NCI at AACR COVID-19 and Cancer

MONDAY, JUNE 20

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Meeting: COVID 19 and Cancer starts today. All session times are U.S. EDT. Individuals wishing to attend the virtual meeting must register online.

Subscribe for the latest information on presentations and resources from NCI at AACR 2020 and future meetings. Learn more about NCI's presence at the meeting on our NCI at AACR COVID-19 and Cancer Meeting page.

Today's NCI Presentations

Forum 1: Regulatory and Operational Implications of Cancer Clinical Trial Changes During COVID-19

1:05-2:05 p.m. (EDT) | Presenter: James H. Doroshow, M.D.

NCI’s Deputy Director for Clinical and Translational Research will participate in the Forum on Regulatory and Operational Implications of Cancer Clinical Trial Changes During COVID-19.

Symposium 4: Cancer Drug Repurposing to Treat COVID-19

2:20-4:35 p.m. (EDT) | Presenter: Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Staudt, will present his session, “Inhibition of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase in patients with severe COVID-19,” during the Symposium on Cancer Drug Repurposing to Treat COVID-19. His presentation will describe the hyperinflammatory state that occurs in a subset of patients with COVID-19, and how the approved off-label use of BTK inhibitor Acalabrutinib is being studied and used to help treat these patients.

Tomorrow: Dr. Douglas Lowy Participates in Afternoon Symposium

NCI’s Principal Deputy Director, Doug Lowy, M.D., will present “When Cancer Research Goes Viral” during the COVID-19 and Diagnostics Development Symposium. Dr. Lowy will discuss how NCI has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through research at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, development of a serology network (SeroNet), developing a COVID-19 natural history study in patients with cancer (NCCAPS), and tracking SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence. In addition, he will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic may stimulate modified approaches to cancer screening moving forward.

Join this session on Tuesday, July 21, 2:20-4:20 p.m. EDT

Clinical Trial Flexibilities

NCI has provided guidance for clinical trials’ activities during the COVID-19 pandemic to give greater flexibility to the patient and the caregiver so that they may more easily be treated on a clinical trial if indicated. Additionally, NCI is deeply concerned for the health and safety of individuals involved in our research. We continue to closely monitor NCI-supported clinical trials to help address the needs of investigators to implement accommodations so that they can, to the greatest extent possible, maintain continuity of care for their patients who are being treated on trials.

For guidance, visit the COVID-19 Information for Cancer Researchers webpage.