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Students, trainees and researchers from across the commonwealth came together this past weekend (Nov. 14-15) to share their research at the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference (CVCRC), held at the Hilton Short Pump & Spa just outside of Richmond, Virginia.

Held every other year since 2018, CVCRC brought together 400 students and trainees, including undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral and clinical fellows trainees in addition to staff and faculty from across Virginia. In totality, CVCRC had representation from eight Virginia colleges and universities: the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia State University, and Norfolk State University. 

The CVCRC is conducted in partnership with the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (Massey), University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center (UVA), and Leroy T. Canoles, Jr., Cancer Research Center at Old Dominion University (ODU).

Opening remarks were delivered by Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., the Massey associate director for cancer research training and education, who holds the Harrison Foundation Distinguished Professorship in Cancer Research, as well as a professor of cellular, molecular and genetic medicine at the VCU School of Medicine. Sarkar commented on the growth of the conference since 2018 and how it brings colleagues together from across the state in a common goal.

“This conference encapsulates Massey’s mission,” Sarkar said. “By bringing together researchers and trainees from across the state, we are sharing ideas and research that will lead to healthier and more positive cancer outcomes for people across Virginia.”

Over 200 presentations were given throughout the two-day event, representing the breadth of research across basic, clinical and translational, and population health sciences. Four separate presentation sessions covered 17 general scientific research topics:

• Cancer disparities
• Cancer epidemiology and risk factors
• Cancer immunology
• Cancer metabolism
• Cancer prevention and control
• Cancer prevention and health services research
• Cancer survivorship
• Diagnostics and therapeutics
• Drug development
• Drug development, administration, testing, and biomarkers
• Gene expression
• Oncogenes and tumor suppressors
• Post-translational modifications
• Signaling pathways
• Small molecules and drug development
• Transition of cells and movements
• Tumor microenvironments

On Friday evening, over 50 undergraduate students presented posters during the welcome reception, followed by Saturday’s full day of podium presentations from graduate students and postdoctoral and clinical fellows from five state universities - the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech. Being able to meet, collaborate and learn from their colleagues across the commonwealth serves as a key component of the conference for the congregated trainees.

For Polina Wright, an M.D./Ph.D. candidate and a Massey NCI T32 Integrative Training in Cancer Biology (ITCB) pre-doctoral fellow at VCU, her second CVCRC offered an opportunity to reflect on her professional growth. “Two years ago, I was essentially a few months into my first year of graduate school. I wasn’t confident in the things I was sharing, and today, I have honed my presentation skills to be able to share my data in a more confident and meaningful way.”

“I’ve also seen the progression of different trainees that has inspired and challenged me to do a better job in my research and design, so as they served as unofficial mentors to me, I’m happy to provide that support and encouragement to the trainees who are just starting now.” Over 170 podium presentations were given by graduate students, and postdoctoral and clinical fellows trainees from across the commonwealth.

In between morning and afternoon sessions, attendees heard from keynote speaker Ronald DePinho, M.D., the past president and distinguished university professor of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Texas.

DePinho, who delivered a presentation titled “Aging: Insights and Interception,” reminded the aspiring cancer researchers that they are the spearhead of the next leaps in cancer care, saying, “the work you are doing is incredibly important and will be vital to saving lives in the future.”

“Cancer is an incredibly complex problem,” DePinho remarked while speaking to the impact of a statewide research conference. “It requires the wisdom and capabilities of a diverse group of stakeholders, from people who work in very basic mechanisms, in translational medicine, in clinical medicine, and whose collective perspectives enrich our understanding of cancer.

“As a result of their work, it leads to therapeutic interventions, ways to prevent cancer from happening in the first place, or even mitigating the side effects and improving survivorship. So you really need this village of stakeholders to come together and teach each other and advance knowledge. The most important vulnerability for cancer is knowledge.”

Awards were presented to students and trainees from each session, with 30 winners voted on by faculty and peers:

• Session 1a - Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Factors: Anna Kovilakath, VCU
• Session 1b - Cancer Prevention and Health Services Research: Chelsey McGill, VCU
• Session 1c - Cancer Survivorship 1: Madeline Gunawardena, VCU
• Session 1d - Drug Development, Administration, Testing, and Biomarkers 1: Mark Matta, Old Dominion University
• Session 1e - Gene Expression 1: Keegan Sweeney, College of William & Mary
• Session 1f - Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors 1: Ahmed Elshazly, VCU
• Session 1g - Signaling Pathways 1: Nira Hosseini, VCU
• Session 2a - Cancer Disparities: Ruona Eruvwetere, VCU
• Session 2b - Cancer Immunology 1: Nareen Anwar, University of Virginia
• Session 2c - Cancer Survivorship 2: Josly Pierre-Louis Odoom, VCU
• Session 2d - Drug Development, Administration, Testing, and Biomarkers 2: Samantha Vos, ODU
• Session 2e - Gene Expression 2: Emily Zboril, VCU
• Session 2f - Post-translational Modifications 1: Caleb Mensah, Virginia Tech
• Session 2g - Small Molecules and Drug Development 1: Sarita Pandit, VCU
• Session 2h - Tumor Microenvironment 1: Kimberly Nguyen, UVA
• Session 3a - Cancer Immunology 2: Michael Mann, VCU
• Session 3b - Drug Development, Administration, Testing, and Biomarkers 3: Zobia Minhas, ODU
• Session 3c - Diagnostics and Therapeutics 1: Manali Power, Virginia Tech
• Session 3d - Drug Development: Elliana Vickers, Virginia Tech
• Session 3e - Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors 2: Polina Wright, VCU
• Session 3f - Signaling Pathways 2: Jonathan Baker, ODU
• Session 3g - Small Molecules and Drug Development 2: Luke Vass, UVA
• Session 3h - Transition of Cells and Movements: Caroline Riedstra, UVA
• Session 4a - Cancer Metabolism: Kayla Rodriguez, VCU
• Session 4b - Cancer Prevention and Control: Shoba Abraham, ODU
• Session 4c - Drug Development, Administration, Testing, and Biomarkers 4: Federica Carnamucio, VCU
• Session 4d - Diagnostics and Therapeutics 2: Andrew Chitwood, Virginia Tech
• Session 4e - Gene Expression 3: Zeguela Kamagate, UVA
• Session 4f - Post-translation Modifications 2: Linsong Zhang, ODU
• Session 4g - Tumor Microenvironment 2: Tamalika Paul, Virginia Tech

Written by: Bill Potter