University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Annual Research Retreat
April 10, 2025
9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Health Science Learning Center Atrium
This year’s event focuses on
“AI for Patient Care”
The in-person event allows us to come together to engage, share research visions, and learn from each other. The contributions from each individual to our Carbone Cancer Center team – from trainees, to administrators, researchers, clinicians, and faculty – allow us to move forward together and be the driving force for research, prevention, and treatment initiatives critical to defeating cancer in Wisconsin and around the world.
Registration is now open!!
2025 UWCCC Research Retreat Agenda
Room numbers for the events in HSLC are noted below.
8:00 am – 9:00 am Abstract Poster Setup
8:30 am – 9:00 am Registration
9:00 am – 10:00 am Welcome, Bothwell Award, Community Outreach and Engagement 1306
10:00 am – 11:00 am WARF Collaborations and Achievements 1306
11:00 am – 11:15 am Break
11:15 am – 12:15 pm Industry Panel 1306
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Trainee Flash Talks 1325
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch 1220
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Keynote Speaker 1306
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Breakout Sessions 1306/1325
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Formal Poster Session
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Reception, Poster Session, Networking, Award Announcements
The 2025 UWCCC Research Retreat
Abstract Book
Click on the image below to access the Abstract Book
2025 UWCCC Research Retreat Keynote Speaker
Rohit Bhargava, PhD
Director of the Cancer Center
at Illinois at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with academic appointments as the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering and Professor of Bioengineering.
Virtual Presentation
Thursday, April 10, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
HSLC Lecture Hall 1306
In-person participation is encouraged.
“Digital chemical histopathology: Practical solutions for cancer pathology workflows”
Histopathology underpins many diagnostic tests and research in solid tissues, forming the gold standard for most cancer diagnoses. The recognition of important tissue structures and disease progression is typically conducted by examining morphology and physical organization in stained samples, a process that has remained fairly consistent for over 125 years. Emerging techniques seek to record both this morphology and new information, such as chemical content within tissues, to provide improved recognition in disease and development. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a long-established tool for molecular analyses in the chemical sciences. Harnessing IR spectroscopy in a microscopy format presents challenges that necessitate a trade-off between signal to noise ratio (SNR), speed of data recording, extent molecular content and spatial localization. Here, we explore each of the axes to show how emerging techniques can provide practical solutions for pathology.
Breakout Sessions
WARF Therapeutics Updates
HSLC – 1306
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Jon Young
Head of the new WARF Therapeutics program
Jon will discuss how WARF Therapeutics is set up, how they collaborate with UW faculty, and share a case study of a successfully executed early-stage program.
Industry Panel
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
HSLC -1306
Join UWCCC members Richard Bruce, MD, Tyler Bradshaw, PhD. and industry partners
* GE Healthcare
* Tempus
* Microsoft
* Epic
The panel will be answering sharing examples of an AI project, success stories, and answering questions.
Simultaneous Sessions
Research Presentation
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Selected UWCCC members will present their current research in two separate sessions.
HSLC 1306
* Andrew Wentland MD, PhD.
* Ran Zhang PhD
* Alan McMillan, PhD.
HSLC 1325
* Muhammad Murtaza MBBS, PhD.
* Carri Glide-Hurst PhD, DABR, FAAPM
* Michael Collins
Trainee Flash Talks
Trainee Flash Talks
The following trainees have been
selected to compete in the
2025 Research Retreat
Flash Talk Session
Trainees submit abstracts and then each
one is reviewed by 3 faculty members.
The top six scored abstracts then present
their research and answer questions.
The top three receive awards.
The results will be announced during the
reception.
Trainee Flash Talk Presenters
Kendra Marr
Alexa Schmitz
Ichwaku Rastogi
Jayden West
Matias Fabregat
Michelle Stephens
Poster Session Day of Event Directions
Please bring your poster(s) to the HSLC atrium between 8:00 – 9:00 am on Thursday, April 10th.
- Pushpins will be provided for hanging posters
- Posters will be displayed all day, until 5:30 pm.
- Poster board number assignments will be emailed to you and available on the day of the event.
- Pick up your nametag at the reception table prior to the session or earlier if you are participating all day.
- All individuals are expected to be at their poster from 4:00 – 4:30 pm
- The reception will take place from 4:30 – 5:30 pm and all are encouraged to view other posters, network, and enjoy.
- Due to limited space, poster size of 44 x 48 inches is REQUIRED.
- Four – $500 poster awards will be announced during the reception.
2025 Steering Committee Members
Co-chairs:
Pallavi Tiwari, PhD
Grace Blitzer, MD
Committee Members
Andrea Pennati, PhD Daniel Shapiro, MD, FACS Janelle Sobecki, MD Marty Pagel, PhD
Michael Veronesi, MD, PhD
Nicholas Pytel, DO Quaovi Sodji, MD, PhD Ran Zhang, PhD Jack Shireman, Trainee