MSK News Winter 2021/2022
Translational research at MSK is speeding up discoveries to help patients like Mark Denisiuk.
To Our MSK Community
Translational research takes knowledge gained in the lab and applies it to create new therapies for patients. Craig B. Thompson writes that MSK will be able to continue to drive a revolution in our understanding of cancer and improve our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease.
Read a message from leadership
Translating Science Into Cures: Bringing Fresh Hope to the Denisiuk Family
Mark Denisiuk was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in the spring of 2021. He found hope when he enrolled in an early trial of an entirely new kind of drug that’s based on lab research conducted at MSK.
Read how MSK is making progress
Theranostics: A Smart Bomb for Cancer
Theranostics combines imaging and therapy for a search-and-destroy mission. Sam Frackowiak (pictured), Lisa Bodei, Heiko Schöder, Serge Lyashchenko, and others are advancing the field at MSK.
Learn more
Taking Aim at Pancreatic Cancer: Reasons to Be Optimistic
Pancreatic cancer will soon become the nation’s second leading cause of cancer death, but there is reason for optimism. Vinod Balachandran is leading a clinical trial testing whether mRNA vaccines can prevent pancreatic cancer from returning after surgery.
Learn how it works
Unlocking a Mystery: What’s Behind the Rise in Colorectal Cancer Among Young People
Doctors and scientists at MSK are desperately trying to figure out why more young patients like Rebecca, 33, are getting colorectal cancer — and how best to treat them.
How we’re helping
Decoding the Biology of Brain Tumors
Brain cancer is deadly because it’s so difficult to study. Scientist Luis Parada has developed an innovative model to analyze how brain tumors form and respond to treatment.
Meet Dr. Parada and learn what drives him
Owen and Stacia: A Love Story
After Owen Strong died of a glioblastoma at age 30, his girlfriend set off on a 1,100-mile bike ride to raise money for research, powering through her grief to make a difference for other families.
Read about the incredible journey
Your Impact: Fred’s Team, Kids Walk, Cycle for Survival 2022, and More
Learn about how our donor community is funding life-changing cancer research at MSK and ensuring a brighter future for people with cancer around the world.
More about funds raised
Donors on a Mission to Fast-Track Cancer Therapies at MSK
Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller know the value of a good investment. That’s why they have their sights set on a new venture: supporting translational cancer research at MSK.
Learn about the new initiative
Luis Diaz’s Vision: Treating Cancer Earlier — Even Before It Develops
Luis Alberto Diaz, Jr. has dedicated his life’s work to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in cancer research — driven by one clear aim.
Meet Dr. Diaz
Justin Perry: A “Card-Carrying Alaskan” Whose Love for Science Took Him on an Unexpected Journey
Immunologist Justin Perry was recently awarded a 2021 National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award for his research. He is also a 2021 Pew Biomedical Scholar.
Meet Dr. Perry
“Beautiful Patterns in Biology”: How SKI’s Dana Pe’er Earned a Top Honor and Advocates for Women Scientists
Dana Pe’er was recently named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator — one of the highest honors in biomedical science. As part of that designation, she will receive approximately $9 million over a seven-year term, with opportunity for renewal.
Meet Dr. Pe’er
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