UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center

UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only cancer center in Virginia named a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

We are also one of only 52 centers in the United States to receive this designation, the highest recognition the NCI gives. We're part of renowned group of leaders in cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment and strive to stay ahead of the curve in innovation, technology and, most importantly, patient care. Our center is accredited through The Joint Commission, Commission on Cancer, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), and Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). You don't just have to visit us at the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center in Charlottesville, VA. You can access care in other locations throughout Central Virginia, including clinics in Fishersville, Culpeper and Pantops. Talk to your provider about finding care that's close to you.

A cancer journey can bring so much—fear, change, grief, hope, and moments that are hard to put into words. Sometimes, wr...
04/08/2026

A cancer journey can bring so much—fear, change, grief, hope, and moments that are hard to put into words. Sometimes, writing can help us begin. 💙

Join Dr. Cameron Steele for Writing As A Way of Healing, a gentle and supportive virtual workshop for all UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center patients. A former university English professor, writer, teacher, and three-time cancer survivor, Dr. Steele brings both professional expertise and deeply personal understanding to this space. Through guided prompts and meaningful connection, participants are invited to reflect, express, and heal alongside others who truly understand.

No writing experience is needed—just come as you are.

🗓 Thursdays, May 21 – July 2
⏰ 2:30–4:00 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom
To register, email cancersupportservices@uvahealth.org

Congratulations to Melanie Rutkowski, PhD, who has been named inaugural Co-Director of the Human Immunophenotyping Initi...
04/04/2026

Congratulations to Melanie Rutkowski, PhD, who has been named inaugural Co-Director of the Human Immunophenotyping Initiative (HIPI) at the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research (CIC).

Each person’s immune system has unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, like a fingerprint, called their immune phenotype. Immunophenotyping is a method of analyzing a person’s cells to understand and categorize how their immune system functions, which can help researchers develop better diagnostic techniques, decision-making tools, and treatments customizable to patients.

A $1.2 million gift from the Beirne Carter Foundation establishing HIPI will provide researchers seed funding for Immunophenotyping research, making it easier to bring laboratory science to patient care.

Dr. Rutkowski, a CIC and UVACCC member, researches the impact of the immune system and the normal microbes in the human body on cancer resistance and spread. In 2022, she discovered that unhealthy gut bacteria contribute to breast cancer’s spread, and more recently, that gut bacteria cause ovarian cancer’s resistance to immune checkpoint therapy.

She will co-lead HIPI alongside fellow CIC member Jeff Sturek, MD, PhD, a UVA physician scientist in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Sturek studies interstitial and inflammatory lung diseases in search of new therapeutic targets. In 2025, he earned a five-year $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), to study how B cells, a type of white blood cell, and antibodies impact idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic progressive scarring lung disease. He also cares for patients with cancer who develop lung problems related to cancer treatment.

The Carter Center was established in 1991 to provide a better understanding of the impact of the immune system on both chronic and acute diseases, helping find new treatments and cures. Its work has been generously supported by nearly $13 million from the Carter Foundation.

Learn more about the Human Immunophenotyping Initiative and the Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research: https://www.immunology.virginia.edu/

The Cancer Center and UVA School of Data Science recently co-hosted the inaugural Cancer Research and Data Science Sympo...
04/03/2026

The Cancer Center and UVA School of Data Science recently co-hosted the inaugural Cancer Research and Data Science Symposium, gathering faculty, staff, and students to share ongoing work and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

The event focused on research opportunities combining data science and cancer computational genomics, two emerging fields that can apply statistical and computational techniques to make sense of massive data and better understand how cancer works. That knowledge could help identify people at elevated risk for cancer, provide new diagnostic methods and treatments, and indicate which treatments will be most effective for different patients’ cancers.

Along with research talks, participants heard from UVACC Director Thomas P. Loughran Jr., MD, and Director of Computational Genomics Chongzhi Zang, PhD, as well as Stephen Turner, PhD, the School of Data Science’s Assistant Dean for Research.

The Symposium invited faculty to create new connections and foster existing ones, explore partnership opportunities, and reflect on the rapidly growing and increasingly promising role of data science in cancer research. Attendees explored how data-driven discovery can advance science and improve lives, together.

Thank you to everyone who made this symposium a success!

Learn more about UVACCC's research programs: https://med.virginia.edu/cancer-research/research-initiatives/research-programs/

Learn more about the School of Data Science: https://datascience.virginia.edu/

Our latest COE e-newsletter is out now. This issue highlights the 2024–2025 UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Community Im...
04/02/2026

Our latest COE e-newsletter is out now. This issue highlights the 2024–2025 UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Community Impact Report and stories from across our communities that show the power of listening, collaboration, and community-driven action. Read more in the newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/virginia/uva-cancer-center-coe-e-newsletter-12848202

04/01/2026

LOVE -- will be the focus of our UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Nia Moving to Heal Zoom class at noon tomorrow. Class details: https://www.susantate.org/nia-uva-cancer-center

These classes are free for people with cancer, cancer survivors, caregivers & UVA Cancer Center staff. Each class is new and different and no dance experience is needed.

At the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, our providers help patients navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.Rita ...
04/01/2026

At the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, our providers help patients navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.

Rita Lam’s journey shows how a multidisciplinary team can help patients navigate hereditary cancer risk with clarity, compassion, and personalized expertise.

• Katelyn Bohanan, genetic counselor, who helped identify Rita’s hereditary cancer risk through genetic testing
• Dr. Kari Ring, gynecologic oncologist, who provided expertise in risk-reducing gynecologic surgery and hereditary cancer prevention
• Dr. Shayna Showalter, breast surgical oncologist, who guided Rita through her breast surgery options
• Dr. Luke Poveromo, plastic and reconstructive surgeon, who supported her breast reconstruction as part of her care plan

Together, these providers helped Rita make an informed, proactive decision about her health — a powerful example of personalized, compassionate cancer care at UVA.

Read Rita's story: https://news.virginia.edu/content/world-just-stopped-one-womans-response-life-altering-diagnosis

Cancer Center members Ahmad Jomaa, PhD, and Ling Qi, PhD, along with lead author and School of Medicine at the Universit...
03/28/2026

Cancer Center members Ahmad Jomaa, PhD, and Ling Qi, PhD, along with lead author and School of Medicine at the University of Virginia colleague Liangguang Leo Lin, PhD, have discovered the structure of a molecular machine in our cells that captures disease-causing flawed proteins and marks them for destruction, depicting it in high resolution for the first time.

The team also demonstrated how mutations that disrupt the structure’s formation and function offer potential targets to treat resulting conditions including neurodevelopmental disorders, immune dysfunction, metabolic diseases, and cancer.

The structures are located inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where cells produce and fold proteins needed for secretion and membrane function, and remove defective ones through a quality-control process known as ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Three components — the proteins OS9 and SEL1L, and the enzyme HRD1 — come together to form the ERAD core complex. OS9 and SEL1L create a claw-like structure that grips faulty proteins, while HRD1 pulls them out of the ER and tags them for disposal by the cell.

The team captured the three-dimensional structure using cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy. Until now, its exact architecture and how mutations impair its function have been poorly understood.

The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Cancer Society, the Searle Scholars Program, the Owens Family Foundation, and other sources.

Read about the team’s discovery: https://bit.ly/4s9QnQ5

Read the article in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68777-7

UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center recently hosted its annual faculty Research Retreat – a day dedicated to showcasing tran...
03/27/2026

UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center recently hosted its annual faculty Research Retreat – a day dedicated to showcasing translational research findings and fostering UVACCC’s collaborative spirit!

Participants heard updates and insights from leadership and members on new partnerships, scientific discoveries, emerging data tools, Cancer Center research priorities, and plans for the upcoming Manning Institute for Biotechnology.

A highlight of the day was the three-minute “flash talk” competition, where Cancer Center trainee PhD candidates presented their research. Top honors went to Zehra Demir and Daniel Phipps from the labs of Drs. Natasha Sheybani and David Kashatus, respectively.

Congratulations, Zehra and Daniel!

Learn about UVACCC’s research programs: https://med.virginia.edu/cancer-research/research-initiatives/research-programs/

Writing can be a powerful way to heal. 💙If you’re supporting a loved one with cancer, you may be carrying a lot of emoti...
03/16/2026

Writing can be a powerful way to heal. 💙

If you’re supporting a loved one with cancer, you may be carrying a lot of emotions, responsibilities, and changes along the way. You deserve a space that is just for you.

Join Writing As A Way of Healing: For Caregivers, a supportive 6-week virtual workshop series designed to help caregivers process emotions, connect with others who understand, and explore writing as a tool for self-care, stress relief, and healing.

No writing experience is needed — just come as you are.
🗓 Thursdays | March 26 – April 30
⏰ 2:30–4:00 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom

To register, email: cancersupportservices@uvahealth.org

03/04/2026

Last month, staff members at the University of Virginia’s Breast Care Center gathered to celebrate Medical Assistant Kylee Lambert, the latest recipient of the BEE (Being Excellent Everyday) award!

The BEE Award recognizes UVA Health team members who work alongside our nurses to impact patients' experiences — just as bees and flowers depend on one another.

And there’s no doubt that Kylee is deserving of this recognition! Team members are consistently impressed by her medical skill, particularly with lab draws and IV placement. But equally noticeable is the level of poise and kindness in her work. In the words of Julie Zaydfudim, BSN, RN: “Patients absolutely adore Kylee! She has a calm, comforting presence and naturally provides peace and reassurance during moments that can be stressful or overwhelming.”

Meanwhile, Kylee is a team player across the Breast Care Center. Whether it’s precepting new hires or prepping for a new clinic’s opening, she is a true asset in all of her work and plays “an essential role in the success and stability of our team.”

Congratulations to Kylee!

Today is HPV Awareness Day, and it’s a powerful reminder that some cancers are preventable. The HPV vaccine protects aga...
03/04/2026

Today is HPV Awareness Day, and it’s a powerful reminder that some cancers are preventable. The HPV vaccine protects against 6 types of cancer, including cervical, throat, and other head and neck cancers. It’s been safely and effectively monitored for over 20 years.

💉 When should my child get it?
The HPV vaccine works best when given at:
•Ages 11–12 (recommended)
•As early as age 9
•Catch-up vaccination is available through age 26
•Adults ages 27–45 can talk with their provider about whether vaccination is right for them

Why it matters
In Virginia, many teens are vaccinated — but we haven’t yet reached the Healthy People 2030 goal of 80% coverage. Every vaccination helps protect not just one child, but our entire community. A strong provider recommendation makes a difference. In fact, research shows it can increase vaccination rates by up to 5 times.

✅ What you can do
•Ask your child’s provider about the HPV vaccine
•Schedule it alongside other routine vaccines
•If your clinic doesn’t offer it, ask about getting it at your local pharmacy
•Make sure your child completes the full vaccine series
•Most insurance plans cover the HPV vaccine through age 26, and programs like Vaccines for Children (VFC) help ensure access for eligible families.

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1240 Lee Street
Charlottesville, VA
22903

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm

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Our Story

At UVA Cancer Center, we deliver advanced patient care combined with the latest research-based treatment options to improve the quality of life for cancer patients in and surrounding Virginia. With state-of-the-art clinics in multiple locations around Virginia and telemedicine programs for rural communities, UVA Cancer Center is one of the most widely-accessible cancer centers in the region.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UVA the No. 1 hospital in Virginia. Five of our specialties are among the top 50 in the U.S., including our cancer services. We're also the only cancer center in Virginia listed in Becker’s 100 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs.

As one of 70 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, we're part of renowned group of leaders in cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment and strive to stay ahead of the curve in innovation, technology and, most importantly, patient care.