WVU Cancer Institute

03/24/2026

Something meaningful is happening tomorrow 💛

On March 25, we’ll be celebrating Day of Giving in support of the WVU Cancer Institute — and our feed will be a little busier than usual as we share stories, impact, and opportunities to give.

We invite you to follow along, stay inspired, and consider supporting what matters most to you. From patient resources and groundbreaking research to life-saving treatments and compassionate care, every gift helps move our mission forward.

Thank you for hanging in there with us — and for being part of something bigger.

For more information, visit dayofgiving.wvu.edu/giving-day/110212/department/110227

03/23/2026

Screening for colorectal cancer doesn’t have to be complicated.

There are simple, affordable options — including at-home tests. If results are abnormal, follow-up care like a colonoscopy can help keep you on track.

Talk to your provider today and get screened starting at age 45.

wvucancer.org

03/18/2026

If you're in the Parkersburg area, stop by and take a walk through the Strollin’ Colon! 🩺

The cancer services teams are at Camden Clark Medical Center until 3 p.m. ready to answer your questions and help you learn more about colorectal cancer prevention and screening.

It’s interactive, informative, and could help save a life. Don’t miss this chance to see what a healthy colon looks like and why screening matters!

03/18/2026

Colorectal cancer is on the rise among West Virginians under 50.
If you’re 45 or older, it’s time to talk with your healthcare provider about screening.

Early detection can save lives—and screening options are easier than ever.

wvucancer.org

03/06/2026

Today, WVU Cancer Institute employees are wearing blue in support of Dress in Blue Day and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 💙

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with regular screening, and early detection can save lives. Screening is now recommended starting at age 45 for those at average risk.

By wearing blue, we’re helping spark conversations about prevention, screening, and the importance of knowing your risk.

03/05/2026

We’re proud to see Tina Bhatnagar, DO, of WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital featured by the Network for Collaborative Oncology Development and Advancement (NCODA). 💙

In the interview, Dr. Bhatnagar highlights the importance of bringing high-quality cancer care closer to home for patients across rural West Virginia — so they can receive the treatment they need without traveling far from family and support. We’re grateful for her leadership in expanding access to care across our region.

Listen here 🔗https://bit.ly/4r8WsuL

Rural cancer care in West Virginia: Bhavana (Tina) Bhatnagar, DO discusses access barriers, community clinical trials, and expanding CAR T.

03/05/2026

For more than 40 years, our community has come together at the annual Cancer Gala in support of the WVU Cancer Institute — and this year, as we usher in a new era for the Institute, the gala will transition to Nemacolin, April 17–19.

Thanks to unprecedented interest and the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, the event is nearly at capacity.

If you’re interested in attending, we encourage you to submit a ticket request. Seating confirmations are ongoing, and our team is fulfilling requests on a daily basis, as availability allows.

✨ Other ways to give✨
A highlight of Gala weekend is the Fund the Mission campaign, supporting a priority project identified by Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD, executive chair and director of the WVU Cancer Institute. This year’s goal is $250,000 to fund cold caps across multiple sites — with an incredible match: for every unit system funded, one will be donated by the manufacturer, doubling the impact for patients.

Even if you can’t attend, you can still support Fund the Mission and make a meaningful difference.

Join us as the future of cancer care blossoms and we celebrate a legacy of impact. ✨

Learn more, request tickets, or make a gift: wvucancergala.com

03/04/2026

On the Becker’s Pharmacy Leadership Podcast, Dmitry Walker, PharmD, discussed how expanded oncology and infusion services are bringing advanced cancer care closer to home – reducing long travel times for patients across our region.

From strengthening medication safety to preparing for advanced therapies like CAR T-cell treatment, our teams are committed to delivering the right care, in the right place.

Listen here ➡ https://bit.ly/4cqqR4j

Podcast Episode · Becker's Healthcare - Pharmacy Leadership Podcast · March 2 · 19m

02/27/2026

We’re proud to see our partners at Princeton Community Hospital unveil this meaningful mural in honor of National Cancer Prevention Month. 🎗️

Created in partnership with the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities, this powerful piece represents hope, prevention, and the life-saving impact of early detection. 🦋

Together, we’re working to change the story of cancer in our region — expanding access, strengthening education, and improving outcomes close to home. 💙

02/26/2026

💊 Did you know?

You can turn unused cancer medications into hope for someone else.

Through the West Virginia University Hospitals Drug Repository Program, eligible, unopened medications can be safely donated and redistributed to patients receiving care at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center who may be experiencing a gap in access.

✔️ Unopened, tamper-evident packaging
✔️ No refrigeration required
✔️ Not a controlled substance

Anyone can donate — you don’t have to be a WVU patient. Your unused medication could make a meaningful difference for a neighbor in need.

Learn more ➡ https://bit.ly/4cXb1hw

02/18/2026

Jim Fawley became the very first patient to ring the bell after completing chemotherapy at WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center.

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Congratulations, Jim – we’re so proud to celebrate this milestone with you! 🔔✨

02/17/2026

🌎 First-in-the-world clinical trial reveals positive results 👏

The WVU Cancer Institute is leading the first-ever clinical trial using a subcutaneous formulation of blinatumomab to treat CD19-positive mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) — an ultra-rare and aggressive leukemia with historically limited options.

In an unprecedented milestone, the first patient treated in this trial achieved complete remission with full hematologic recovery, transfusion independence, and no detectable Philadelphia chromosome after just one cycle of therapy.

“This achievement underscores that transformative cancer innovation is not confined to large institutions,” Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD said. “It’s happening here in West Virginia, and it’s reaching patients who need it most.”

Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) accounts for just 1–3% of acute leukemia diagnoses — and adults often face survival measured in months. There is no FDA-approved, disease-specific therapy.

For patients who have faced an extraordinary therapeutic void, this trial represents new hope, expanded access to innovation, and the possibility of redefining the standard of care.

Breakthroughs happen when research meets compassion. 💙💛

Learn more ➡

A WVU Cancer Institute team has achieved a global medical first in a clinical trial examining the efficacy of subcutaneous blinatumomab in treating one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of leukemia.