IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

09/09/2025

As a college student, John J. Turchi, PhD, didn't picture himself in science—he pictured himself on the lacrosse field. But a conversation with a teammate changed everything, sparking a passion for biochemistry that set him on a new path.

Today, Dr. Turchi is the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Research at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Indiana University School of Medicine. His work focuses on making DNA-damaging therapies more effective against lung cancer while mentoring the next generation of researchers.

Read more about his journey and research: https://ow.ly/gRvX50WIhTy.

09/08/2025

September is Month. Take charge of your health by checking your PSA levels.

Prostate cancer often shows no symptoms until it’s advanced, but early detection through a simple PSA blood test can make all the difference. Don't wait—talk to your doctor. Your health is worth the conversation.

Learn more about prostate cancer prevention, signs, screening guidelines, and the latest research: https://ow.ly/hrO650WIPxi.

09/04/2025

Our inaugural Outpacing Prostate Cancer event brought together more than 200 prostate cancer survivors, caregivers, and supporters for brunch, an educational program, and a celebratory 1.2-mile walk along the downtown canal.

While prostate cancer is sometimes thought of as low risk, many men face aggressive forms that require urgent, innovative care. Awareness is key, and so is action. Led by Nabil Adra, MD, our multidisciplinary group is committed to delivering world-class treatment and driving forward new discoveries through clinical trials, including opportunities not yet available anywhere else.

Cancer care is about more than technology and treatments. It's about people, their stories, and the hope we create together. And together, we are truly pacing the path to hope.

09/02/2025

If your idea of “portable” meant a boombox and a strong shoulder, it’s time to turn up the volume on your health.

Talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screening starting at 50—or earlier if you’re at higher risk.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/ojGy50VZamv.

08/29/2025

A standout collaboration is giving Deaf high school students from the Indiana School for the Deaf the chance to explore careers in science and medicine.

The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center was selected as one of only five cancer centers nationwide to host the Future Deaf Scientists Program. Students shadowed researchers in hematology/oncology, surgery and radiation, and connected with Deaf scientists and clinicians from across the country.

Led by Indiana Surgery - Indiana Univ School of Medicine faculty and the cancer center's Hari Nakshatri, PhD, this program expands access to research and career pathways for students traditionally underrepresented in healthcare fields.

Read more about the program here: https://ow.ly/xsje50WN1PF.

Thanks to a collaboration between Indiana University, the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Surgery among others, students from the Indiana School for the Deaf are gaining hands-on experience in exploring various career in medicine and science. 

08/27/2025

When Francesca C. Duncan, MD, was just 7 years old, she knew she wanted to be a doctor. Inspired by her pediatrician's compassion and encouraged by her hometown community, she pursued a path that led her to Indiana University School of Medicine and a career as a physician-scientist at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Today, Dr. Duncan is dedicated to breaking down barriers in lung cancer screening and improving access to care for patients in underserved communities.

Read more about Dr. Duncan's journey and impact: https://ow.ly/u0Gj50WIfFH

08/26/2025

There are many factors that can influence the choices people with cancer and their oncologists make. Patients’ personal values and goals are important factors that are often overlooked or not taken into account during cancer care. Consequently, patients may receive treatment or care that is not consistent with what is important to them. This can lead to worse outcomes and regret.

Please join communication researcher Ann Cottingham and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center blood cancer specialist Larry Cripe, MD, in a discussion about the importance of personal goals and the challenges we all face in identifying our important goals and then discussing them with the cancer care team. Building off their work with patients and caregivers to develop the "Patient Goal Activity,” they will discuss the importance of patient goals in cancer care and share strategies you can use to think about and discuss what matters the most to you.

08/25/2025

Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform how we detect and treat cancer—but how do we know if it’s working in the real world?

An Indiana University School of Medicine–led study, with contributions from dozens of international scientists, offers a new model to evaluate AI in global settings. The team explored how AI can identify the boundaries of glioblastoma, the deadliest brain tumor, and discussed the best path forward to ensure accuracy and protect patient privacy.

The research studied federated learning—a way of training AI models across institutions without sharing patient data.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/vyfK50WHJe5.

08/20/2025

More than 1,800 fairgoers stopped by our booth at the Indiana State Fair to learn about our Race to Beat Cancer early detection and prevention education campaign.

We loved seeing fairgoers of all ages getting curious about health, sharing their story by pinning it to our giant Indiana map, creating a message on cloth patches that will become part of a quilt patchwork of stories, and walking away with helpful resources and a little swag.

Thank you for showing up with curiosity and heart. We are proud to be in the race with you.

08/19/2025

This month's Simon Says Expert Series session—Talking about what matters most: Strategies for effective conversations with your care team—will be at 12 p.m. ET Tuesday, August 26. Submit your questions and register now: https://ow.ly/Iu9950WanBt.

There are many factors that can influence the choices people with cancer and their oncologists make. Patients’ personal values and goals are important factors that are often overlooked or not taken into account during cancer care. Consequently, patients may receive treatment or care that is not consistent with what is important to them. This can lead to worse outcomes and regret.

Please join communication researcher Ann Cottingham and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center blood cancer specialist Larry Cripe, MD, in a discussion about the importance of personal goals and the challenges we all face in identifying our important goals and then discussing them with the cancer care team. Building off their work with patients and caregivers to develop the "Patient Goal Activity,” they will discuss the importance of patient goals in cancer care and share strategies you can use to think about and discuss what matters the most to you.

08/18/2025

Congratulations to the cancer center's Bryan P. Schneider, MD, for being named the inaugural associate dean for clinical trials at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

In this role, Dr. Schneider will coordinate with IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU-LAB) leadership to serve as the IU School of Medicine lead for Eli Lilly and Co.-sponsored clinical trials, function as a central liaison with the Clinical Trials Office at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and work to monitor key performance indicators essential to enhancing the school’s clinical trial enterprise.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/7TyP50WFmKa.

08/07/2025

A newly discovered immune cell could change how we treat one of the most aggressive forms of blood cancer.

Researchers at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Indiana University School of Medicine have identified a previously unrecognized immune cell tied to acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—a fast-moving blood cancer that is the sixth-leading cause of cancer-related death in adults.

This finding could pave way for therapies that are more effective and less likely to fail, offering new hope to patients facing treatment-resistant AML.

Learn how this discovery may improve survival rates for people with blood cancers: https://ow.ly/TjZB50Wtyt1.