Mark DiOrio (2) Left: panelists (L to R) Geoff Holm, Gregg Fine ’94, Carin Rollins ’94, Wayne Feinstein ’74, and Tom White P’17. Above: Holm speaks with an attendee.
Discussing cancer immunotherapy Colgate community members are at the forefront of cancer research, both on the medical and development sides of the field. On November 14, Colgate Professional Networks hosted a panel conversation on cancer immunotherapy in San Francisco. The discussion, moderated by associate biology professor Geoff Holm, focused on the progress being made in immuno-oncology, as well as issues of access, affordability, and ethics. Gregg Fine ’94, senior medical director at Genentech, opened the talk by explaining that the goal of immunotherapy is to harness the power of the immune system to treat cancer. “Our bodies have checkpoints to keep our immune system working properly, but cancer cells can coopt these mechanisms to fight off the immune system,” Fine said. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block the checkpoint pathways and essentially release the brakes of the immune system, allowing it to attack cancer cells. In and around the field of oncology, there is a “hope vs. hype” debate over the value of immunotherapeutic research. Those on the “hope” side believe that the potential of immunotherapeutic drugs makes the cost worthwhile, but skeptics believe that the hype distracts researchers and investors from other potentially successful therapies. “Immuno-oncology is the next big wave in cancer research,” said Carin Rollins ’94, the CEO of Hinge Bio. “It has huge, untapped potential, beyond the amazing good that it’s doing already.” One of the issues that causes skepticism is the scarcity of funding. Wayne Feinstein ’74, senior vice president of Capital Group’s Private Client Services and founder of the Gastric Cancer Foundation, noted that federal budget constraints make research difficult. Tom White P’17 emphasized the importance of venture capital groups investing in researchers and forming foundations to fund them. “If not for small, focused research foundations, there would be a lot of top scientists who couldn’t find enough funding to begin to do their work,” he said. The panel discussion was live streamed for students in the National Institutes of Health Study Group and the Colgate community worldwide. Watch it at colgate.edu/ immunotherapy.
“ Immuno-oncology is the next big wave in cancer research. It has huge, untapped potential, beyond the amazing good that it’s doing already.” — Carin Rollins ’94
It’s time to get in-tents Take a vacation with thousands of fellow Colgate University alumni — join us under the tents for Reunion 2017, June 1–4. You’ll see familiar faces and experience traditional events like your class banquet, tent entertainment, Reunion College, our welcome-back lunch and barbecue dinner, the Alumni Awards ceremony, Torchlight parade, and fireworks. Registration is now open! Visit colgate.edu/reunion to choose your favorite reunion package, designed to meet your travel needs, and we’ll see you on Whitnall Field.
REUNION 2017 JUNE 1—4
L.A. story It happened on Sunday, October 23, at Book Soup, a wellknown independent bookstore on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. A series of Colgate authors read excerpts from their recent publications: Pulitzer Prize–winning author and Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik ’73 from his new book, Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention that Launched the Military-Industrial Complex; Kevin Glynn ’76 from his novel, Tyrannosaurus Sex; Chris Edwards ’91 from BALLS, It Takes Some to Get Some (see pg. 30); and Mary Anna King ’04 from Bastards: A Memoir. Sponsored by the Colgate Entertainment Group, the event further established the fact that “the Maroon Mafia” is thriving in Hollywood — with its own unique voice.
2017 Alumni Council Nominees
The Alumni Council, upon recommendation of its nominating committee, has approved the following slate of alumni for election at Reunion 2017. The candidates, chosen from approximately 300 alumni, have strong records of varied Colgate volunteer service, a consistent history of giving financial support to Colgate, and meaningful personal or professional accomplishments or contributions to the greater community. Complete information about the election and challenge petition process, as well as full biographies of the nominees, are posted at colgate. edu/2017candidates. Paper copies are available by calling 315-228-7433, or by sending an e-mail to alumni@colgate.edu.
Era I: Bernard S. Siegel ’53 Era II: Timothy A. O'Neill ’78 Era III: Jon D. Tiktinsky ’82 Era IV: Karl W. Clauss ’90 Era V: Becky Bye ’02 Era VI: Shevorne O. Martin ’08 Era VII: Ian J. Murphy ’10
At-Large: Debra S. LoCastro ’05 At-Large: Robert Austrian ’85
L to R: Chris Edwards '91, Mary Anna King '04, and Michael Hiltzik '73 at Book Soup in Los Angeles News and views for the Colgate community
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