerous cells. His work has been noted as not only advancing but also reshaping the field of cancer biology and immunology. His latest paper, published April 15 in Nature, shows how mRNA technology further opens doors for potential new ways to prevent and treat cancer.



Award Presentation: ACCR-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology
Lecture: DC subsets: Why so much specialization?
When: April 21, 3-3:45 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30, San Diego Convention Center

Leading Scientist Joins AACR Board of Directors

Sheila A. Stewart, PhD, Associate Director for Basic Science and Co-Leader of the Mechanisms of Cancer Biology Program at Siteman Cancer Center, was recently elected to the AACR Board of Directors and will begin her official duties at the annual meeting.

A leading cancer scientist, Stewart also is the Gery Cori Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at WashU Medicine. She studies how age-related changes to noncancerous cells called stroma modulate immune responses and promote the development of cancer. As a board member, Stewart will help oversee the strategic direction and governance of the AACR, one of the world’s largest cancer research organizations.
In addition to her board installation, Stewart will chair a discussion on cancer therapy-induced comorbidities and present specifically on chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Chair: Session ED01 – The Dark Side of Cancer Therapies: Therapy-Induced Comorbidities Across the Lifespan
Presentation: Therapy-induced senescence drives chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
When: April 17, 3-4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Room 28, San Diego Convention Center

Other Notable Key Presentations

Multiple other researchers from Siteman and WashU Medicine will present lectures and key findings during the AACR Annual Meeting on topics such as:

  • Advances in immunotherapies
  • Novel therapeutics, combination drug therapies and new cellular drug targets
  • Multiomic insights for next generation cancer research
  • Cancer prediction models
  • Radiomics and artificial intelligence in medical imaging
  • Oncology clinical trial updates

Below are highlights. All presentations will be at the San Diego Convention Center.

Friday, April 17


Li Ding, PhD, the David English Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Section Director of Computational Biology, and Assistant Director of The McDonnell Genome Institute at WashU Medicine



Ding will discuss how ecological and evolutionary principles, combined with the extensive data resources of the Human Tumor Atlas Network, are informing new strategies to predict and overcome tumor progression and therapy resistance. She is lead investigator of the HTAN at WashU Medicine.

Presentation: From precancer to metastasis: Evolution and microenvironment of breast and prostate tumors
When: 3:36-3:56 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30

Sunday, April 19



Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH, the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery and Chief of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine and Associate Director of Prevention and Control at Siteman Cancer Center

Presentation: Translating absolute risk of breast cancer into screening frequency: A framework to guide precision screening
When: 1:05-1:25 p.m. PT
Where: Room 5

Monday, April 20

Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiation oncology at WashU Medicine

Presentation: 4008 – A novel, first in class chimeric antigen receptor dendritic cell platform driving broad and durable antitumor immunity in solid tumors
When: 3:05-3:20 p.m. PT
Where: Ballroom 20 AB

Xue-Yan He, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Physiology at WashU Medicine



Presentation: 4080 – The neural bridge: Stress-remodeled enteric nervous system (ENS) in the colitis-cancer transition
When: 3:05-3:20 p.m. PT
Where: Ballroom 6 CF

About Siteman Cancer Center

Siteman Cancer Center is one of only a few cancer centers to receive the highest rating of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — “exceptional.” Comprising the cancer research, prevention and treatment programs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis, Siteman treats adults at six locations, including the new Gary C. Werths Building for outpatient care and an inpatient hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus, and partners with St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the treatment of pediatric patients at Siteman Kids. All locations offer patient-focused, multidisciplinary care driven by scientific breakthroughs and powered by WashU Medicine physicians.

Quick Facts

  • Established in 1999, Siteman is recognized as a leading cancer center by its peers and the NCI.
  • Every year, 75,000+ people are treated at Siteman, including 12,000+ who are newly diagnosed.
  • Siteman is powered by 600+ WashU Medicine physicians and scientists focused on the latest in cancer treatment and research.
  • With 9,000+ patients enrolled every year in 1,600+ clinical research studies, including 600+ therapeutic clinical trials, Siteman offers access to investigational therapies not generally available to the public.
  • Siteman has held NCI’s highest rating — “exceptional” — since 2015, based on a rigorous review of its research programs.
  • Siteman is also proud to receive more than $185 million annually for basic and clinical oncology research grants, including $66 million from the NCI, funding 1,400+ research projects. This includes three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants, for endometrial, leukemia and pancreatic research.
  • In 2024, WashU faculty at Siteman filed for 198 patents.
  • WashU Medicine has the second-largest research funding portfolio from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical schools.

Siteman Leader Installed as President of Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Matthew Powell, MD, to head national efforts to advance innovative gynecologic cancer care for patients

Matthew A. Powell, MD, the Ira C. and Judith Gall Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WashU Medicine and a nationally recognized physician-scientist who treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, has been installed as president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO).

With more than 3,000 members, the organization brings together gynecologic oncologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, patient advocates and other experts dedicated to advancing innovative, high-quality, equitable and comprehensive gynecologic cancer care. Among this distinguished group of leaders, Powell has emerged as a trusted voice, recognized by his peers nationwide for his commitment to progress and excellence in the field.

He began his term at the conclusion of the 2026 SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer after having served as president-elect for the previous two years.

“Being elected to SGO leadership by colleagues from across the country is a tremendous privilege,” said Powell, who specializes in ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers. “I am committed to using this opportunity to support the Society and its members in driving progress in gynecologic oncology, always keeping our focus on better treatment, better outcomes and better experiences for our patients.”

Outside of the SGO, Powell also serves as chair of the NRG Oncology Uterine Corpus Cancer Subcommittee, which focuses on developing and testing innovative advanced therapies and technologies for patients with uterine cancer. He also has been a member of the boards of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Foundation.

For the past 15 years, Powell has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, a recognition of excellence in clinical care, education and research for the top 7% of practicing U.S. physicians. He is board-certified in both gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology.

Powell’s clinical research interests are primarily in the diagnosis and treatment of uterine and ovarian cancers with chemotherapy and radiation. He also studies pharmacologic treatment of preinvasive abnormalities of the uterine cervix to help some patients avoid surgery and loss of fertility. Powell’s laboratory research focuses on endometrial cancer etiology and tumor marker development.

At this year’s SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, held April 10-13, he presented on the lasting positive effects of a chemotherapy-immunotherapy treatment, dostarlimab in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, for patients diagnosed with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

Powell was senior author and lead U.S. investigator for the underlying research, including a paper titled “Dostarlimab for Primary Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer,” published in 2023 in the The New England Journal of Medicine.

He will serve as SGO president until the conclusion of the 2027 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.

Podany Named to Inaugural NCCN Advocacy Academy

WashU Medicine physician-scientist Emily L. Podany, MD, MPHS, has been selected for a new fellowship program that aims to connect people on the front lines of cancer care to share their knowledge and experience with federal policymakers.

Launched by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the Advocacy Academy aims to provide oncology fellows and junior faculty at NCCN member institutions with advocacy skills and training to champion policies that will improve the lives of those affected by cancer.



Podany is an assistant professor of medicine at WashU Medicine and a medical oncologist who treats patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

Her selection highlights her leadership at the intersection of cancer care and public policy. As part of this inaugural fellowship, she will focus on a critical regional and national issue: improving education around cancer risks linked to Coldwater Creek in north St. Louis County and helping affected individuals navigate the newly expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

Through the program, Podany will participate in policy education sessions, receive mentorship from national experts, and collaborate with congressional offices to advance meaningful cancer policy reform.

In addition to this recognition, Podany was also recently named a 2026 Young Investigator Award recipient, further underscoring her commitment to improving cancer care, particularly for patients facing social and structural barriers. Her research focuses on implementing navigation interventions for breast cancer patients with high-risk social determinants of health.

The NCCN is a nonprofit alliance of 33 cancer centers, including Siteman Cancer Center, that is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, research and education.

DiPersio Honored with National AACR Research Award

American Association for Cancer Research highlights physician-scientist’s pioneering advances in leukemia biology, stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy

John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, a pioneering WashU Medicine physician-scientist at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, will be recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to science at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego.

The AACR will present DiPersio with its Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research, honoring his decades of innovation that have transformed the understanding and treatment of hematologic malignancies.



Nationally renowned for his work in the lab and clinic, DiPersio specializes in bone marrow transplantation and treats patients diagnosed with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) at Siteman Cancer Center. As a researcher, he is recognized for pioneering advances in leukemia science and stem cell biology.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by AACR,” said DiPersio, the Virginia E. and Sam J. Golman Endowed Professorship of Medicine, Pathology & Immunology and director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy at WashU Medicine and Siteman. “This award reflects the collaborative work of many colleagues dedicated to improving the lives of patients with blood cancers.”

The award highlights DiPersio’s essential contributions to the development of the hematopoietic stem cell-mobilizing agents plerixafor, known commercially as Mozobil, and motixafortide, also known as Aphexda. His research identifying JAK 1/2 signaling in graft-versus-host disease led to the identification and approval of JAK inhibitors, including ruxolitinib, known commercially as Jakafi.

In addition, DiPersio’s discoveries defining clonal evolution in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have transformed the understanding of cancer relapse and have advanced novel CAR T and CAR-iNKT (invariant natural killer T) therapies for AML and multiple myeloma, expanding treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for an innovative immunotherapy he led the development of for rare and aggressive types of blood cancer. The therapy — called WU-CART-007, also known as soficabtagene geleucel, or sofi-cel — targets T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) in patients who haven’t responded to earlier treatments or who have relapsed.

In the clinic, DiPersio is also known for his bedside manner and care and concern for those he treats.

“Dr. DiPersio is an amazing doctor,” one patient said on the clinician’s WashU Physicians profile page. “I cannot say enough good things about him. I consider myself blessed to have him as my doctor.”

In 2014, DiPersio received the AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research.

This year’s AACR award presentation will coincide with DiPersio’s lecture at the annual meeting, which runs from April 17–22. His talk, titled “Killing the bad without the good: CART for T-cell malignancies,” is at 4:15 p.m. PT in Room 30 in the upper level of the San Diego Convention Center.

Murphy to Receive AACR-CRI Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology

Recognition honors pioneering discoveries that have paved the way for more effective cancer immunotherapies

WashU Medicine researcher Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology.

Murphy, the Eugene Opie First Centennial Professor in pathology and immunology at WashU Medicine and a researcher at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, will be recognized at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, which will be held April 17-22 in San Diego.

The Lloyd J. Old Award recognizes scientists whose outstanding research has had a major impact on our understanding of cancer.

“Dr. Murphy is an extraordinary and innovative immunologist,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, chief executive officer of the AACR. “His discoveries have laid crucial groundwork for new advances in the treatment of cancer, thereby extending and saving countless lives. The AACR and CRI are thrilled to present him with this well-deserved award for enabling significant progress in the field of cancer immunology.”

Murphy’s groundbreaking work has shown how different types of dendritic cells, a kind of immune cell, develop and take on specialized jobs in controlling the body’s immune responses. He has uncovered the genetic “programs” that tell immature cells to become specific kinds of dendritic cells, including discovering how a gene called BATF3 helps create a type of dendritic cell that is especially good at activating “killer” T cells, which destroy infected or cancerous cells. His research has deepened our basic understanding of how the immune system recognizes threats and has helped guide new approaches to boosting the immune system’s attack on cancer, improving cancer immunotherapy.

“The Lloyd J. Old Award honors scientists whose work doesn’t just advance a field — it reshapes how we understand biology at its core,” said Alicia Zhou, PhD, chief executive officer at CRI. “Dr. Murphy’s discoveries have defined the rules by which dendritic cells orchestrate immune responses, providing a foundation that continues to inform how we design the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.”

Murphy is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His previous honors include the CRI William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic Immunology, the American Association of Immunologists-Thermo Fisher Meritorious Career Award and the WashU Medicine Distinguished Investigator Award.

Murphy will deliver his award lecture, titled “DC subsets: Why so much specialization?”, on April 21 at 3 p.m. PT during the AACR annual meeting.

Learn more about his research.

For Your Health — What to Know About GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss and Health

As many of us know, keeping weight in check can be hard. And national numbers certainly reflect this. Rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. have steadily climbed since the early 1980s.

The impact this has had on health and well-being is very significant. Weight gain and obesity increase the risk of 13 cancers, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, mobility problems and many other serious conditions.

So, the recent rise of GLP-1 medications for weight loss has become a promising bright spot.

Officially known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, GLP-1 drugs were first approved to treat type 2 diabetes — and later for weight management. The most commonly used GLP-1 drugs are semaglutide, sold as Ozempic or Wegovy, and tirzepatide (a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist), sold as Zepbound. They’re usually given with a once-a-week self-injection, but a semaglutide pill recently became available.

“GLP-1 receptor agonists are based on hormones that are made naturally by the body when we eat,” said Dr. Cynthia Herrick, a professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research at WashU Medicine. “They slow the movement of food through the gut and have a complex effect on signals of fullness in the brain.”

In response, people eat less — and lose weight. Those using the most common once-a-week GLP-1 drugs have been shown in studies to lose around 15% to 20% of their body weight.

On top of weight loss, studies have found a wide range of health benefits with GLP-1 drugs, which can vary depending on the specific drug. Herrick said they can help treat type 2 diabetes, prevent future heart attacks and stroke in people who have had them in the past, and lessen certain liver and kidney conditions. “The newest once-weekly drug, tirzepatide, has also been approved to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea,” Herrick added.

As with any medication, though, there can be downsides. Serious side effects are rare but can include gallstones, an inflamed pancreas and problems with food moving through the digestive system. There is also some concern that GLP-1 drugs may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but so far, studies haven’t shown this.

More common side effects include nausea, occasional vomiting, bloating, mild diarrhea and constipation. To help minimize these, people are started on low doses, which are then increased monthly, Herrick said.

Since research on these drugs is still relatively young, it will take some time before we have more complete information about their long-term safety and benefits.

In addition to diabetes, GLP-1 drugs are most commonly prescribed for weight loss for people with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher who also have a related condition, like high blood pressure or unhealthy blood cholesterol. Someone who is 5 feet 6 inches and weighs 186 pounds would have a BMI of 30, for example.

Insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs can vary. Most plans will cover a GLP-1 drug to treat diabetes. But they’re less commonly covered for weight loss or other approved conditions. And even with insurance, monthly costs on some plans can be over $1,000 until people reach their deductibles.

Some options, though, can help. “There are now direct-to-consumer programs from the pharmaceutical companies that can lower the cost to $150 to $450 per month, depending on the medication and dose,” Herrick said.


Since people on GLP-1 therapy will likely be on it long-term, affordable access can be especially important. “I tell people to think of these the way we think of blood pressure and cholesterol medicines,” Herrick said. “These work to reduce heart disease risk, but only when taking the medications. When people stop them, weight can increase.”

Keeping up with physical activity and healthy eating remains important while taking GLP-1 drugs and is a key recommendation from many organizations. It can boost the benefits of medication, improve quality of life and help maintain weight loss. And these benefits can build on each other.

“I’ve had patients note that they no longer have a taste for sugar-sweetened beverages or alcohol after starting these medications. They find it easier to limit processed food intake and to control portions,” she said. “And as people begin to lose weight, they often find regular physical activity easier to do.”

It’s clear there’s a lot of interest in GLP-1 drugs. A recent KFF survey found that as many as 12% of people in the U.S. already take one, and that number is likely to keep growing. While we still have a lot to learn about their long-term risk and benefits, so far GLP-1 drugs have shown real potential for improving people’s health and well-being.

NCCN Recognizes Podany as 2026 Young Investigator Award Recipient

WashU Medicine physician-scientist Emily L. Podany, MD, MPHS, has been named a 2026 recipient of a prestigious NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Award, given by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and NCCN Foundation.

Podany is an assistant professor of medicine at WashU Medicine and a medical oncologist who treats patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

She is being recognized for her research project, titled “From Screening to Action: Implementing Navigation Interventions for Patients with Breast Cancer and High-Risk Social Determinants of Health.” Her work focuses on addressing barriers that can prevent patients from receiving timely and effective cancer care, particularly among populations facing social and economic challenges.

Through this award, Podany will receive funding and support from the NCCN Oncology Research Program over two years. The program provides mentorship and oversight to help early-career investigators advance innovative research aimed at improving cancer outcomes.

“We have a rigorous peer review process for identifying emerging leaders in cancer research through their work,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, CEO, NCCN. “NCCN Young Investigators go on to lead within their institutions and nationally. This year’s recipients identified particularly pressing needs that impact people with cancer. They are exploring solutions to unlock better outcomes for all in the future. We are honored to play a role in their career trajectory and look forward to seeing where it takes them.”

Podany is one of five early-career researchers to be recognized this year. Her project is designed to move beyond identifying patients at risk to actively connecting them with the care and resources they need. By developing targeted patient navigation interventions, she aims to further reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment and improve care coordination, ultimately ensuring that patients with breast cancer receive equitable, timely and high-quality care.

“I am deeply grateful to the NCCN Foundation for this support,” Podany said. “This award will allow us to take meaningful steps toward ensuring that patients facing social and economic challenges are not left behind in their cancer care. Our goal is to translate screening for social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and housing instability, into tangible action by connecting patients to the resources they need to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

Podany’s work reflects the broader mission of the NCCN Foundation to support innovative research that addresses disparities in cancer care and improves outcomes for all patients. Her focus on practical, patient-centered interventions highlights the importance of bridging gaps between diagnosis and treatment. She will present her work at the NCCN 2029 Annual Conference.

The NCCN is a nonprofit alliance of 33 cancer centers, including Siteman Cancer Center, that is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, research and education.

Tumor Markers May Help Doctors Decide Which Head and Neck Cancer Patients Need Immunotherapy Before Surgery

WashU Medicine physician-scientists at Siteman Cancer Center identify a promising way to help guide immunotherapy treatment decisions and enhance patient care

Building upon more than a decade of investigator-initiated clinical trials at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, researchers have identified a malignant cell biomarker that may predict which patients will respond to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, known commercially as Keytruda, for the treatment of resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC).

The research, published March 31 in Cell Reports Medicine, is the latest discovery from one of the nation’s leading head and neck tumor centers, the Robert Ebert and Greg Stubblefield Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman Cancer Center. The findings point to a cell surface protein, major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II), as the tumor marker that may help guide treatment decisions. It is typically expressed on immune cells and is important for activating immune responses in the body.

In the study, the researchers found that malignant cells expressing MHC-II and interferon response genes respond better to pembrolizumab administered before surgery, suggesting that a malignant-interferon (IFN)/MHC-II program could be developed into a genomic test to stratify patients into those who should proceed with immunotherapy before surgery and those who should proceed directly to surgery and not be given immunotherapy beforehand.

“Patients with advanced head and neck cancer often undergo immunotherapy prior to and after surgery,” said Sidharth V. Puram, MD, PhD, the Lindburg Professor of Otolaryngology and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery at WashU Medicine and co-director of the Robert Ebert and Greg Stubblefield Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman Cancer Center. “The use of immunotherapy drugs, however, means that surgery is delayed by as much as eight to 10 weeks. If we can determine which patients are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy and which ones should go straight to surgery, we can potentially improve overall outcomes for our patients. We think that’s what (IFN)/MHC-II can do: predict how well patients will have a tumor response to immunotherapy.”

Puram is the corresponding author of the study. Co-senior authors are Douglas R. Adkins, MD, director of the Section of Head and Neck and Thyroid Medical Oncology in the Division of Medical Oncology at WashU Medicine and co-director of the Robert Ebert and Greg Stubblefield Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman; Ravindra Uppaluri, MD, PhD, director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and Itay Tirosh, PhD, senior scientist in the Department of Molecular Biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

WashU Medicine researchers already have defined a new standard for the treatment for resectable LA-HNSCC in adults. In the pivotal global KEYNOTE-689 Phase 3 clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicinein June 2025 and co-led by Adkins and Uppaluri, researchers found that the administration of pembrolizumab before and after surgery combined with adjuvant (chemo) radiation therapy resulted in tumor cell death in the surgical specimen and significantly improved the event-free survival (EFS) for these patients.

Perioperative pembrolizumab was approved by the FDA in June 2025 and changed the standard treatment pathway for patients with LA-HNSCC.

“The KEYNOTE-689 trial was built on the favorable results of investigator-initiated trial testing of perioperative pembrolizumab that was developed and conducted at WashU Medicine (with participating sites at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center),” Adkins said. “In these trials, administration of pembrolizumab before surgery resulted in evidence of tumor cell death in the surgical specimen in up to 50% of patients, a finding linked to better EFS. However, a biomarker was needed that could predict which patients benefited from pembrolizumab before the immunotherapy drug was given. Tumor PD-L1 protein expression does predict potential benefit with pembrolizumab in these patients; however, this test is a very weak predictive biomarker. Predictive biomarkers with stronger links to benefit with pembrolizumab are needed to select patients a priori who may or may not benefit from pembrolizumab before and after surgery.”



To understand the underlying biology and what might drive tumor responses to immunotherapy, researchers used single-cell RNA-sequencing on tissue samples from 16 HNSCC patients, both pre- and post-neoadjuvant pembrolizumab treatment, who were enrolled in the phase 2 trials that represent the predecessors to KEYNOTE-689.



“Single cell approaches allowed us to profile the individual malignant cells and understand the specific genes expressed and how they change with immunotherapy,” Puram said. “Surprisingly, we found a subpopulation of malignant cells that were defined by MHC-II and interferon response genes that predicted immunotherapy response.”



The researchers believe that MHC-II and interferon expression by malignant cells reflects engagement of immune cells with T cells, which are positioned to kill the cancer but have been “turned off” — a state called T-cell exhaustion. Based on spatial techniques, they hypothesize that immunotherapy drugs like pembrolizumab “wake up” these T cells, with MHC-II and interferon identifying which tumors might be poised to then respond to the immunotherapy.



“These results suggest that for the first time, a clinically available strong predictive biomarker may become available to clinicians that can be used to decide whether to include perioperative pembrolizumab before and after surgery and adjuvant therapy for the treatment of patients with LA-HNSCC,” Adkins said. “This will be an important milestone to achieve for our patients.”



“What we’ve demonstrated is the importance of malignant cell states for immunotherapy response,” Puram added. “After more studies with more patients, we envision that a simple test could be developed that tells us if a patient expresses (IFN)/MHC-II and therefore would benefit from immunotherapy. We think this is a significant finding as we continuously try to predict which patients will respond and how to make treatments more effective.”

Historical Clinical and Research Breakthroughs

Siteman Cancer Center has a long history of improving outcomes and driving novel research into head and neck cancers. The WashU Medicine Department of Otolaryngology is among the top 10 recipients of NIH research funding among otolaryngology departments. Within the Robert Ebert and Greg Stubblefield Head and Neck Tumor Center, investigators and physician-scientists across a multidisciplinary team of otolaryngology, medical oncology and radiation oncology specialists oversee one of the largest basic, translational and clinical research portfolios in the country. In addition to paradigm-changing clinical trials such as the KEYNOTE-689 trials, researchers at the center have pioneered advanced reconstructive techniques and new therapies with radiation and chemotherapy, as well as immunotherapies and targeted therapies for head and neck cancers.

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