In this episode of Bench to Bedside, Dr. Roy Jensen welcomes Dr. Joseph McGuirk, division director of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapies at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, to discuss CAR T-cell therapy and the growing "CAR T crisis" in access. Dr. McGuirk explains how CAR T is made from a patient's own T cells and why it has produced unprecedented, potentially curative outcomes in blood cancers such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leading to FDA approvals in second- and third-line settings. He shares national data showing only 25% of eligible second-line patients and 35% of eligible third-line patients receive CAR T, with access declining as distance from a treatment center increases. The conversation highlights barriers including referral patterns, education gaps, logistics, socioeconomic factors, and disparities, and outlines KU's efforts to expand outreach, partner with community sites, and build infrastructure to improve timely evaluation and treatment.

00:00 Welcome and the CAR T Crisis

01:25 How CAR T works

05:00 Breakthrough results and approvals

06:52 The access gap data

10:16 Why delays are deadly

11:49 Barriers to referral and equity

17:31 Taking CAR T closer to home

19:37 What patients can do now

22:22 Rapid evaluation and parallel workflow

24:26 New cancer center and GMP expansion

28:46 Closing thoughts and resources

Links from this Episode:

• Learn more about CAR T treatment at KU Cancer Center
• Learn more about Dr. Joseph McGuirk
• Read Dr. McGuirk's research "Real-world treatment patterns and survival outcomes in second and third line settings in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL)"
• Read Dr. McGuirk's article "Leading Oncologist Rings the Alarm Bell: 'We Have a Crisis in Life-Saving Access to CAR T-Cell Therapy'
• Hear Dr. McGuirk talk about CAR T access on KCUR's "Up to Date" podcast

To ensure you get our latest updates, follow us on the social media channel of your choice by searching for KU Cancer Center.

In this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, is joined by Dr. Kristy Brown and Dr. John Jakicic, co-leaders of KU Cancer Center's new Obesity, Metabolic Health & Cancer research program, the first of its kind at an NCI-designated cancer center focused on the obesity–cancer link. They discuss rising obesity rates, obesity's link to at least 13 cancers, and key biological mechanisms including insulin and glucose signaling, inflammation, and hormone changes such as estrogen. The guests explain how this new program will harmonize cancer and obesity research, study how changes in adiposity and tissue quality affect cancer risk and treatment response, and develop interdisciplinary, community-informed prevention and intervention strategies, including lifestyle approaches and newer obesity medications, to improve outcomes and survivorship.

00:00 Obesity and Cancer Link

01:03 Why KU Cancer Center Launched Program

03:47 How Obesity Fuels Cancer

05:57 Reversing Risk Questions

07:10 First of Its Kind Program

09:30 Obesity as the New Tobacco

10:35 Team Science and Partnerships

13:10 Patient Impact and Trials

16:46 Tissue Quality and Muscle

18:52 Next Decade Opportunities

21:31 Equity and Real-World Barriers

22:12 Evidence and Expert Validation

24:25 Closing and Resources

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about the new Obesity, Metabolic Health & Cancer Research Program at KU Cancer Center

To ensure you get our latest updates, follow us on the social media channel of your choice by searching for KU Cancer Center.

In this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, speaks with researchers Dr. Nikki Nollen and Dr. Lisa Sanderson-Cox about building lasting collaborations to reduce tobacco use and cancer disparities, particularly in African American communities. They describe how their partnership began at KU Medical Center and grew through a long-term, trusted collaboration with Swope Health, a federally qualified health center in Kansas City. Drs. Nollen and Cox explain how community and patient advisory boards shape their clinical trials, influencing study questions, counseling protocols, and attention to issues like menthol use, tobacco marketing, spirituality, and unmet social needs. They also highlight broader collaborations that advanced genetic and pharmacotherapy insights and helped inform higher-dose nicotine replacement approaches for lighter smokers, and they discuss e-cigarettes as harm reduction for adults but a risk for youth.

00:00 Welcome and Episode Focus

00:59 How Their Collaboration Began

01:54 Building Trust with Swope Health

03:24 Community Advisory Boards in Action

06:50 Letting the Community Lead

08:18 Unmet Social Needs and Study Design

10:28 Genetics and Broader Research Partners

12:09 Updating Nicotine Replacement Dosing

13:32 Lessons from Long Term Teamwork

15:40 E-Cigarettes Harm Reduction Debate

17:21 Closing Thanks and Takeaways

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more the partnership with Swope Health

· Learn about Dr. Nikki Nollen

· Learn more about Dr. Lisa Sanderson Cox

· Learn more about research on e-cigarette usage

To ensure you get our latest updates, follow us on the social media channel of your choice by searching for KU Cancer Center.