DIRECTOR ’ S MESSAGE
UH Cancer Center researchers recognized for community-based cancer research contributions
University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center researchers and physicians were recognized for their contributions to community-based cancer research , and for their role in enrolling cancer patients to National Cancer Institute ( NCI ) treatment and cancer control clinical trials . Te NCI Community Oncology Research Program ( NCORP ) recognized people from all over the country for outstanding achievements between 2017 and 2018 .
Randall F . Holcombe , MD , MBA
There is perhaps no better example of how research at the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center is focused on the people of Hawai ‘ i than the Multiethnic Cohort ( MEC ) Study . One of the largest and most ethnically diverse epidemiologic studies has been conducted by researchers at the Cancer Center , with colleagues from USC , for the past 25 years and has led to seminal discoveries about the causes of cancer and how diet and environmental factors infuence cancer patient survival . Understanding how breast cancer diferentially afects diferent populations here in Hawai ‘ i , how nicotine metabolism diferences afect smoking-related lung cancer , and how internal fat deposition that can lead to liver cancer varies across diferent populations are just some of the incredible discoveries that have resulted from this study . I am so thankful for the faculty researchers who started , and those who currently conduct this study , but I am even more appreciative of the over 104,000 people in Hawai ‘ i who committed their time and efort to participate in this research . The MEC truly represents an academic-community partnership , and emphasizes the value of a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Hawai ‘ i .
Te six clinical faculty members and researchers honored by NCORP demonstrates the focus of the UH Cancer Center on community-based research and cancer clinical trial participation . We want to make sure that everyone in Hawai ‘ i has access to cancer clinical trials in order to improve response to treatment , increase the chance of cure and prolong survival ,” said Randall Holcombe , MD , UH Cancer Center director .
Te Hawai ‘ i Minority / Underserved NCORP at the UH Cancer Center received recognition in the Platinum Award category . Wade Kyono , MD , UH Cancer Center clinical faculty , received a Gold Award , for enrolling 20-39 patients .
Te following Hawai ‘ i winners were honored with their Silver Award certifcates , achieving more than 10-19 enrollments during the last year :
u Jared Acoba , MD , UH Cancer Center assistant professor
u Jefrey Berenberg , MD , UH Cancer Center professor and principal investigator of the Hawai ‘ i NCORP project based at the UH Cancer Center
u Jonathan Cho , MD , UH Cancer Center adjunct professor
u Ronald Yanagihara , MD , UH Cancer Center clinical faculty
Virginia McMahon , BA , UH Cancer Center assistant clinical manager , received a retirement recognition celebrating her 30-year career contribution to communitybased cancer research .
Jefrey Berenberg , MD ( left ) and Jared Acoba , MD ( right )
Aloha ,
Randall F . Holcombe , MD , MBA Director
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