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.

Dr. Roy Jensen introduces the season's focus on the people behind cancer research and hands hosting duties to Dr. Ronald Chen, chair of Radiation Oncology and associate director for Community Outreach and Engagement at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Dr. Chen highlights the KU Cancer Center's K12 Paul Calabresi Career Development for Clinical and Translational Oncology program, which mentors and trains early career clinician-investigators, and interviews K12 scholar Dr. Yiduo Hu, a breast medical oncologist who joined KU after training at Yale and completing research and degrees at Case Western, Dana-Farber/Harvard, and Columbia University. Dr. Hu describes translational research as bridging communication between bench science and patient care, explains how the K12 Program's protected time and mentorship support his work on DNA damage repair and genome integrity in breast cancer, and discusses his newly activated pragmatic trial comparing two commonly used chemotherapy regimens for high-risk breast cancer. They also emphasize collaboration, including engagement with KU Cancer Center's PIVOT patient advocate group, to keep research patient-relevant and team-based.

00:00 Season Introduction

00:28 Guest Host Handoff

00:44 K12 Program Overview

01:18 Dr. Hu's Background

01:58 Translational Research Explained

03:08 K12 Support and Focus

04:09 Building A Clinical Trial

05:38 Protected Time Matters

06:22 Mentorship at KU Cancer Center

07:39 Community and PIVOT Collaboration

09:41 Career Reflections

10:33 Closing Thanks and Resources

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about the K12 Paul Calabresi Career Development for Clinical and Translational Oncology Program

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, interviews Dr. Brent Sear, director of the Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource at KU Cancer Center. Brent shares his unique career journey into clinical pharmacology, the role of clinical pharmacology in advancing cancer therapies, and the critical work his team does in guiding clinical trials and personalizing cancer treatment. They also discuss emerging technologies and their potential impact on the future of cancer research. Tune in to learn more about the intricate processes that ensure safe and effective cancer therapies.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:06 Brent Sear's Journey into Cancer Research

03:21 Understanding Clinical Pharmacology

04:54 The Role of Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource

06:40 Importance of Precise Measurement in Cancer Treatment

08:40 Collaborative Projects and Scientific Insights

09:55 Advice for Aspiring Researchers

11:52 Future of Clinical Pharmacology in Cancer Research

13:33 Conclusion and Farewell

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about the Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource at KU Cancer Center

· Learn about Brent Sear, director of the Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource

· Learn about Shared Resources and Core Facilities 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 Bench to Bedside, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, hosts Dr. Kristy Brown, a nationally recognized expert in cancer metabolism and hormone signaling. Dr. Brown discusses the latest breakthroughs in understanding the relationship between obesity, estrogen, and cancer, along with how these discoveries shape more effective treatments. She reflects on her career and shares moving accounts of patient interactions that fuel her research. The conversation delves into emerging opportunities in cancer treatment and prevention, the role of artificial intelligence in research, and offers advice for early-career scientists on making a meaningful impact. Dr. Brown expresses optimism for future cancer research advancements and the potential for improved patient outcomes.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Topic

00:28 Meet Dr. Kristy Brown: Expert in Cancer Metabolism

01:02 Optimism in Cancer Research: Key Developments

02:31 Proud Moments in Cancer Research

04:15 Obesity, Metabolism, and Cancer: Emerging Discoveries

06:10 Translational Research: From Lab to Clinic

09:08 Advice for Early Career Scientists

12:18 Hope for the Future: Personal Reflections

13:24 Conclusion and Resources

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about Dr. Kristy Brown

· Learn about Dr. Brown's research

· Learn about cancer prevention 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 Bench to Bedside, Dr. Roy Jensen speaks with Dr. Anna Arthur and Dr. Gregory Gan about their innovative cross-disciplinary work at the intersection of nutrition and radiation oncology. They explore how their combined expertise leads to holistic cancer treatment approaches, focusing on the effects of diet, inflammation, and treatment response on patient outcomes. Both experts share their personal and professional journeys into their respective fields, the collaborative projects they have undertaken, and the way they integrate multidisciplinary insights into improving cancer care. They also highlight their efforts to mentor the next generation of researchers, underscoring the value of collaboration in scientific innovation.

00:00 Introduction to Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

00:41 Meet the Experts: Dr. Anna Arthur and Dr. Gregory Gan

00:48 Journey into Their Respective Fields

02:02 Challenges and Realizations in Cancer Research

05:22 The Intersection of Nutrition and Radiation Oncology

10:28 Collaborative Projects and Their Impact

19:31 Mentoring the Next Generation of Researchers

23:14 Future Directions in Integrating Nutrition and Cancer Treatment

25:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about Dr. Anna Arthur

· Learn about Dr. Gregory Gan

· Learn about the Nutrition Shared Resource at the cancer center

· Learn about head and neck cancer

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 Bench to Bedside, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, talks with Marilyn Mahan and Karl Frees, members of Patient and Investigator Voices Organizing Together (PIVOT) – KU Cancer Center's patient research advocacy group – and co-chairs of the PIVOT Educational Task Force. They discuss PIVOT, an initiative bringing patients, survivors, caregivers, and researchers together to enhance cancer research. Marilyn and Karl share how PIVOT integrates patient perspectives into research, the ways advocates collaborate with researchers, and the program's impact on studies and researcher motivation. Both guests recount their personal cancer journeys and their dedication to influencing cancer research to become more patient-centered and effective. They stress the importance of patient advocacy, the empowerment that comes with shared knowledge, and the future goals of expanding PIVOT's reach and impact.

00:00 Introduction to Bench to Bedside

00:18 What is PIVOT?

02:03 How PIVOT Advocates Collaborate with Researchers

04:15 Impact of Patient Involvement on Research

06:34 Personal Cancer Journeys

13:53 Future Goals for PIVOT

18:58 Encouraging Advocacy and Involvement

21:17 Conclusion and How to Get Involved

Links from this Episode:

· Learn more about PIVOT and how to join

· Learn about Lynch Syndrome

· Learn about oral cancer

· Follow PIVOT on Instagram

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