The annual HCCC Scientific Retreat was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center in Coralville, Iowa. At this event, students, postdocs, fellows, residents, faculty, and clinicians gathered to hear and discuss the latest updates in cancer research at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC). At this event, post-baccalaureate fellow, Bogdan Buzdugan, gave an oral presentation titled “Differential Redox Landscape in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and Adult Glioblastoma (GBM) Reveals Targetable Therapeutic Vulnerabilities” Congratulations to Bo for being one of eight scientists chosen to present at this event! In addition, Dr. Katie Spitler gave a poster presentation titled "Disrupting intracellular redox homeostasis through repurposing Auranofin and Cu-ATSM to induce diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma cell death" & did a great job during the interactive poster session.

The Howard Lab came out in full force for this year's American Cancer Society Relay for Life, with every member of the lab taking part. Some ran, some walked, but all showed up to support cancer survivors and raising money for cancer research. This year, the relay raised over $17,000 for the American Cancer Society.

A University of Iowa researcher is leading efforts to develop new treatments for a rare and extremely aggressive pediatric brain cancer. “The pediatric patients I have had the privilege of helping treat have had a profound impact on me, both in my training and in my current clinical position, as these patients are incredibly resilient in the midst of a scary time,” says Michelle Howard, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology. Howard and her team are leading efforts to develop treatments for DIPG, a pediatric cancer with a median five-year survival rate of only 2%.

The Howard Lab joined the department's yearly Holiday Gingerbread Competition with a Grinch-inspired gingerbread house to bring a little Whoville magic to the lab. It was a fun way to celebrate the season together (and yes, we took it very seriously).

Bri O'Leary, PhD spent 1.5 years with the Howard Lab leading the development of crucial DIPG models used for testing new drugs, assisting in new techniques and assays, and mentoring students. She will starting a new position in industry. Best of luck Bri!

Rana Rheem completed her Post-Baccalaureate fellowship in the Howard Lab this July. Rana spent two years as an undergraduate researcher prior to staying on as an ICARE Post-Bac. Her contributions to the lab were many, including a submitted first author publication this year. She will be taking a gap year as she prepares for medical school!

Undergraduate Research Fellow, Claire Graham, started in the Howard lab as a freshman and first undergraduate student. During her four years in the lab, Claire contributed to many projects, co-authored two publications, decorated the lab, and continued to make us laugh during lab meetings. She graduates with her BS in Biomedical Engineering. We are incredibly proud that she will be continuing her education as a predoctoral student in Biomedical Engineering and Physiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (where Dr. Howard also earned her PhD!).