Ellis Fischel Cancer Center hosts 2026 Cancer Research Day

The University of Missouri Ellis Fischel Cancer Center recently hosted its annual Cancer Research Day, an event aimed to increase understanding and awareness of the Center’s research endeavors and encourage collaboration with other cancer research institutions in Missouri.

Students, fellows and faculty conducting cancer research throughout the University of Missouri System presented recent findings and ongoing cancer research in interactive poster sessions, three-minute presentations and guest lectures.

“This event stands as a powerful testament to our shared commitment at Mizzou to go the extra mile in the fight against cancer,” said Gerhard Hildebrandt, MD, executive director of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “We saw record participation from students, faculty and staff, fueling an incredible level of science being showcased. Each year, Cancer Research Day yields a rich harvest of discovery and innovation for the benefit of our patients.”

This year’s Oppenheimer-Franklin Cancer Lectureship, established in memory of Minnie K. Oppenheimer and in recognition of Dr. Paul Franklin, was presented by Hari Nakshatri, BVSc, PhD. He currently serves as the Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research and professor of surgery, biochemistry and molecular biology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Nakshatri’s lecture, “Impact of genetic ancestry on normal breast and breast cancer biology,” illustrated how the latest technology can be used to determine changes in normal breast during reproductive cycles and cell-of-origin of breast cancer.

The Cancer Center Collaborations lecture was presented by Amy K. LeBlanc, DVM. She’s a board-certified veterinary oncologist, and senior scientist and Director of the CCR Comparative Oncology Program at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute.

LeBlanc’s lecture, “The NCI Comparative Oncology Program: How we’re informing human cancer research and drug development,” focused on the institutes’ current objectives, including advancing cross-species cancer research and expanding the canine clinical trials network.

Research submissions were organized across four areas: 

• Cancer Prevention, Control, Outreach & Engagement
• Theranostics & Molecular Imaging
• Immunomodulation & Regenerative Medicine
• Comparative Oncology & Translational Medicine

Cancer research trainees and early-career investigators were recognized for their outstanding achievements:

Best Abstract Award: Samarth Kansara (PI: Satyanarayana Rachagani, DVM, PhD)

Best Poster Award: First Place: Velaphi Thipe (PI: Kattesh V. Khatti, PhD), Second Place: Oluwatola Femi-Olatunji (PI: Paul De Figueiredo, PhD), Third Place: Nora Pryor (PI: Heather M. Hennkens, PhD)

Best Three-Minute Talk Award: Dana Burris (PI: Jorge Gomez-Gutierrez, PhD, BSC)

Director’s Distinguished Research Award: Abilash Gangula (PI: Raghuraman Kannan, PhD)

See All Cancer Research Day Photos