NEWS & RESOURCES

Dr. Heath Skinner named professor and chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
In his new role, Dr. Skinner will focus on elevating the department’s reputation for excellence in academic radiation oncology and training the next generation of radiation oncologists.

Dr. Heath Skinner discusses personalized radiation (WAFB)
Personalized radiation boosts cancer treatment: Medicine’s next big thing? Dr. Skinner discusses advancements in patient's response to radiation.

Clinical trial published led by Dr. Heath Skinner discussed in news
NRG-LU001, a randomized phase II clinical trial examining the addition of metformin to chemoradiation in lung cancer was recently published in JAMA Oncology and discussed in the scientific press.

Dr. Phillip Pifer's research honored by ASTRO
Dr. Pifer's abstract focused on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and p53 was selected for a Basic/Translational Science Award by ASTRO. This work was selected for both an oral presentation and inclusion in the ASTRO Biology Science Highlights discussion at the 2021 ASTRO annual meeting.
Dr. Heath Skinner inducted into the American Society for Clinical investigation
"The American Society for Clinical Investigation seeks to support the scientific efforts, educational needs, and clinical aspirations of physician-scientists to improve the health of all people."

Dr. Heath Skinner authors editorial discussing trial using radiation to treat COVID-19 pneumonia
In a quest to treat severe COVID pneumonia investigators are using low-dose radiation to improve outcomes. Here Dr. Skinner discusses the surprisingly long history of radiation in the treatment of pneumonia and what this might mean for COVID patients

DR. MOHAMED ABDELHAKIEM'S WORK SELECTED FOR ASCO ANNUAL MEETING POSTER PRESENTATION
DR. ABDELHAKIEM FOUND SEVERAL IMMUNE CELL SUBTYPES THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH RECURRENCE FOLLOWING RADIATION IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER

DR. HEATH SKINNER DISCUSSES TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER (ASCO DAILY NEWS PODCAST)
Dr. Skinner discussed the evolution of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer as well as the most up to date treatment options with ASCO Daily News

GABAPENTIN SHOWS EFFICACY AS OPIOID ALTERNATIVE FOR PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER
Brief discussion by Dr. Skinner and others regarding a recent clinical trial of gabapentin for pain control in head and neck cancer

TALKING TO PATIENTS ABOUT RADIATION FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER
Dr. Skinner reviews the types of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer and our unique survivorship clinic at UPMC

COMMENTARY ON KEYNOTE-048: A PHASE III STUDY OF FIRST-LINE PEMBROLIZUMAB FOR RECURRENT/METASTATIC HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
An invited commentary in the ASCO post by Dr. Skinner, Dr. Dan Zandberg and Dr. Robert Ferris discussing Keynote-048

PRESS COVERAGE OF THE INITIAL PRESENTATION THE FINDINGS FROM THE NRG LU001 CLINICAL TRIAL
This was a international, multi-institutional randomized clinical trial led by Dr. Skinner and Dr. Theos Tsakiridis examining the combination of metformin with chemoradiation in lung cancer.

PD-L1 EXPRESSION AND RADIATION RESISTANCE IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
An article summarizing some of our working linking PD-L1 expression and outcomes following radiation treatment in head and neck cancer