VCU Massey 2025 Annual Report by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

MASSEY V I R G I N I A C O M M O N W E A LT H U N I V E R S I T Y

COMP RE H E N SI V E CANCE R CE N TE R 2025 Annual Report

UNcharted Territory Massey leads local, regional and national impact across an ever-changing cancer landscape

A LOOK INSIDE

Rain Spann (left), who designed the “Restoring Tomorrow” panel of the Brushstrokes of Discovery mural, painting with a community member.

FROM THE LEADERS

BY THE NUMBERS

LOCAL REACH

STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS

NATIONAL IMPACT

RESEARCH REPORT

LEADERSHIP

FACULTY RECRUITS

ENDOWMENTS

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Since its founding, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has been committed to advancing knowledge and improving the lives of its students and the world. At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, that mission is grounded in an important and powerful commitment: to reduce the burden of cancer for all people. Ultimately, our goal is to eradicate the disease.

FROM THE LEADERS

Michael Rao, Ph.D. President, VCU

Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, FACS CEO, VCU Health

This past year has been one of meaningful progress toward this goal, marked by scientific discovery, expanded access to care and a deepened focus on community-driven collaborations across the commonwealth and nation. Our researchers continue to push the boundaries of innovation, translating laboratory breakthroughs into life-saving therapies and clinical trials that offer new

The past year has been one of transformative growth for VCU Massey. Amidst an ever-changing national landscape, we are most proud of Massey’s ability to remain agile and resilient in times of uncertainty. When faced with change and transition, we have collectively deepened our commitment to the community across all aspects of the center, including patient care, outreach and engagement, research, and education and training. For our patients, we continue to advance a model of care that is not only innovative, but also compassionate, coordinated and accessible. From leading-edge clinical trials to whole-person support services that reach the most rural corners of Virginia, we are focused on delivering care that meets individuals where they are. Our partnerships within the community remain central to who we are. We recognize that meaningful progress cannot happen in isolation. By working alongside community leaders, organizations and residents, we are building trust and co-creating solutions that reflect the lived experiences of those we serve.

Equally important is our role as a national advocate for cancer progress and the vital lifeline federal funding provides to the entire research ecosystem. In the last three decades, the cancer death rate has decreased by more than 34% and that’s due to the innovative and tireless work of our researchers, clinicians, community advocates and so many more. Massey remains committed to shaping a future where every patient is able to benefit from life-saving advancements across the cancer continuum. This report reflects the collective efforts of our teams, partners and supporters who make this work possible as well as a new era for VCU Massey— marked by the addition of visionary leaders, a newly developed strategic plan, and an ongoing commitment toward advancing care, strengthening communities and championing the work that bring us closer to improved cancer outcomes for all—without exception.

Why Massey? In 2025, Massey welcomed new leaders who will help the center chart a new path of excellence. Our recent additions share what brought them to Massey, and what lies ahead. Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR Director, VCU Massey

Robert A. Winn, M.D. Former Director, VCU Massey

Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR Director, VCU Massey “Massey is leading the nation in putting the community at the center of research, treatment and survivorship in order to eliminate disparities and save more lives. I am thrilled to bring my research to VCU and join the team.”

David Nalepinski, MS Vice President, Cancer Service Line “I am inspired everyday by what we do in health care and honored to be a part of VCU Massey and the VCU Health System. I look forward to growing with the service line team and becoming a trusted resource.” Evano Piasentin, M.B.A. Executive Director, Operations “VCU Massey is known for driving meaningful change in its catchment area and beyond. I’m honored to be part of that mission and to contribute administrative strategy and operational efficiency during a period of strong growth and momentum that is expanding Massey’s impact in research, clinical care and community engagement.”

hope to patients and families of all backgrounds. We have continued to fortify our commitment to improving health outcomes, patient-centered care, and innovative, groundbreaking research. These achievements are made possible by the dedication of our physicians, scientists, staff and supporters. Their collaboration drives our success every day. The research being done at VCU and Massey matters, and we are seeing the tangible results of that work throughout our communities. As you read this report, we invite you to reflect on the impact of our shared work and the tremendous promise that lies ahead. With continued partnership and purpose, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a world without cancer.

Kim Rhoads, M.D., MPH Associate Director, Community Outreach & Engagement “I am extremely excited to bring what I have learned from countless community partners, university staff and academic colleagues over the past 15 years about the science of community engagement, to VCU Massey.” Venkata Battula, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Cancer Research Training & Education “This position gives me an opportunity to impact the next generation of students at Massey, and that’s what I’m looking forward to most.” Dimple Patel, Ph.D. Associate Director, Innovation, Leadership, and Professional Development “This opportunity was particularly interesting to me because of how Massey is putting resources toward the development of future leaders within its own walls and across other cancer centers.” 03

FY25: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 unless noted otherwise

BY THE NUMBERS

ECONOMIC IMPACT (FY23-24 DATA)

OPERATING BUDGET

$76,663,031 Philanthropy 28%

Institutional Support 16.5%

$9.2B

Chargebacks 10%

State Support 29.5%

Other Sponsored Research 12%

Full + part-time employees

Other 3% Chargebacks 10%

Recruitment & Retention 14%

Bone Marrow Transplants

CAR-T Therapies

Surgical Procedures

4,043

Radiation Therapy Treatments

24,646

RESEARCH (AS OF 7/1/25)

NCI

Other NIH

Other Peer-reviewed

$40.4M $28M $6.1M $6.3M RESEARCH MEMBERSHIP

147

Cancer Biology

Non-aligned

Developmental Therapeutics

Community Outreach & Engagement 2%

EXPENSES

Research Development 9%

Clinical Trials Office 13%

Administration 21%

Philanthropy 4% Women & Wellness attendees team up against women’s cancers.

Local artist Silly Genius, a patient and a participant in VCU Massey Brushstrokes of Discovery art project.

OUTREACH EVENTS

Localities and Cities

Total Attendance

1:1 Interactions

CANCER CHAMPS

Newly Trained

Partnered with Massey scientists on

research activities

22,409

PHILANTHROPY

140 30

Cancer Prevention & Control

Education 2%

Patients travelled from states to receive care at VCU Massey

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Shared Resources 6%

Other Sponsored Research 12% CCSG 4%

Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) 4%

HEALTH SYSTEM

14,640

Chemotherapy Treatments

20,646 33,796 143 PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH FUNDING

REVENUE

VCU TOTAL IMPACT

TOTAL CANCER PATIENTS

Paula Bos, Ph.D., leads Massey’s Cancer Biology research program.

JOBS SUPPORTED

95,707

PATIENT CARE

TOTAL GIFTS

$23,701,916

140 34

Special Purpose Funds

Unrestricted Funds*

$10,334,420

$13,367,796

Cancer Champs participated in

Signature Events (Deferred)

Estate Giving

$529,810

$9,632,507

outreach activities

* Included in Unrestricted/ Special Purpose Fund totals

5,048

380

177

Comprehensive care delivered across ONE VCU Across its VCU Health campus, Massey leads cross-team collaborations to increase access, awareness and improve patient-centered care. Comprehensive is not just a recent addition to Massey’s title. It is a commitment; a way of operating across ONE VCU: delivering patient-first care that continues to set the bar for communitydriven cancer care locally and across the country. For Samantha “Sam” Edall, Greg Leitz, and Michael Stigall, their cancer journeys took many paths, including those well beyond just treatment of their disease.

Left to right: Kandace McGuire, M.D., Samantha “Sam” Edall, David Chuquin, M.D., and Hetal Vachhani, M.D.

A day after learning that she had breast cancer, Sam found out her heart was functioning at 30% of normal – she was in heart failure.

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Those two calls came six months after she gave birth to her first child, Lucy. The complex birth nearly killed her, resulting in a five week long hospital stay. Unsure of how much more her body could handle, Sam knew she needed a medical team who could seamlessly take care of both the cancer and her heart. While seeking outside opinions for her care, Sam described her experience as disjointed.“ You would meet with the oncologist and then the radiation oncologist, but it just never felt like they were in communication.” What she didn’t know at the time was that the cardio-oncology program at Massey offers the state’s most advanced multidisciplinary care. Because of that program, her cardiologist recommended Massey and the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. “At VCU, it definitely felt like it was all together in one place and that they were talking. So, it was a big difference in comparison to the other places that I had gone to,” Sam said.

Massey’s patient-centered approach brings together doctors from across specialties to create a tailored care plan—from cancer treatment, surgery, mental health, and nutrition—to deliver comprehensive and holistic treatment for a single patient. “It was almost like a boot camp where you meet all of your doctors, back-to-backto-back in one five-hour appointment, essentially,” she explained. “It was so nice to see what my treatment would look like from the very beginning to the end, all the way through plastic surgery.”

LOCAL REACH

Grounded in Massey’s innovative community-to-bench model, the center’s deep-rooted, patient-first approach empowers families and caregivers, community members, and students and trainees to be active participants in our work.

From her initial diagnosis in 2023 to her final breast reconstruction in 2025, Sam has recommitted to living life every day, no matter the obstacle. The avid traveller is back to visiting tropical locales like Costa Rica and Hawaii with her husband, Patrick, and her young daughter Lucy.

In a single day, Sam met with her entire care team including Kandace McGuire, M.D., the chief of breast surgery and the interim senior vice president of Massey’s Cancer Service Line, Hetal Vachhani, M.D., a hematologist oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and David Chuquin, M.D., a cardio-oncologist at Pauley. While it was intense, she says it was also reassuring.

It was so nice to see what my treatment would look like from the very beginning to the end, all the way through plastic surgery.

Sam Edall 07

Greg was introduced to Reverend Charles Riffee, M.Div. “I called Massey to try to get in touch with [Chaplain] Charles, and the nice lady that answered the phone, she’s just so joyous. And she said, ‘I’ll reach out to him.’ And by the time I turned to walk back in the building, my phone was ringing, and it was Charles.” For “Chaplain Charles,” as he is affectionately known, the connection was effortless. “We talked for an hour and a half,” Riffee recalled about their initial conversation. “We had shared experiences, even though they were different. From a chaplaincy standpoint, I think that Greg knew that I was being authentic. When I say, ‘I want to make time,’ I’m going to make time because emotions can be very hard for people going through a difficult time.”

Greg Leitz at the Spotsylvania County Fire Department

Being able to open up about the wide-range of emotions he was experiencing was liberating for Greg.“ I hid it so well from my friends and family. Some of my best friends teared up when I told them about what I was going through. But Charles has just been incredible.”

For Greg Leitz, a chaplain in the Spotsylvania County Fire Department, the journey during his fight with Gleason 9 prostate cancer did not always center on the physical treatments to eradicate his cancer—Greg also endured a mental burden, too.

“We’ve been able to talk during those times about how this experience, as hard as it’s been, can now inform how he wishes to care for people moving forward,” Riffee says. “And Greg’s doing that. And it’s a beautiful thing.”

Greg initially tried to put on a brave face to his friends and family but began feeling increasingly isolated in his journey. “I had a lot of anxiety built up within me, and things just kind of came to a head. So I decided to reach out.”

Today, Greg serves as a cancer advocate with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and has found that balance in his life again, returning to the things he loves—firefighting, enjoying the outdoors, and making time with his family.

Massey unveils new cancer technology to the community Twelve of Virginia’s 21 most rural counties are within Massey’s catchment area, where many people face geographic barriers that can make accessing care and screenings more difficult. Through its mission to make cutting-edge care more accessible, Massey unveiled southern Virginia’s only radiation therapy machine in the spring of 2025 at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in South Hill, doubling down on a commitment to bring advanced treatment options to rural communities. Members from the Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team attended the CMH ribbon-cutting ceremony in South Hill. The nonprofit provides financial support for cancer patients in active treatment.

In August, a crowd of doctors, nurses, patients and loved ones cheered for Michael Stigall as he cradled his ukulele in his arm and bowed. But this was not your typical recital. Michael had just completed a 27-day hospital stay after undergoing a bone marrow transplant at Massey. Before walking out the door, he performed a song he wrote for a group of loved ones, clinicians and law enforcement officers who were right by his side throughout treatment.

LOCAL REACH

While Massey helped provide both the life-saving cancer treatments and temporary lodging at The Doorways to minimize his daily commute to treatment, Greg also took advantage of the chaplaincy program to strengthen his mental well-being.

“All the nurses and doctors here have been unbelievable. They have just touched my life, and we’ve built a great friendship and love for each other because they take care of you,” he said. “I can’t thank this hospital enough for saving my life.” An urgent care visit the previous year led to a trip to Massey, where his diagnosis turned out to be leukemia in his bone marrow. Michael underwent a series of blood transfusions followed by multiple rounds of chemotherapy before he was admitted for a bone marrow transplant. After a successful transplant, Michael took residence in an inpatient bed at Massey for the next four weeks. Within the first couple of days, Stigall began to write a song about his journey. His 1963 Martin ukulele served as his constant companion throughout his stay. Stigall shaped his folksy tune “My DNA,” about his diagnosis, treatment and the people who helped save his life.

This is just a phase of life No matter how hard the task Within days, we will be well again So stay the course and live

Timothy J. Wallace, M.D., Ph.D., who leads radiation oncology at CMH, added, “patients do not have to sacrifice travel time for care. The same level of cancer-treating technology and care exists in South Hill as it does in Richmond.” Wallace, who earned his PhD and MD from VCU, specializes in external beam irradiation, with a clinical research focus on increasing access to care for underserved rural communities. Massey’s partnership with and presence in South Hill is just one example of how the Center is working to overcome geographic challenges, so that only the most complex or serious cases require the longer trip to Richmond.

Stigall performs the song he wrote on ukulele about his diagnosis, treatment and the people who helped save his life.

Michael also invited officers from VCU Police to be present for his performance. Sgt. Shola Kayode had previously escorted Michael’s wife Patricia to Massey after she was dropped off at an incorrect address nearly two miles away, a gesture that eased Patricia’s anxiety in a time of distress while she was trying to visit her husband in the hospital. Days later, five VCU Police officers visited the Stigalls at Massey. That relationship extended to the end of Stigall’s stay, too, where VCU Police provided a courtesy escort off of the medical campus after he was officially discharged. Read Sam, Greg and Michael’s stories

PROSTATE CANCER

BREAST CANCER

SKIN CANCER

Massey continues to position itself on the leading edge of prostate cancer detection and treatment, launching transperineal biopsies, an innovative outpatient diagnostic procedure for prostate cancer patients, and becoming the first site in the state to offer high-intensity focused ultrasound, a noninvasive robotic treatment that targets cancerous tissue, without surgery or radiation.

In 2025, Massey implemented a new minimally invasive technology—bioimpedance spectroscopy—to help detect lymphedema in its earliest stages, redefining treatment, recovery and survivorship for patients with breast cancer.

Massey became the first and only authorized treatment center in Virginia to deliver tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in 2025. This personalized therapy harnesses a patient’s own tumor tissues to produce billions of individualized immune cells, which are used to target advanced stage melanoma. 09

For decades, Massey has shared new scientific discoveries with the community, integrating local input into everything it does. In 2025, the Center marked five years since the Research Retreat was renamed the Walter Lawrence, Jr., M.D., Research Retreat, honoring the center’s inaugural director. Lawrence, one of the founding fathers of surgical oncology, laid the foundation for Massey’s mission of excellence in cancer care, research and education, and secured the center’s initial designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1975.

The retreat serves as a premier example of Massey’s community-to-bench research model, demonstrating how a scientific summit can enhance collaboration across disciplines and serve as a community-building event. Hundreds of attendees each year hear from prominent national figureheads in the field, including Pulitzer Prize winner Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., and past AACR president Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D. The keynote lecture is named in honor of Frank Deekens Pendleton, a Virginia native who bequeathed his life savings to cancer research at Massey.

COMMUNITY CHANGE MAKER: LOCAL

Watch the 2025 recap video

Becky Massey Becky Massey, a 2025 honoree at the “Women Who Drive Richmond” gala, has been at the heart of VCU Massey for over three decades. Today, Becky is living proof of the power of science, celebrating 10-years cancer free. You’ll often see Becky around campus or at Massey, serving as a beacon of hope for all patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis.

Reflecting Massey’s commitment to educating the next generation of cancer scientists, over 500 students have been invited to present their science at the event through oral and poster presentations over the past five years. By bringing together researchers, clinicians, trainees and community members, Massey demonstrates an unrelenting commitment to science that begins and ends with the people it serves.

Rooted in community empowerment

The “In Cancer Care, Food is Medicine” program is transforming oncology care by screening for food insecurity and connecting patients to both immediate and long-term food resources. Eligible patients receive food boxes and fresh produce vouchers redeemable at local farmers markets through partnerships with Feed More and Shalom Farms. Supported by a three-year McKesson Foundation grant, the program has reached nearly 800 patients and distributed over 1,485 food boxes. The program also incorporates nutrition education to equip patients with practical tools to prioritize and sustain healthy eating. Seven nutrition education and cooking demonstration cohorts have been completed. Additional community collaborations have reduced barriers to quality food, including a holiday initiative with The Underground Kitchen which provided 60 Thanksgiving produce boxes and 100 Christmas meals to Massey patients undergoing active treatment living in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover.

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Massey is an unbelievable resource for our community, our state and our nation.

Hundreds gather at the 30th Women & Wellness luncheon in Richmond, VA.

Since launching the Seed to Harvest Community Grant series in 2021, Massey has provided 24 community grants, totaling $195,000 in funding to local partners to support community-based programming. To date, funded partners have reached more than 48,000 individuals across the commonwealth. The Seed to Harvest initiative promotes community partnerships across three funding levels: Seed, Cultivate and Harvest. In 2025, Vance Street Missionary Baptist Church became the first community partner to complete both Seed and Cultivate awards. By partnering with regional health collaboratives, parks and recreation departments, local elected leaders, and neighboring churches across both cycles, the church has engaged more than 1,000 community members through awareness, prevention and screening events, while also moving more than 230 individuals to action through their weekly group exercise sessions.

LOCAL REACH

Celebrating the Lawrence legacy

Massey also tapped into Richmond’s vibrant arts scene to help spread the word on the importance of cancer research through Brushstrokes of Discovery. Supported by a grant offered by the VCU Division of Community Engagement, Massey researchers recruited three local artists to create a mural displaying different phases of the cancer research process: Facing Cancer, Science at Work, and Restoring Tomorrow. These panels each represented the molecular structure of cancer, researchers studying tumor tissue samples, and a vision of the future with continued cancer research. The mural was painted at a local farmers market where researchers, staff and community members were invited to contribute their own brushstrokes.

Women & Wellness celebrates 30 years Over the past three decades, Massey’s Women and Wellness initiative, which began as a network of cancer survivors seeking to face the challenges of cancer treatment, has evolved into a long-standing tradition of empowering people in the fight against women’s cancers. Each year, the Women and Wellness luncheon brings together hundreds of survivors, supporters and advocates to share the latest cancer education, prevention and screening resources to combat women’s cancers. The luncheon attracts more than 400 supporters each year and features nationally-recognized cancer survivors— including authors, athletes and actors—who share personal experiences and inspiring stories of survival.

Becky Massey

Advocate, Survivor and Past Advisory Board Chair

Becky Massey (right) pictured with Robert A. Winn, M.D.

A powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the community, Women and Wellness has raised more than $5 million over the past 30 years for advancements in women’s cancers through research, clinical trials and preventative education, moving us closer to a future without the burdens of cancer. 11

Through conscious collaborations and intentional partnerships, Massey is ensuring critical research efforts, training opportunities and life-saving patient care extend well beyond Richmond city limits.

The medicines, surgical procedures and therapies we rely on to treat cancer all exist because they were initially proven effective through clinical trials. At Massey, patients can benefit from one of the largest selections of clinical trials in Virginia, serving as the critical link between scientific discovery and patient care. Yet, these cutting-edge advancements are only beneficial to those who can access them. To meet this need, Massey continues to expand its clinical trials network to include 11 affiliates and satellite sites across the state.

Bridging the cancer care gap for rural communities

In rural areas, where cancer rates are generally higher than in urban parts of the state, improving patient outcomes requires more than just medical innovation. Through its NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), Massey partners with community sites across the commonwealth to offer trials closer to home. By bringing pioneering treatment options and the latest research discoveries directly to the community, Massey is reducing the travel time for patients to receive the latest evidence-based treatment options.

Massey expands statewide partnerships to offer clinical trials closer to home.

Massey’s mobile vans connect Virginians with vital cancer education, screening services and critical information about clinical trials.

Vikrant Brar, M.D., a hematologistoncologist based in Tappahannock who is a participating provider in this trial, remains committed to expanding access to care and offering the newest therapies directly to the community. “Access to research and specialized care shouldn’t depend on where you live,” Brar said. “This effort brings the promise of tomorrow’s treatments to our patients today.” Keri Maher, DO, a hematologistoncologist, was appointed as the medical director of the center’s Clinical Trials Office in 2025. As one of 250 clinical investigators from across the country who has received a Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Career Development Award*, part of the broader Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Program, Maher has always aligned with Massey’s commitment to making clinical trials more accessible. She leads her own investigator-initiated trial at Massey studying maintenance therapies that could prolong lives for leukemia patients who are unable to undergo a bone marrow transplant, and she is building the Acute Leukemia Virginia Consortium with partners at Massey and UVA Health, as well as collaborators from other major institutions across the state.

“We need to find a way to get this care into the communities themselves,” said Maher. “It’s about bridging the gap between comprehensive cancer care and rural areas. If we can’t move the needle for everyone, we’re not moving the needle for anyone.” Understanding the barriers rural patients face in receiving quality cancer care, Massey is also focusing its efforts to improve early detection through clinical trials. The Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN) was developed by the NCI in 2024 to understand the viability of emerging cancer screening technologies. Massey serves as the Accrual Enrollment and Screening Sites (ACCESS) hub for the Virginia CSRN, a multidisciplinary partnership of experts at Massey, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Sentara Health. Massey is one of nine national sites leading activation and enrollment for the national Vanguard clinical trial and future preventive care clinical trials through CSRN across the country. The Vanguard study—the first CSRN protocol—aims to determine if a simple blood test can effectively screen up to 10 types of cancer. The study,

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which launched in July 2025, is an important first step in the larger national plan to evaluate how well multi-cancer detection tests work for reducing cancer mortality in our communities, as well as making screening options more accessible. While not intended to replace annual cancer screenings, potential benefits include the detection of cancers for which no effective screening options currently exist, earlier detection, screening for multiple cancers at the same time and the use of less invasive procedures for future screenings. In 2025, Massey achieved its highest annual enrollment to treatment clinical trials in the Center’s 50-year history.

56%

DRIVEN INCREASE BY A OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS

Massey’s portfolio of hundreds of clinical trials offered each year continue to set new standards of care for cancer treatment, and even improved related areas such as early detection, survivorship, palliative care and cosmesis after radiation and surgery.

It’s about bridging the gap between comprehensive cancer care and rural areas. If we can’t move the needle for everyone, we’re not moving the needle for anyone. *Learn more about the Winn Awards on page 21.

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VIRGINIA CANCER PATIENT NAVIGATION NETWORK The Virginia Cancer Patient Navigation Network (VACPNN) is a statewide professional organization of clinical and non-clinical oncology navigators working to eradicate barriers and enhance outcomes for patients, families and care teams.

STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS

The Massey and VCU Health network includes hospitals in South Hill and Tappahannock, where the system is making strides to offer trials to rural populations. The first-ever cancer clinical trial at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital, an NCORP affiliate, was launched in late 2025. The NCI-sponsored, phase III lung cancer trial marks an important milestone for residents in the Northern Neck area.

Massey’s L. Tiffani Collins, MPH, CPPN, is helping lead the statewide network, aligning navigation services with the Virginia Cancer Plan and ensuring patient-centered care remains front and center. Collins’ progressive leadership roles in the network has helped to expand educational opportunities for navigators while fostering a collaborative environment for the exchange of evidence-based best practices. The VACPNN is advancing cancer coordination by: 1. Eradicating barriers: The network helps remove financial, logistical and emotional barriers that prevent Virginians from accessing timely cancer screenings and treatments. 2. Improving patient outcomes: By providing a bridge between patients and care teams, the network is improving adherence to treatment plans, leading to better clinical outcomes. 3. Ensuring equity in care: Regardless of where a patient lives in Virginia, the network provides a critical support system responsive to the local landscape of cancer resources. 13

Closing the Gap attendees partnered together to co-create solutions for mental health support in cancer care.

Every summer, Massey receives hundreds of applications from students looking to learn alongside leading scientists and clinicians at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Massey’s summer internships are distinguished by immersive hands-on experiences in cancer research and clinical trials across various learner levels. In 2025, 57 interns from more than 40 schools and universities participated in one of Massey’s eight summer research experiences. In addition to structured mentoring, exposure to real research environments and access to seminars and career development programming, the 2025 cohort of interns benefitted from several new learning opportunities this summer, including a soft skills workshop, an elevator pitch masterclass in collaboration with the VCU School of Business, and an invitation to the American Cancer Society’s regional meeting.

Income-based housing partnership guides transformative public health solutions Aligning with Massey’s commitment to communityoriented cancer research, the Virginia Advancing Cancer Control Engaged Research through Transformative Solutions (VA-ACCERT) Center is partnering with housing communities across the state to customize cancer prevention strategies. Funded by a $9 million grant from the NCI, the collaborative research effort is co-led by experts from Massey and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU), alongside state health experts and leaders. The NCI’s ACCERT initiative is a consortium of four ACCERT centers nationwide. Over the five-year project period, VA-ACCERT will support a large multi-level intervention study with community partners and four community responsive research projects (CRRPs). The project will help to connect cancer health promotion and prevention services to individuals and families living within Virginia’s income-based housing communities. Each project will be co-led by an 14

STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS

Summer sessions offer interns top-rated experiential learning

academic faculty member from VCU or ODU and a community member. The overall goal is to ensure that VA-ACCERT is conducting timely research to address the emerging priorities of residents. As part of the first CRRP, VA-ACCERT held a Closing the Gap summit in Norfolk, Va., in July 2025. The event centered on the emotional and psychological impacts of cancer, where more than 100 attendees co-designed solutions for mental health resources in cancer support systems. The July event led directly to the development of the second CRRP, which is focusing on the stigmas that women with higher weight can experience. Many of these women have an elevated cancer risk and may encounter weight stigma in health care settings, which can contribute to delayed or avoided preventive screenings. This project aims to reduce healthcarerelated stress, strengthen community resilience, and improve medical trust to support more accessible and effective cancer prevention services for adult women with higher weight living in income-based housing.

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One intern, Bhoomika Kaur (pictured bottom left), is gearing up for a promising career of her own. Kaur represented Virginia at the 63rd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Chantilly, VA, where she placed among the Top 15 nationally in the Biomedical Sciences category.

I have no doubt that this center will synergize research across VCU and become a national beacon of success for advancing health outcomes research throughout the commonwealth and beyond.

Her groundbreaking research, “Targeting RAGE: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy Against AGE-Mediated Prostate Cancer Progression,” is focused on combating prostate cancer progression by disrupting AGE-RAGE signaling. Kaur’s innovative work highlights the critical role of nurturing young scientific minds.

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This year, Massey was recognized as a recipient of the 2025 Top Virginia Employers for Interns Awards by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, which celebrates Virginia employers who provide high-quality internships to students.

Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D., MPH

In November, Massey also held the Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference in partnership with the University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center and Leroy T. Canoles, Jr., Cancer Research Center at Old Dominion University. This year’s event brought together 400 students, trainees, faculty and staff from across Virginia to share their research across basic, clinical and translational, and population health sciences, with the highest attendance and Virginia school representation to date across eight institutions and universities.

Co-Leader, VA-ACCERT Associate Director, Population Sciences

Learn more about VA-ACCERT and ongoing research efforts

Students and trainees present their science at the Walter Lawrence, Jr., M.D., Research Retreat.

Massey’s strength remains in the power of its community. “We want a healthier commonwealth,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman chair in oncology at Massey. “The goal is to figure out how we can mobilize and leverage our collective resources.” Each year Massey does just that, convening nearly 100 leaders from health districts throughout the state to collaborate on improving cancer outcomes for its residents. The Virginia Public Health Summit, which is led in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, is the only meeting of its kind in the nation to bring together statewide health district directors, comprehensive cancer center leaders and national advocates to develop and execute a shared health agenda. Leaders brainstormed ways to improve nutrition and food access for all Virginians, including enhancing relationships with community partners, building trust in communities, and bridging the communications gap across a wide swath of populations.

Danny Avula, M.D., the mayor of Richmond and former health director of Richmond City and Henrico County health departments, opened the summit and commented on the importance of connecting with community-focused and prevention-minded institutions. In September, Massey was a co-sponsor of the 2025 Virginia Cancer Conference, hosted by the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia (CACV). The theme of the conference, “Uniting Minds, Healthy Lives: A Collaboration Approach to Cancer Care.” reinforced Massey’s philosophy of collaboration. Community leaders, researchers, clinicians and Massey leadership participated in the biennial conference held to provide cancer education and training to cancer community stakeholders throughout Virginia. Massey and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center were honored at the event as the 2025 CACV Partners of the Year, recognizing both institutions as exemplars of how collaboration can accelerate advancements in cancer prevention and control. This year marked the five-year anniversary of another critical community partnership, Facts & Faith Fridays (FFF). What began in 2020 as a way to connect African American faith leaders with timely and accurate information to help dispel myths about vaccines and Covid-19, has transformed into an inspiring model for community engagement.

The virtual forum has attracted dozens of prominent guests, including Anthony Fauci, M.D., Ned Sharpless, M.D., Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and Jill Biden, Ed.D. Since 2020, FFF has hosted more than 100 forums, reaching thousands of virtual participants. Topics range from medical mistrust to health resources for rural and urban communities. Recognizing the faith community as a conduit between local health departments and the cancer center, FFF also works closely with congregations to educate and advocate for cancer screening and participation in clinical trials. In collaboration with Massey’s Clinical Trials Office and Office of Community Outreach & Engagement, FFF hosted the Vanguard study to bring multi-cancer detection tests to four faith communities through a unique funding opportunity with the Foundations of Christian Leadership Innovation Grant with Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Through this collaboration, these faith communities were able to help recruit more than 10% of the current enrollment goal and 65% of the total number of African Americans recruited.

COMMUNITY CHANGE MAKER: STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS

Rev. Rachel Pierce, MA Since joining Massey in 2023 as the faith liaison and engagement coordinator for Facts & Faith Fridays, Rev. Rachel Pierce has helped to curate more than 100 monthly health-focused conversations, bridging the gap between the faith and science communities. Her work brings members from many different communities together toward a common goal of making high-quality health care and accurate information more accessible and trustworthy for all populations.

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Serving at the intersection of faith, health, and community at Massey is a gift. Walking alongside faith leaders and community members reminds me of what is possible when we put our love in action: we listen with care, share vital information and connect people to cancer screenings and testing. Rev. Rachel Pierce, MA

Faith Liaison & Engagement Coordinator

Rev. Rachel Pierce guides attendees through a “mindful moment” at the 2025 Walter Lawrence, Jr., M.D. research retreat.

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We, as public health leaders, need to find those partners who are aligned with public health needs. It’s important to find incredible partners like Massey to work with.

Avula provides opening remarks at the 2025 Virginia Public Health Summit.

Danny Avula, M.D.

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STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS

Community convenings work to improve health outcomes for all Virginians

Caption needed here

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NATIONAL IMPACT Massey is shaping how community engagement in science can drive progress at NCI-designated cancer centers. In doing so, we’re is paving the way for future community-focused cancer leaders across the county.

Catalyzing progress across the cancer landscape With endless opportunities to inspire the broader cancer care community, Massey’s impact is felt far beyond state lines.

Massey continued to leave its mark as a worldwide leader in cancer research and education during the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting, which drew in more than 22,000 people from around the world.

Massey continues to also influence thought leadership that is driving cancer research and clinical care progress on a national level. Under the direction of former director Robert A. Winn, M.D., Massey stands at the forefront of critical oncology-focused conversations across the country. Those conversations have been further elevated by Winn’s role as the 2024-2026 president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), bringing together the work of over 100 premier academic and freestanding cancer centers. His two-year term marked the first of many milestones, including serving as the first Virginian named president of the association.

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At the meeting, Winn shared strategies to build the community’s trust in science to improve clinical trial participation and discussed how to bring more people into the exciting world of cancer research. More than 30 researchers, clinicians, students and staff members affiliated with Massey and VCU put their expertise on display at the event through panel discussions, presentations, Q&A seminars and poster abstracts, covering topics ranging from clinical trial fundamentals and career development to mRNA delivery and using PDX models to improve patient outcomes.

We are at a time that’s critical in the country to not only solve the problem, but communicate it effectively. Regardless of how good your science is, if you are not communicating it to the people, then we are all in trouble. Robert A. Winn, M.D.

”

Winn moderated AACI’s 2025 joint Hill Day with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Washington, D.C. as part of his presidential responsibilities. As a fierce advocate for federal funding for the NCI and National Institutes of Health, Winn, alongside dozens of Massey advocates, stressed the importance of investing in these organizations to avoid cancelling trials, dismantling programs, and stalling progress on life-changing research.

Winn presents at the Winn Awards Annual Convening

Winn also led the charge in recruiting several new dynamic leaders to Massey, including Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR, who joined the team

as deputy director of research, and currently serves as director. With an extensive background in the psychology of cancer prevention, early detection and mental health, Baskin is a vital addition to the team, catalyzing Massey’s mission to improve cancer outcomes for all. Kim Rhoads, M.D., MS, MPH, joined Massey as associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE). Her formal training and scholarly work crosses the full cancer continuum, from endothelial cell regulation and angiogenesis, exposures and cancer risk reduction, to clinical care as a colorectal surgeon. Rhoads has also translated her knowledge of systems through health services research to inform health policy. Baskin and Rhoads were heavily involved in the 2025 Science of Community Outreach and Engagement annual conference, alongside Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Massey. This year’s event focused on sharing best practices for COE, community capacity building and training future leaders. The conference, supported by funding from the NCI, was co-chaired by Rhoads. Rhoads moderated two panel discussions at the conference: one on characterizing the catchment area and the structural issues that underpin the burden of cancer and one on leveraging artificial intelligence for improving community engagement. She also led a session on effective leadership and participated in a separate panel discussion regarding examples of

alternative funding sources and current funding opportunities.

A DEFINING MOMENT FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Baskin shared her insights on the inherent challenges of community engagement initiatives and future directions for the field, and participated in a presentation on contract negotiation tips for academic institutions and cancer centers.

The extraordinary progress we have made against cancer is the result of decades of bipartisan commitment to medical research. That investment has built a scientific enterprise that is stronger and more promising than ever before.

As a steadfast resource for the community, Massey stands out as a national leader through its dedicated work bringing cuttingedge cancer research, education and prevention interventions, and the latest clinical trials to people in every neighborhood. And we have learned that when we put people and place at the center of discovery, our science grows stronger.

TODAY, MORE THAN,

18M

AMERICANS ARE ALIVE TODAY AFTER A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

THAT PROGRESS REFLECTS A

DROP IN THE CANCER DEATH RATE SINCE 1991.

NATIONAL IMPACT

During the AACI annual meeting in October, Winn delivered his President’s Report, speaking on his Presidential Initiative of “Inclusive Excellence”. He highlighted three main outcomes from his initiative: more global oncology awareness, bringing the voice of the community into the cancer center network and uniting cancer centers in the national team of cancer fighters.

More than 160 cancer center leaders, scientists and patient advocates—including a number of Massey leaders, patients and advocates— rallied on Capitol Hill for the 2025 AACI/AACR Joint Hill Day in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate the importance of funding for cancer research. Nearly a dozen Massey advocates spoke with lawmakers about the importance of continued funding for cancer research and how that funding directly impacts patients, young scientists, and the progress made in the fight against cancer. “This Hill Day wasn’t just about statistics,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D. “It was about standing up for science, for patients, and for a future where everyone has access to the lifesaving power of research.”

Meet the new leaders at Massey on page 3.

Jinze Liu, Ph.D., a research member at Massey and a professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the VCU School of Public Health, and Kevin Matthew Byrd, DDS, Ph.D., a research member at Massey and assistant professor of oral and craniofacial molecular biology at the VCU School of Dentistry, created Threshold-based Assignment of Cell Types from Multiplexed Imaging Data (TACIT), an advanced computing model that assigns cell identities based on cell-marker expression profiles. TACIT cuts down cell identification time from over a month to just minutes—saving researchers valuable time and resources. TACIT uses data from over 5 million cells across major body systems like the brain, gut, and oral glands to distinguish cells, providing superior accuracy and scalability when compared with existing models, which oftentimes lack the power to separate expected cell populations due to limited marker sets. This data is pulled from partnering cancer centers across the country, with Massey serving as a repository for this groundbreaking algorithm.

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While Massey researchers continue to break new ground in the use of artificial intelligence tools, they were also enabling VCU Massey to become the first site in the country to activate a global Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating PTX-100 for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare and often treatment-resistant T-cell lymphoma. Saïd Sebti, Ph.D., associate director for basic research and Lacy Family Chair in Cancer Research and research member in the Developmental Therapeutics program at Massey, and professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the VCU School of Medicine, is the co-inventor of PTX-100 and the scientific founder at Prescient Therapeutics, which is sponsoring the trial. Hear more about TACIT from Dr. Byrd and Dr. Liu.

Saïd Sebti, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Basic Research 20

Mary Simmons After being told she had less than two weeks to live, Mary Simmons looked to clinical trials as a last resort. Thanks to Massey, she is a proud survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and avid supporter of clinical research. As a Massey Cancer Champion, Mary is actively involved in community-focused events like the Closing the Gap Summit and the Virginia Cancer Conference, and advocates for cancer research funding and patient access to care on Capitol Hill.

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I would like to share my experience with others, let them know that they need to continue to fight, and let people know about clinical trials, that they work, it’s a lifesaver. Mary Simmons

Massey Cancer Champion & Survivor

This trial reflects Massey’s long-standing commitment to translating basic science discoveries into innovative treatments that can directly benefit patients. It’s a powerful reminder of what science can achieve when driven by purpose and passion.”

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Better Science for All

COMMUNITY CHANGE MAKER: NATIONAL IMPACT

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Mary Simmons (right), pictured with her oncologist, Keri Maher, D.O.

An initial investment of $100 million in 2020 from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent charitable organization, has catapulted the idea of community-focused clinical trialists into fruition through the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards). Five-years later, the program is fueled by more than $124.5 million thanks to additional support from Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Genentech and AstraZeneca. The Winn Awards is the first program of its kind, intentionally designed to equip the next generation of clinical researchers with the tools and insight needed to design and implement clinical trials that engage more communities. The program’s unique collaboration with industry leaders across the pharmaceutical landscape represents a powerful commitment to advancing Better Science for All.

In 2025, the Winn Awards received a recordbreaking number of applications and recruited the most participants to date through the Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA; awarded 325 scholars to date) and the Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP; awarded 322 students to date). The growth represents a notable shift for early-stage investigators and rising medical students towards community-focused training opportunities.

life-changing connection was made. Now just three years after facing a terminal diagnosis, Simmons is in remission, which she attributes to Maher and the VCU Massey team, a clinical trial and her own personal advocacy.

NATIONAL IMPACT

Massey researchers pursue scientific advancements through innovation

Read more about Dr. Maher and Massey’s work to expand clinical trials access across the commonwealth on page 12. Read more online

The appeal of the program was deep-rooted for Keri Maher, D.O., stemming from a childhood growing up in a rural California community. When Maher met Mary Simmons, the two immediately bonded over the fact they share a birthday and a

LOCATIONS OF WINN CDA SCHOLARS AND WINN CIPP STUDENTS NATIONWIDE.

Winn Awards scholars, program leaders and funding partners at the 2025 Winn CDA Annual Convening.

PUERTO RICO

CDA Scholars CIPP Students

Note that many dots represent multiple individuals.

Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, Ph.D. NCI R01

Exploiting Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Supportive Tailored Exercise Program for Survivors of Breast Cancer (STEPS-BC)

A group of researchers, led by Sarkar, was awarded more than $13 million through a team science grant to better understand liver tumor biology and collectively unearth new, effective drug combinations for the most common form of liver cancer. The five-year grant–the first P01 grant ever awarded to Massey–enables the investigators to explore the ability of a new drug to effectively thwart liver cancer in combination with existing immunotherapies.

Hundley leads a multicenter clinical trial— STEPS-BC—investigating a tailored exercise intervention for breast cancer patients while they are undergoing chemotherapy. Findings from this research will provide insights into how physical activity during cancer treatment helps preserve exercise capacity. Implementing personalized interventions to increase physical activity during chemotherapy may lead to improved long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients with breast and other cancers, and this trial could help establish a new paradigm for more effective and patient-centered care.

William Gregory Hundley, M.D. NCI R01

Targeting Ganglioside GD2 to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

C18-Ceramide as an Essential Factor in Iron Dependent Cell Death

Venkata Lokesh Battula, Ph.D. Department of Defense A team of researchers, led by Battula, in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center, was awarded funding for a clinical trial testing a combination treatment strategy in triple-negative breast cancer. The trial will test the safety and efficacy of combining two therapies—naxitamab, a targeted antibody therapy, and sacituzumab govitecan, an FDA-approved chemotherapybased treatment. This study would be the first to overcome resistance to sacituzumab govitecan by eliminating breast cancer stem cells, potentially paving the way for better outcomes in patients with advanced disease. 22

Can Senkal, Ph.D. National Institute of General Medical Sciences R01 Cancer Biology (CB)

Senkal is leading a multi-year effort to gain a comprehensive biological understanding of a type of iron-dependent cell death regulation known as ferroptosis. This research aims to investigate how a class of lipids—ceramides— regulate ferroptosis and contribute to the development of human disease. The findings hold immense potential to inform the design of innovative targeted therapies for cancer.

Developmental Therapeutics (DT)

Cancer Prevention & Control (CPC)

Non-aligned (ZY)

SELECT HIGH IMPACT PUBLICATIONS

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.

Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 PMC11929131. Impact Factor: 232.4

Professor, Biostatistics Named a Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science recognizing his contributions to the field of health data science, particularly oral epidemiology and cancer, as well as for his commitment to graduate education and his exemplary service to the profession.

Src Inhibition Potentiates MCL-1 Antagonist Activity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Signal Transduct Target Ther. PMC11808118. Impact Factor: 52.7 Small Circular RNAs as Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy. Nat Biomed Eng. PMID: 39920212. Impact Factor: 26.7

Youngman Oh, Ph.D.

TATA-box Binding Protein-associated Factor 2 in Hepatocyte Survival and Tumorigenesis. Hepatology. PMC12310156. Impact Factor: 16.8

Professor, Pathology Named a Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science recognizing his contributions to the field of health data science, particularly oral epidemiology and cancer, as well as for his commitment to graduate education and his exemplary service to the profession.

Targeting SUMOylation Promotes cBAF Complex Stabilization and Disruption of the SS18::SSX Transcriptome in Synovial Sarcoma. Nat Commun. PMC12589557. Impact Factor: 15.7

Oxana Palesh, Ph.D., MPH

Multi-scale and Multi-context Interpretable Mapping of Cell States across Heterogeneous Spatial Samples. Nat Commun. PMC12370880. Impact Factor: 15.7

Professor, Psychiatry Program Co-Leader, CPC Recipient of NCI’s Outstanding Contributions Certificate for achieving the highest enrollment to cancer control trials by an advanced practice provider.

UPBEAT Study Team: Intermuscular Fat and Physical Activity Levels Relative to Exercise Capacity Change During Breast Cancer Treatment. JACC CardioOncol. PMID: 40246389. Impact Factor: 13.4

43% INCREASE IN HIGH IMPACT PUBLICATIONS SINCE 2024 (16% TO 23%)

RESEARCH REPORT

Across three research programs—Cancer Biology (CB), Developmental Therapeutics (DT), and Cancer Prevention & Control (CPC)—nearly 150 researchers and physician scientists are driving scientific advancements across the cancer continuum. Together, these achievements showcase the priorities that will shape Massey’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: bold science, stronger partnerships and deeper impact for the communities we serve.

NEXT GEN SPOTLIGHT:

Natalie Luffman

Predoctoral Fellowship National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research F31 Natalie Luffman, a predoctoral trainee mentored by Cancer Biology program member, Hisashi Harada, Ph.D., was awarded an F31 Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to investigate mechanisms of tumor relapse in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with a focus on therapy-induced senescence and the role of cGAS-STING signaling in driving proliferative recovery through regulation of senescence-associated secretory factors, including leukemia inhibitory factor. This mentored award supports her development in translational cancer biology while advancing programmatic research focused on treatment resistance and disease recurrence. 23

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS

LEADERS

Michael Rao, Ph.D. President, VCU

Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR Director, VCU Massey

Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, FACS CEO, VCU Health Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Provost, VCU P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D. Vice President, Research & Innovation at VCU Jim Willis President, VCU Medical Center Michael Elliott, PharmD, MSHA, FACHE Chief Operating Officer, VCU Health System Sheryl L. Garland, MHA, FACHE Chief of Health Impact, VCU Health System Elias Neujahr, MHA, MBA President, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

MASSEY SENIOR

Robert A. Winn, M.D. Former Director, VCU Massey Paul Fawcett, Ph.D. Associate Director, Shared Resources Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D. Associate Director, Population Sciences Michelle Lin, MBA Associate Director, Administration Andrew Poklepovic, M.D. Associate Director, Clinical Research Kim Rhoads, M.D., MPH, FACS Associate Director, Community Outreach & Engagement Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D., MBBS Associate Director, Research Training & Education Saïd Sebti, M.D. Associate Director, Basic Research

RESEARCH PROGRAM LEADERS Paula Bos, Ph.D. Cancer Biology Steven Grant, M.D. Xiang-Yang “Shawn” Wang, Ph.D. Developmental Therapeutics Victoria Findlay, Ph.D. Oxana Palesh, Ph.D., MPH Cancer Prevention & Control

FACULTY RECRUITS

ENDOWMENTS

Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., FSBM, FABMR Director, VCU Massey Professor, Internal Medicine

CHAIRS

V. Lokesh Battula, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Cancer Research Training & Education Professor, Internal Medicine

Douglas W. Arthur, M.D. Florence and Hyman Meyers Chair in Radiation Oncology

Ryan Cleary, M.D. Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

Paul Dent, Ph.D. Universal Corporation Chair in Cancer Cell Signaling

Hyeong-Min Lee, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Cellular, Molecular & Genetic Medicine

Anthony C. Faber, Ph.D. Natalie N. and John R. Congdon, Sr. Endowed Chair in Cancer Research

Hyun Lee, M.D. Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine Inan Olmez, M.D. Associate Professor, Neurosurgery

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D. Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Oncology Research

Parash Parajuli, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Cellular, Molecular & Genetic Medicine

Paula M. Fracasso, M.D., Ph.D., FACP Dianne Nunnally Hoppes Endowed Chair in Cancer Research

Dimple Patel, Ph.D. Associate Director, Innovation, Leadership & Professional Development Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine

Bernard F. Fuemmeler, Ph.D., MPH Gordon D. Ginder M.D. Chair in Cancer Research

Kim Rhoads, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Director, Community Outreach & Engagement Professor, Surgery

Gordon D. Ginder, M.D. Massey Club Chair

Derek Sant’ Angelo, Ph.D. Professor & Chair, Microbiology & Immunology

Steven Grant, M.D. Shirley Carter and Sture Gordon Olsson Chair in Cancer Research

Meghan Tipre, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Catchment Area Data Analytics Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Suyun Huang, M.D., Ph.D. Paul M. Corman M.D. Chair in Cancer Research

TOTAL ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE (FY25):

$119,404,286 Joseph H. Laver, M.D. Children’s Hospital of Richmond Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer Research Patrick Nana-Sinkam, M.D. Linda Grandis Blatt Endowed Chair in Cancer Research Oxana G. Palesh, Ph.D., MPH Massey Cancer Center Chair in Cancer Research Saïd Sebti, Ph.D. Lacy Family Chair in Cancer Research Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D. Theresa A. Thomas Memorial Foundation Chair in Cancer Prevention and Control Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D. Mann T. and Sara D. Lowry Chair in Oncology Jose Trevino, M.D., FACS Geoffrey R. Shudtz Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research Robert A. Winn, M.D. Jeannette and Eric Lipman Chair in Oncology Yuesheng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Harrigan Haw Luck Families Chair in Cancer Research

PROFESSORSHIPS Laurence J. DiNardo, M.D. Darlene and George P. Emerson Jr. Professorship in Cancer Research Susan Hong, M.D., M.P.H., FACP RGC Professorship for Cancer Research Renato G. Martins, M.D., MPH Martha Anne Hatcher Distinguished Professorship in Oncology Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, Ph.D. Harrison Foundation Distinguished Professorship in Cancer Research Xiang-Yang “Shawn” Wang, Ph.D. Harry and Judy Wason Distinguished Professorship Jolene J. Windle, Ph.D. Irene Shaw Grigg Distinguished Professorship in Genetics Research

ACTIVE CANDIDATE SEARCH Mary Anderson Harrison Distinguished Professorship in Cancer Research Carolyn Wingate Hyde Endowed Chair in Cancer Research Judith Talley Secor Chair Dianne Harris Wright Professorship for the Division Director of Gynecologic Oncology at MCV-VCU Dianne Harris Wright Professorship for OB-Gyn Oncology Research Massey Alliance Scholar Thomas Palliative Care Endowment Fund

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Box 980037 Richmond, VA 23298-0037

VCUMasseyCancerCenter

masseycancercenter.org

TeamMassey

VCU-Massey-Cancer-Center VCUMassey VCUMassey