By Blake Belden

Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao, Ph.D., looked across a crowded conference room in late August. He applauded VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s five decades of positive impact on cancer outcomes and disparities in the commonwealth and beyond.

“This is our 50th year; it really is the 50th year of an enormous amount of energy,” Rao said. “But the greatest part of this story is not really where we’ve been or where we’ve come from, but where we’re headed.”

The remarks were part of a meeting with U.S. representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who recently visited Massey to meet with senior cancer center leadership and community advocates, as well as to take a brief tour of the facility.

“You all have a tremendous team; this partnership is a two-way street,” Spanberger said, thanking everyone in attendance for the opportunity to learn more about the scientific research and outreach efforts at Massey.

What does it mean to be a Comprehensive Cancer Center?

Last year, Massey was designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the nation’s principal authority on cancer research and training. Massey’s receipt of the highest level of recognition from the NCI places it among an elite group of cancer centers influencing a new standard of care through research, education and community engagement.

Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey, discussed how the cancer center serves as a national model for research, education and medicine by leading collaborations through large team science grants and launching community-based initiatives to reduce cancer disparities in the state and beyond. 

“We are not just following, but we are trying to live boldly through the ethos established by Dr. Walter Lawrence, Jr. [Massey’s founding director], and we are truly making a difference,” Winn said.

Winn mentioned how routinely partnering with UVA Cancer Center, the only other NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state, helps amplify and further the two cancer centers’ unified mission.

“One team, one fight, and that is to make sure we reduce the burden of cancer for all Virginians,” Winn said.

Katherine Y. Tossas, Ph.D., M.S., director of Catchment Area Data Analytics and interim co-director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Massey gave remarks related to the cancer burden specific to Massey’s catchment area and how data can pave the way for real-world solutions. Said Sebti, Ph.D., associate director for basic research at Massey, gave an overview of the cancer center’s Molecules to Medicine program, an initiative that fosters multidisciplinary scientific and clinical efforts to discover and develop new, approved drugs in-house to treat cancer patients. Andrew Poklepovic, M.D., associate director for clinical research at Massey, explained how clinical trials are offering patients today the first-in-class treatment options of tomorrow.