NCI-designated & Comprehensive. Research, clinical trials, transformative care, survivorship, public-policy changing discoveries. #DeliveringDiscoveries

San Diego, California
Joined December 2021
Join the Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (CHEC) for a Community Building Mixer on Thursday, Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Moores Cancer Center. Let’s strengthen our shared mission to expand access to cancer care and support across San Diego and Imperial Counties. RSVP Here: bit.ly/3VMMyFt #CancerHealthEquity #CHEC #MooresCancerCenter
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Moores Cancer Center members J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, Uri Manor, PhD, and Johannes Schöneberg, PhD, contributed to a study published in Cell Reports revealing how the COX2-PGE2-PKA pathway suppresses the body's antiviral immune response. Using herpes simplex virus type 1 infection as a model, researchers found that PGE2 promotes the removal of damaged mitochondria, reducing the mitochondrial DNA signals that activate STING, a key component of the body's innate immune defenses. The findings shed light on a mechanism that limits inflammation and could inform future strategies to enhance immune responses, including cancer immunotherapy. Read the study: bit.ly/4se5Y29 #CellReports #Immunology #STING #CancerResearch #MooresCancerCenter
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Moores Cancer Center member Frank Furnari, PhD, has published a new study in Neuro-Oncology. The study analyzed 76 TERT promoter-mutant glioblastoma tumors from Japanese patients. The rs2853669 C allele was more frequent in glioblastoma than in the general Japanese population. Patients carrying it on the same allele as the TERT promoter mutation had shorter overall survival (19 vs. 25 months). Read the full paper in Neuro-Oncology: bit.ly/4ywkaos #Glioblastoma #NeuroOncology #CancerResearch #MooresCancerCenter
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How can computational modeling help us understand disease? In this episode, Moores Cancer Center Member Ferhat Ay, PhD, computational biologist and leader of the Ay Lab at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, explains how computational modeling and 3-dimensional genomics can clarify disease mechanisms and support new therapies. Listen now: bit.ly/4i0uDlS #ComputationalBiology #Genomics #Podcast #CancerResearch
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Shuvro Prokash Nandi, PhD, is an Assistant Project Scientist in the Alexandrov Lab at UC San Diego. His work focuses on cancer genomics, mutational signatures and the biological processes that shape somatic mutations. He develops advanced sequencing technologies, including duplex sequencing for ultra-sensitive detection of rare mutations. His newer polymerase-based extensions are designed to read unrepaired DNA damage directly, rather than only the mutations it leaves behind. These methods are applied to cancer risk assessment, environmental mutagenesis and precision oncology. Watch now: bit.ly/4hXVsat #ResearcherSpotlight #CancerGenomics #Genomics #PrecisionOncology
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Introducing the PREDICT Initiative at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Prevention, Risk Assessment, Early Detection and Interception of Cancer through Technology (PREDICT) unites clinical care, molecular science, data science and artificial intelligence with one goal: to prevent more cancers, detect them earlier and intercept them at their earliest stages. Learn more: bit.ly/4yhtm05 #CancerPrevention #EarlyDetection #AI #CancerResearch #PREDICT
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Breast cancer can affect young women, too. Watch Moores Cancer Center member Anne Wallace, MD, UC San Diego Health breast surgical oncologist and plastic surgeon, discuss the signs young women should know in her FOX 5 San Diego interview: bit.ly/47oE2yV
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For the second time, UC San Diego has been named the No. 1 public university for research in Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide and Rankings. The university also retained its No. 6 ranking among all U.S. research universities. We’re proud to be part of a research community advancing discovery, from the lab to the clinic. Learn more: bit.ly/3TNKpIH #UCSanDiego #Research #CancerResearch #Discovery
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Colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults, and awareness can save lives. Moores Cancer Center Member Rohit Loomba, MD, recently spoke with FOX 5 San Diego about this concerning trend and stressed the urgent need for greater awareness, prevention and early detection. Watch the interview: bit.ly/4yj3Hny #ColorectalCancer #EarlyDetection #CancerPrevention #CancerAwareness
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On this episode of the Science Of podcast, Alexander Wallace, PhD, discusses how substance use affects neurodevelopment and aerobic fitness in young adults. Listen now: bit.ly/4jDq2IG #ScienceOf #Podcast #SubstanceUse
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What if we could change a patient’s treatment before their cancer visibly progresses? Moores Cancer Center Member Rebecca Shatsky, MD, breaks down the practice-changing SERENA-6 trial in Cancer Network. The study used ctDNA to detect emerging ESR1 mutations early and switch therapy, nearly doubling median progression-free survival (approximately 17 vs. 9 months). Watch the interview: bit.ly/4im1YJi #BreastCancer #ctDNA #PrecisionOncology #CancerResearch
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Exercise may help breast cancer survivors think more clearly and slow cellular aging. Sheri Hartman, PhD, a member of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, joined CBS 8 to discuss two studies published in the *Journal of the National Cancer Institute*. The findings link a 12-month exercise program to improved attention and memory and slower epigenetic aging. Watch the interview: bit.ly/4jn1MdT #BreastCancer #Survivorship #Exercise #CancerResearch
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Why is pancreatic cancer so difficult to treat? New research co-led by Moores Cancer Center Director Diane M. Simeone, MD, reveals how cancer cells change and resist treatment, offering new insights into more effective therapies. Read more: go.ucsd.edu/47jbA1i
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UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center's Lyudmila Bazhenova, MD, is featured in Medscape coverage of two phase 3 trials evaluating first-line combination therapies for advanced NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertions. The report examines emerging approaches that may expand treatment options for these patients. Read more: bit.ly/4AJDtxa #LungCancer #NSCLC #MooresCancerCenter #Medscape
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Moores member Sandip Patel, MD, FASCO, moderated @OncLive's workshop on HER2-mutated NSCLC. Frontline zongertinib showed a 76% ORR and 47% intracranial ORR in active brain metastases. Read more: bit.ly/4rZ4g4v
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UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center's Rana R. McKay, MD, discusses NGS versus IHC testing for PTEN deficiency in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. In this UroToday interview, she explains how each test informs treatment decisions following the capivasertib-abiraterone approval, and recommends NGS for BRCA alterations alongside IHC for PTEN status. Watch the video: bit.ly/4ddlYen #ProstateCancer #MooresCancerCenter #UroToday
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cancer care doesn’t end when treatment does. Kimberly Podsada, MSN, NP-C, founded the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program at Moores Cancer Center to help patients navigate life after treatment. With support from leaders including Anne Wallace, MD, the program connects survivors with resources for wellness, recovery and long-term health. Read the story and explore our FY25 Annual Report! Read the story: bit.ly/4rQ5fUq FY25 Annual Report: bit.ly/4rSBCSA #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BreastCancer
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UC San Diego Health is the first hospital to offer a radioactive bandage for treating skin cancer. Parag Sanghvi, MD, MSPH, discusses the approach, which has also drawn coverage in Dermatology Digest and Onco Zine. Read more: bit.ly/3TYNtlt #SkinCancer #RadiationOncology #MooresCancerCenter
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After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, longtime UC San Diego Health emergency physician Stephen Hayden, MD, received CAR T-cell therapy through the CARTITUDE-6 clinical trial at Moores Cancer Center, led by Caitlin Costello, MD. Now in remission, Dr. Hayden continues teaching future doctors and was recently honored by the San Diego Padres. Read his story: bit.ly/4z95a0M
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Behind every research milestone is a team that makes it possible. Meet Raluca Ciochina, Executive Assistant to J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Associate Director of Basic Science. Her administrative, operational and programmatic support helps advance Moores' fundamental research programs and leadership priorities, including the annual scientific retreat. Learn more: bit.ly/4hFNv9U #PeopleBehindTheMission #MooresCancerCenter
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