Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Registration is closing on August 26 for the Lauren Cancer 5K! Please join us and help support rare cancer research at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

📅 September 12, 2026
📍 Kendall Lake, Boston Township, OH

Register here: www.laurencancerfoundation.com

☀️ Free sunscreen is now available on campus!

Our Stop the Burn sunscreen kiosk is now outside Case CCC in the Wolstein Research Building — and thanks to our partnership with La Roche-Posay USA, the sunscreen is free while supplies last!

Help support melanoma research and get a La Roche-Posay coupon! If you’re 18+, take our brief voluntary survey about sunscreen use and skin cancer awareness. It takes about 5 minutes, and your responses will help researchers better understand melanoma in Northeast Ohio.

👉 Take the survey: https://www.jotform.com/form/261544832053151

Learn more about Stop the Burn: https://case.edu/cancer/community/stop-the-burn

☀️🦸‍♀️Sun protection is a superpower!

Through Case CCC’s Stop the Burn campaign, free sunscreen is available at pools, splash pads, water attractions, beaches and parks across Northeast Ohio—making it easier for families and outdoor recreation enthusiasts to practice sun-safe habits.

Our community partners, including the Mayfield Village lifeguards pictured here, are helping us spread the word: protecting your skin today can help reduce your risk of skin cancer tomorrow.

Stop the Burn also supports melanoma research. Visitors can scan a QR code at participating sunscreen kiosks and dispensers to complete a brief voluntary survey, helping researchers better understand melanoma rates in Northeast Ohio and inform future prevention, education and early detection strategies.

Want to bring free sunscreen to your community? Learn how: https://case.edu/cancer/community/stop-the-burn

What if the immune memory your body developed from COVID-19 could be used to help fight cancer?

That’s the idea behind PROTEXI™, an experimental cancer vaccine platform developed through research led by Case CCC investigator John Letterio, MD.

Instead of trying to build a completely new immune response to cancer, PROTEXI™ redirects existing antiviral immune memory toward tumor-specific targets—helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Published in Nature Communications, the study provides the scientific foundation for a planned first-in-human clinical trial in patients with sarcoma.

Read the full story here:

Letterio Study Advances Novel Cancer Vaccine Platform Toward First-in-Human Clinical Trial | Case Comprehensive Cancer Center | School of Medicine | Case Western Reserve University Case CCC's Developmental Therapeutics Program co-leader, John Letterio, MD, is senior corresponding author on a study that has led to the development ...

What happens when leading cancer researchers come together to tackle some of the field's biggest questions?

This week, Case CCC hosted the Cellular Plasticity and Tumor Ecosystem Conference, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to explore how cancer cells adapt, evolve, and interact with their environment.

The conference featured discussions on cancer neuroscience, immune interactions, metabolism, epigenetics, therapeutic resistance, and innovative technologies that are shaping the future of cancer research.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring event!

Congratulations to the 2026 CanSUR cohort on an incredible summer!

This year, 39 outstanding undergraduate students were selected from more than 1,081 applicants to participate in the CanSUR (Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research) program at the Case CCC.

Throughout the summer, students gained hands-on research experience while participating in weekly Lunch & Learn sessions covering topics across cancer research and career development. They also heard an inspiring perspective from a cancer survivor through The Gathering Place and collaborated on presentations exploring emerging topics in cancer research.

Beyond the lab, the cohort demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement. Students volunteered at Black Family Cancer Awareness Day, supported residents at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge by organizing game nights and serving dinner, and introduced themselves to the Mount Sinai Health Foundation Board as they shared their experiences and aspirations.

The summer culminated with the CanSUR Research Symposium, where students presented the results of their research projects to faculty, mentors, peers, family, and friends.

Thank you to our dedicated faculty mentors, staff, and partners for making this transformative experience possible, and congratulations again to our 2026 CanSUR students. We can't wait to see where your careers in cancer research take you next!

Thank you to everyone who joined this year's Miles for Melanoma 5K!

Members of the Case CCC team were proud to participate in support of melanoma awareness, prevention, and research. It was a meaningful day connecting with our community and helping spread the message about sun safety.

A special thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn more and pick up sunscreen while supporting this important cause!

Excited to be at talking with community residents and volunteers about cancer screenings and resources to help people quit smoking.
We’re here in the beautiful new park behind Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center that was put in with the help of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Come on out and connect with us until 6pm.

For the second consecutive year, the streets outside the Warren E. Anderson Midtown Collaboration Center became a hub for health, education and community connection during the Black Family Cancer Awareness Block Party, held June 13.

Convened by Case CCC in collaboration with consortium members Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and Cleveland Clinic, the event welcomed nearly 150 community members for a day focused on cancer awareness, prevention, screening, and wellness.

Attendees had access to health services and wellness resources, including mammograms, gynecological exams, prostate cancer screenings, blood pressure and STI screenings, and dental and oral cancer screenings. Additional programming featured wellness activities, healthy snack demonstrations and panel discussions focused on men’s and women’s health. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine students also hosted a teddy bear clinic to help children become more comfortable with medical tools and healthcare settings.

“Events like this make conversations about cancer and wellness feel more approachable and less intimidating,” said Kristina Austin, Case CCC's Director of Community Outreach and Engagement. “When people can ask questions, connect with healthcare providers and see others in their community engaging in these conversations, it helps build confidence around prevention, screening and seeking care.”

Bootcamp week is complete for the 2026 CanSUR cohort!

Forty undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the United States recently completed the opening "bootcamp" week of Case CCC's nationally recognized Cancer-focused Summer Undergraduate Research (CanSUR) program. The students were selected from a pool of nearly 1,100 applicants this year.

Designed to prepare students for a summer of intensive laboratory research, the week combined scientific enrichment with activities focused on team building, communication, and community.

Participants engaged in icebreakers, trust-building exercises, and collaborative challenges before gathering for a picnic and field games at Tinkham Veale University Center. Students also explored Cleveland's cultural landscape with a visit to the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art and had the opportunity to connect with faculty mentors during a dedicated Meet Your Mentor luncheon.

The scientific program featured a lecture by Goutham Narla, MD, PhD, (pictured above right) who discussed the molecular processes that underlie the genesis and progression of human tumors, as well as translational cancer research, and career development.

Over the summer, students will conduct hands-on research in laboratories across Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals, working alongside leading cancer researchers.

The NIH- and ACS-funded program aims to inspire the next generation of cancer scientists by providing early exposure to cutting-edge research, mentorship, and career pathways in oncology.

Making this program possible are not only the dedicated Case CCC member mentors, but also Mark Jackson, PhD, Vice Dean, Graduate Education, CWRU SOM; Ruth Keri, PhD, Associate Director, Basic Research, Case CCC; Jason Mears, PhD, Case CCC's Associate Director of Training & Education; Damian Junk, PhD, Case CCC's Interim Associate Director; Gena Richmann, MEd, Education Program Manager; and Carolyn Hicks, Programs Manager.