UNC Lineberger’s 2023 Cancer and Aging Research Symposium at the Rizzo Center Dec. 1 drew together experts from academia and industry to share laboratory and clinical research focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and survivorship care for older adults.
The symposium, organized by Jan Busby-Whitehead, MD, Hyman Muss, MD, Kirsten Nyrop, PhD, and William Wood, MD, MPH, featured a plenary talk by Mina Sedrak, MD, MS, director of the Cancer and Aging Program at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine. Grant Williams, MD, MSPH, associate professor of medicine-hematology and oncology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, spoke on the value of geriatric assessment and how it can be used to improve personalized care and better understand health inequalities.
Other talks included presentations on p16, a biomarker of senescence aging and tolerance for cancer therapy in older adults; an overview of cancer care pre-rehabilitation for older adults; multidisciplinary talks on cancer care; and a fellows update and student forum.
The meeting’s agenda, including a list of speakers, is available online.
“The symposium has a long track record of bringing together faculty and trainees to highlight and share exciting work happening in the areas of geriatric oncology and cancer care delivery at UNC and beyond,” Wood said. “This year’s meeting was a great success with lots of provocative and interesting ideas and great cross-disciplinary dialogue.”