UGA will host “Connecting Point,” the 2009 Georgia Cancer Coalition Research Symposium on Nov. 5 and 6 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. The event showcases recent research findings, honors outstanding investigators and gives researchers from across the state a chance to exchange ideas on the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. This is the first year the symposium has been held at UGA.
“The symposium facilitates networking and collaboration between researchers, educators and leaders in business and government,” said Dr. Amy Moore, manager of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s research programs. “It helps us to define the next steps in our collective efforts to fight cancer.”
Moore will recognize 15 newly named GCC Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists (also known as Distinguished Cancer Scholars), including four at UGA. They received GCC awards ranging from $250,000 to $750,000 over a period of five years to support their research.
Eight UGA Distinguished Cancer Scholars will make presentations at the symposium: Kevin Dobbin, assistant professor of biostatistics, College of Public Health; Natarajan Kannan, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and Institute of Bioinformatics; Mandi Murph, assistant professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, College of Pharmacy; Claire Robb, assistant professor of epidemiology, College of Public Health; John Vena, UGA Foundation Professor and head of epidemiology and biostatistics, College of Public Health; Dr. Jia-Sheng Wang, professor and head of environmental health science, College of Public Health; Lianchun Wang, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; and Jason Zastre, assistant professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, College of Pharmacy. Four of the researchers-Dobbin, Kannan, Murph and Jia-Sheng Wang-will be recognized as new Distinguished Cancer Scholars.
“My hope is that UGA Cancer Center researchers, including many students and postdoctoral scientists, will develop collaborations that will lead to new projects and funding,” said Michael Pierce, Mudter Professor in Cancer Research and director of the UGA Cancer Center. “Despite all our advances, we have a long way to go.”
Registration is due by Oct. 30. The cost is $50 for regular attendees and $25 for students. For more information or to register, call (706) 542-2134 , or visit
www.georgiacancer.org/res-symp-mission_2009.php.