UC San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center

The next generation of cancer researchers is already in training. Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego is building the pipeline, from high school internships to postgraduate fellowships, to ensure the future of cancer care is in good hands. Read How: bit.ly/4s3XpWN #CancerResearch #Education #MooresCancerCenter #UCSDHealth

Rana McKay, MD, a physician-scientist at Moores Cancer Center, is featured in a recent 10News story highlighting the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection. In the segment, prostate cancer survivor Jerry McCormick shares his powerful message encouraging Black men to prioritize their health: “Please go get tested.” Black men face a significantly higher risk of prostate cancer, making awareness and proactive screening conversations with your doctor especially critical. Watch the full segment: bit.ly/4bCa8Ke #ProstateCancerAwareness #MensHealth #HealthEquity #EarlyDetection

Tyler Seibert, MD, PhD, associate professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, radiation oncologist at UC San Diego Health, and member of Moores Cancer Center, is helping make prostate cancer radiation safer with AI. The new tool automatically maps the urethra on MRI scans, a structure so small it is often difficult for physicians to identify. In testing, it captured 81% of the true urethra compared to 34% for physicians, and was typically accurate within two millimeters of expert contours. Trained on data from 11 MRI scanners across six hospitals and powered by UC San Diego's Expanse supercomputer, the tool has strong potential to standardize treatment planning and reduce urinary side effects for patients. Published in Radiotherapy and Oncology. Read more: bit.ly/4lkkrGm

Diane Simeone, MD, director of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, is featured in a recent article discussing the urgent need to prioritize early detection in pancreatic cancer. While overall cancer survival rates have improved significantly, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases, with a five-year survival rate of about 13%. Research shows that detecting pancreatic cancer at the earliest stage could dramatically improve outcomes for patients. Dr. Simeone highlights how shifting diagnosis to earlier stages could transform survival and create new opportunities for effective treatment. Read the full article: bit.ly/4roxDew #PancreaticCancer #CancerResearch #EarlyDetection #CancerScience

Rohit Loomba, MD, professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and member of Moores Cancer Center, has developed a smarter way to diagnose fatty liver disease. The new tool, called MAPI, uses five standard lab values already collected in routine care to identify when liver injury is driven by alcohol, even when patients underreport their drinking. No new tests, no added cost. Validated across 2,300+ patients in the U.S. and Sweden, MAPI outperformed commonly used blood tests and can be implemented immediately. Fatty liver disease affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide. Identifying its true cause is key to better outcomes. Read more: bit.ly/40OtJkh

Moores Member Rana McKay, MD has contributed to a large-scale liquid biopsy study that reveals how serial blood tests can track the genetic evolution of prostate under treatment to provide improved personalized care for patients with advanced disease. Read more: bit.ly/46xj8xC

Some symptoms shouldn’t be ignored. In this new article, Samir Gupta shares 5 warning signs of colorectal cancer, from blood in the stool to unexplained weight loss. At Moores Cancer Center, experts are advancing prevention, screening and treatment to detect colorectal cancer earlier and improve patient outcomes. Learn more: bit.ly/4d1G0cs #ColorectalCancer #CancerPrevention #MooresCancerCenter

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet too many people are still diagnosed too late. At Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego, researchers and community partners are working to change that through innovative screening research and local partnerships. Read how we're making early detection more accessible across San Diego: bit.ly/3OXN9kd #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth #CancerPrevention #EarlyDetection #MooresCancerCenter

Congratulations to Moores Member Fleur Ferguson, PhD on being named a 2026 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow! Dr. Ferguson, assistant professor in Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, is pioneering next-generation proximity pharmacology platforms to tackle diseases where conventional drugs fall short. She joins a cohort of 126 fellows recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation — one of the most competitive early-career honors in American science. Read more: bit.ly/3MXyfd5 #SloanFellow #UCSanDiego #ChemicalBiology #ProximityPharmacology

New research from Moores Member David D. Schlaepfer, PhD reveals a surprising discovery: blocking a protein called FAK causes ovarian tumor cells to release omega-3 fatty acids that "re-educate" nearby immune cells to attack tumors instead of protecting them. In mice, combining a FAK inhibitor with low-dose chemo and immunotherapy suppressed tumor growth and extended survival. And since FAK-targeting drugs are already in clinical trials, this could accelerate real treatment options, fast. A small molecule. A big shift in how we fight one of the most aggressive cancers. 🔬Published in Cell Reports. Read more: bit.ly/4cyhtvo #OvarianCancer #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #MooresCancerCenter #UCSDHealth

Moores Member Irene Su, MD, MSCE led the update to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s landmark fertility preservation guidelines, which expands recommendations to support young cancer patients from diagnosis through survivorship. Learn more: bit.ly/4u5KF3ff

When Carl Nuffer was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2024, he channeled his fight into something bigger — helping others facing the same battle. His family, alongside the Anders Foundation, donated $1 million to UC San Diego to accelerate brain cancer research, expand their Patient Tissue Bank, and bring precision medicine and AI-driven care to more patients. A remarkable act of generosity that will give hope to countless families for years to come. 🧠💙 Read more: bit.ly/4rfXJAt #BrainCancer #Glioblastoma #CancerResearch #UCSD #Philanthropy

Huge congratulations to Moores Cancer Center’s Ludmil Alexandrov, PhD, selected to lead Team CAUSE and awarded up to $25M from @CancerGrand. Chosen from 227 global submissions, the team will decode mutational signatures — the DNA “fingerprints” that reveal how cancer begins. Learn more: bit.ly/3ONC7xJ #CancerGrandChallenges #CancerResearch

This International Women’s Month, we celebrate Jill Mesirov, PhD, a pioneer in cancer genomics at Moores Cancer Center. Read the full story: go.ucsd.edu/4cjFaaL Read the FY25 Annual Report: bit.ly/4aAOTrS #InternationalWomensMonth #WomenInScience #CancerResearch

Rare cancers make up 27% of diagnoses — yet treatment options remain limited. Read more: lnkd.in/g4eR2_RQ FY25 Report: bit.ly/4aAOTrS

Cancer care, closer to home. See how Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is expanding access across the region. Read the story here: go.ucsd.edu/4l2N5vj Read the FY25 Annual Report here: bit.ly/4aAOTrS

Rare cancers make up 27% of all diagnoses — but too few options exist for patients. This #RareDiseaseDay, see how Moores Cancer Center is targeting the uncommon with bold, personalized approaches. Full story in our FY25 Annual Report 🔗 bit.ly/4aAOTrS #RareCancers

Moores Cancer Center member Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PhD has published a study in Nature Medicine revealing a simple blood test that detects pulmonary arterial hypertension with 90% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Read more: go.nature.com/4rHwDmW

Moores Cancer Center member Gene Yeo, PhD has published a groundbreaking study in Nature introducing Ribo-STAMP, a technology mapping protein production in nearly 20,000 brain cells. Read more: bit.ly/4s9o1F9

Our FY25 Impact Report is here. From groundbreaking research to expanded clinical trials and community partnerships, this year's progress reflects our collective commitment to advancing cancer care and accelerating life-changing discoveries. Read Now: moorescancercenter.ucsd.edu/about/annual-r…