Cancer retreat focuses on innovation

Medical researchers are always on the hunt for the next best thing in medicine, and finding a better way to treat cancer is at the forefront of that mission.

The University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute is contributing to the next phase in discoveries by hosting a day-long retreat for cancer clinicians and scientists from the university as well as community partners.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 pm., Friday, June 7, at the UC 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Road, and will include presentations from guest speakers about data and innovation as well as an interactive session, allowing experts to collaboratively develop ways to advance the field.

The winning team will receive $100,000 in pilot funding.

“The purpose of this event is to propel UC and our region to the forefront of evolving technologies and innovations,” says William Barrett, MD, director of the UC Cancer Institute and chair and professor of radiation oncology at the UC College of Medicine, who is leading the day’s events. “Each of the day’s participants have been asked to send in a brief written description of his or her prediction for their respective fields prior to the retreat; during the day’s events, people with potentially collaborative interests will be grouped together to formalize ideas on advancing cancer treatment through research and will present to the group, who will then vote on a winner.”

Stuart Aitken, CEO of 84.51˚, a data science and tech company, and Mike Zelkind, co-founder and CEO of 80 Acres Farms, a local indoor farming tech company, will be guest speakers at the event.  

Additional speakers from UC and UC Health include:

• Neville Pinto, PhD, president of UC.
• Andrew Filak Jr., MD, interim senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine.
• Richard Lofgren, MD, president and CEO of UC Health.
• David Adams, chief innovation officer and CEO of the UC Research Institute.

>> Learn more about the 1819 Innovation Hub