2026 WVU Cancer Institute Annual Fall Cancer Conference

This conference will explore advances in cancer research and care, including artificial intelligence, leukemia and brain tumor treatments, transplantation, and cellular therapy. Participants will gain insights into patient-centered approaches, survivorship, supportive care, and expanding clinical trial access for rural communities.

  • Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place

About

The subject of this conference is next-generation oncology: from discovery to delivery.

Objectives

Following this conference, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss the opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations associated with artificial intelligence in cancer research and care.

  • Describe current advances in the management of FLT3-mutated AML and their implications for treatment planning and patient care.

  • Incorporate current advances in primary brain tumor care and use shared clinical trial networks to identify, refer, and enroll eligible patients from rural communities.

  • Develop patient-centered strategies that address survivorship, the unique needs of adolescent and young adult patients, and supportive-care approaches such as music therapy.

  • Compare differing approaches to transplantation and cellular therapy to support evidence-based, patient-centered treatment decisions.

Target Audience

The target audience for this conference is faculty, fellows, nurses, staff, and pharmacy professionals.

Contact Information

For more infromation please contact Kelcie Sturgeon.

Schedule

Day 1: Friday, October 23

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Registration, Exhibit Visit, and Breakfast

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Welcome and Introductions
  • Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD

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The Dilemma of AI in Cancer Research: The Risks of Moving Too Fast and the Costs of Moving Too Slowly
  • David Thomas, PhD

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The Evolution of Survivorship
  • Darcy Burbage, DNP, RN, AOCN

-

Visit with Vendors

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FLT3-Mutated AML
  • Mark Levis, MD, PhD

to

Advancing Primary Brain Tumor Care: Clinical Updates and Trial Access for Rural Communities
  • Matthias Holdhoff, MD

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Lunch / Exhibit Visitation

-

AYA
  • Laurel Lyckholm, MD

-

Music Therapy as an Integrative Approach in Cancer Care
  • Emily Lehr, MT-BC

-

Surgical Applications of Organoid Technology: Bench to Bedside in Therapeutic Oncology
  • Konstantinos Votanopoulos, MD, PhD

-

Break / Snack

-

Internal WVU CI Panel Discussion-TCT
  • Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD
  • Lauren Veltri, MD
  • Aaron Cumpston, PharmD, BCOP
  • Rafic Farah, MD
  • Salah Ud Din Safi, MD
  • Konstantinos Sdrimas

This panel consists of West Virginia University, Department of Medical Oncology faculty.

-

Door Prizes / Adjourn

Course Credits

The West Virginia University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WVU Office of CME designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This continuing education activity has been provided by the West Virginia University School of Nursing for 6.6 contact hours. The West Virginia University School of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing education by the State of West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses, Legislative Rule § 19CSR11-4 under provider number 50-26086.

Disclosures

It is the policy of the WVU School of Medicine Office of CME to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its educational activities. All faculty/authors/planners participating in our activities are expected to disclose any relationships they may have with commercial companies. For this conference, the following relationships have been disclosed:

Dr. Farah has disclosed receiving honoraria from ADCT, Incyte and Abbvie as a speaker

Dr. Holdhoff has disclosed the following:

  • receiving honoraria from Novartis as a steering committee member

  • receiving honoraria from Servier, AnHeart, SERB, Suntech, Tango Therapeutics and Parabilis Medicines as an advisory board member

  • receiving honoraria from Advarra, Parexel and Cytel as a Data Safety Monitoring Board member

Dr. Levis has disclosed the following:

  • receiving honoraria from Astellas as a speaker

  • receiving honoraria from Daiichi-Sankyo, Kura, Menarini, Servier, Sumitomo and Syndax as an advisory board member

All others have indicated that they have no relevant interests to disclose.

These relationships, along with the educational content of this program, will be reviewed and any potential conflicts of interest will be resolved to the satisfaction of the WVU School of Medicine Office of CME prior to the activity. If a conflict cannot be resolved, the person involved will be removed from control of content or the content will not be presented as part of the educational program.

Speakers

A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Darcy Burbage available.
Darcy Burbage, DNP, RN, AOCN
Position
Consulting Associate, School of Nursing
Aaron Cumpston.
Aaron Cumpston, PharmD, BCOP
Positions
Clinical Specialist - BMT, Alexander B. Osborn Hematopoietic Malignancy and Transplantation Program Clinical Service
Member, WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs
View Profile
Ashkan Emadi.
Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD
Positions
Alexander Bland Osborn Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology
Member, WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs
View Profile
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Rafic Farah available.
Rafic Farah, MD
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Matthias Holdhoff available.
Matthias Holdhoff, MD
Position
Co-Director, Brain Cancer Disease Group
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Emily Lehr available.
Emily Lehr, MT-BC
Position
Instructor of Music Therapy, West Virginia University
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Mark Levis available.
Mark Levis, MD, PhD
Position
Director, Adult Leukemia Service, Co-Director, Hematologic Malignancies and Bone Marrow Transplantation Program
Laurel Lyckholm.
Laurel Lyckholm, MD
Position
Professor, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology
View Profile
Konstantinos Sdrimas.
Konstantinos Sdrimas
Positions
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Oncology
Member, WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs
View Profile
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of David Thomas available.
David Thomas, PhD
A silhoutte outline indicating no photo of Konstantinos Votanopoulos available.
Konstantinos Votanopoulos, MD, PhD
Position
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology

Venue

Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place

Two Waterfront Pl, Morgantown, WV 26501

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Planning Committee

Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD Director
Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Medical Oncology
West Virginia University

Aaron Cumpston, PharmD, BCOP
Pharmacy Clinical Specialist, TCT/HM; Adjunct Associate Professor
West Virginia University

Lauren Veltri, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Medical Oncology
West Virginia University

David A. Clump, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
West Virginia University

Mohammed Almubarak, MD
Professor, Department of Medical Oncology
West Virginia University

Ashley Barill, RN
Nurse Manager, Department of Medical Oncology

Molly Kledzik, MD, FACS
Associate Professor, Surgical Oncology; MSIII Clerkship Director
West Virginia University

Trey Lewis
Senior Executive Assistant, West Virginia University Cancer Institute

Annorah Cale, BS
Administrative Associate, Department of Medical Oncology
West Virginia University

Doris Tucker
Continuing Education Coordinator
West Virginia University

Kelcie Sturgeon, MA
Coordinator Project Manager, West Virginia University Cancer Institute

Deanna Dalton, BS
Coordinator Project Manager, West Virginia University Cancer Institute