UC San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center

New research from the labs of Jin Zhang, PhD and J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD has been published in Nature Chemical Biology. The study introduces TerminaTOR, a precision tool that can switch off a key cellular growth signal, mTORC1, in a specific part of the cell at a time. Using it, the team discovered that when mTORC1 operates inside the cell's nucleus, it controls which genes get turned on, a role that was previously unknown. Read more: go.nature.com/3R0C42N

Moore's Cancer Center's Rana McKay, MD co-authored the COMRADE trial, finding that combining olaparib and radium-223 nearly doubled progression-free survival in men with advanced prostate cancer spread to bone. Read the study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology here: bit.ly/42ZUjIi #ProstateCancer #Oncology

Alon Goren, PhD, authored a review highlighting foundational discoveries in DNA methylation and epigenetic regulation by Howard Cedar, whose work transformed our understanding of gene expression, development and cancer biology. Read more: bit.ly/4dcYwgm

The New York Times is asking when colonoscopies do more harm than good for older adults: a question our own Samir Gupta, MD has been researching for years. Proud to have him leading this conversation! Read more: nyti.ms/4tYV7sF #CancerScreening #ColonCancer #MooresCancerCenter

Arshad Desai, PhD, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his pioneering work uncovering how cells faithfully segregate chromosomes during division. His discoveries have reshaped our understanding of the molecular machinery that safeguards genome integrity and its links to cancer, infertility and developmental disease. Read more: bit.ly/4d73MCb

Clinical trials rely on more than just new treatments, they rely on comparison, rigor, and careful design. Understanding how placebos are used helps us understand how science determines what truly works. This Clinical Trials Awareness Month, learn more about the role of research in advancing care: bit.ly/4aAOTrS

This #NationalCancerResearchMonth, we're celebrating Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. His team developed a new therapy showing unprecedented remission rates in aggressive blood cancers. "A drug we developed here may help make diffuse large cell lymphoma a disease that can be cured." This is what cancer research looks like. Read more: bit.ly/4tO6pAe Read the FY25 Annual Report: bit.ly/4aAOTrS #CancerResearch

Honoring the compassion, expertise and dedication of our nurses this #NationalNursesWeek. At Moores Cancer Center, our nurses are at the heart of every patient journey, delivering exceptional care, advancing research and making a difference every day. Thank you for all that you do. 💙

Global collaboration in action 🌍 @AACR Global Scholars visited Moores Cancer Center for a day of research tours, mentorship and connection, bringing together future leaders in cancer science from around the world. Watch the recap & learn more: bit.ly/4cQ6LAe

Congratulations to Fleur Ferguson, PhD on receiving the 2026 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize! Her work developing drugs that selectively target cancer-driving proteins while sparing healthy tissue is exactly the kind of bold science this prize is designed to fuel. Read more: bwnews.pr/4waYcHD

May is Melanoma Awareness Month! Catching melanoma early can save lives. UC San Diego Health dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Lin is combining total body photography with AI to track skin changes more precisely, helping detect deadly melanomas sooner. This work is part of Moores Cancer Center’s broader Early Detection Initiative, transforming how cancer is identified through coordinated, cutting-edge screening strategies. Learn more: bit.ly/4f0Dggr Explore the Annual Report FY25: bit.ly/4aAOTrS #MelanomaAwarenessMonth #SkinCancer #CancerResearch #EarlyDetection #MooresCancerCenter

Every breakthrough starts somewhere. Clinical trials move discoveries from the lab to real patient care, safely and effectively. From Phase I to Phase IV, each step matters. Explore ongoing trials and how you can get involved: bit.ly/43bMnFf #ClinicalTrials #CancerResearch #MooresCancerCenter #UCSDHealth

The collaboration between UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and La Jolla Institute for Immunology is shedding new light on how the immune system fights prostate cancer. A new study in Immunity, led by Moores Cancer Center members Kennidy Takehara, PhD, Ananda Goldrath, PhD, and Miguel Reina-Campos, PhD, shows T cells can establish long-term residency in the prostate and could be harnessed to treat prostate cancer, which kills more than 35,000 men in the U.S. each year. This is the kind of science that happens when world-class institutions build something together. Read more: bit.ly/4tzWDS1 #ProstateCancer #CancerResearch #Immunology #MooresCancerCenter #UCSDHealth #CancerImmunotherapy

May is Clinical Trials Awareness Month! It is a time to recognize the research that’s shaping the future of cancer care. At UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, clinical trials give patients access to innovative treatments while helping advance discoveries that save lives. 🔬 Learn more and explore available trials: bit.ly/43bMnFf

New patient guidelines on #ProstateCancer screening help clarify benefits vs. risks and address outdated concerns about screening. Proud to see Tyler Seibert, MD, PhD helping shape this national guidance through NCCN. Read now: prn.to/4mSKNQg #EarlyDetection #CancerPrevention

San Diego's biotech ecosystem gives our patients a real edge: earlier trial access, faster discovery-to-care pipelines, and world-class partners like Novartis now anchoring a $1.1B research hub in our backyard. This is what it means to be at the center of Biotech Beach. Read more about how Biotech Beach is reshaping cancer care at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center: bit.ly/4t5bD9v #CancerResearch #BiotechBeach #MooresCancerCenter #SanDiego

Today is the International Day of Immunology 🌍🔬 This year's theme is "Regulatory T Cells: Guardians of Immune Balance", and it's exactly what our researchers are tackling right here in San Diego. Proud to spotlight a landmark collaboration between UC San Diego and La Jolla Institute for Immunology that brings this to life. Read the Article: bit.ly/4tEv3mI Read the FY25 Annual Report: bit.ly/4aAOTrS #InternationalDayOfImmunology #Immunology #CancerResearch #RegulatoryTCells

Lyudmila A. Bazhenova, MD, is featured in @ASCOPost following her #AACR2026 presentation on taletrectinib in ROS1-positive NSCLC. Updated TRUST-I/II pooled data (~3 years follow-up) confirm taletrectinib as an effective and tolerable option for TKI-naive patients with advanced ROS1+ NSCLC. Read more: bit.ly/4ctFDa3 #LungCancer #NSCLC #ROS1 #ThoracicOncology

Grateful for the incredible energy at the Legends of Science and Surfing Belly Up kickoff, an inspiring start to our 33rd year advancing cancer research and care at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Legends of Science and Surfing is a key fundraiser supporting research, clinical trials and cancer screening efforts for our San Diego community. Excited to carry this momentum into August. Save the date: Aug. 14–15 at Scripps Forum for the Legends of Science Oncology Symposium and Legends of Surfing Invitational. Read more: go.ucsd.edu/4d20MZ2 Learn more: mcclegends.ucsd.edu #CancerResearch #MooresCancerCenter #UCSDHealth

The Legends of Science and Surfing Belly Up Kickoff Party launched its 33rd year of impact — bringing together community, music and purpose in support of cancer research. Save the date: Aug 14–15 at Scripps Forum • Aug 14: Oncology Symposium • Aug 15: Surfing Invitational and lunch Read more: bit.ly/4cGCpif Learn more: bit.ly/4nFhAIk #MooresCancerCenter #CancerResearch #UCSDHealth