IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

01/09/2026

This month’s Simon Says Expert Series session—The future of breast cancer: vaccines and AI—will be at 1 p.m. ET Friday, January 30. Submit your questions and register now: https://ow.ly/jOCo50XTozK.

What if the future of breast cancer care could prevent disease before it starts—and predict it before it progresses?

In The future of breast cancer: vaccines and AI, breast cancer expert Kathy Miller, MD, will explore how vaccines may train the immune system to stop cancer in its tracks. She will also share thoughts on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming detection, risk assessment and personalized treatment with unprecedented precision. Together, these innovations are reshaping what prevention, diagnosis and survivorship can look like in the years ahead.

The session will be moderated by Michael Gadus, a breast cancer advocate and 100 Voices of Hope advisory board member.

Join us for a forward-looking conversation at the intersection of science, technology and hope. The future isn’t coming—it’s already taking shape.

01/08/2026

The cancer center's Tarah Ballinger, MD, speaks with four breast cancer survivors who share their personal experiences with different forms of the disease, including invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma on SurvivorNet's Breast Cancer Dialogues.

Watch now: https://ow.ly/wKYN50XTaTa.

01/07/2026

Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, has spent nearly five years strengthening research, revitalizing programs and connecting the center’s work to Hoosiers everywhere since he arrived here.

Under his direction, our team is partnering with barbershops, churches, rural clinics, and pharmacists to reduce to***co use and promote cancer screening. We're studying cancer risks among farmers and bringing Indiana’s first mobile lung cancer screening program to the counties that need it most.

Dr. Lee has also focused on raising the center’s visibility—from ad campaigns at the airport and iconic Assembly Hall to race cars sporting the center’s logo to build a presence within Indiana's motorsports community—ensuring people across the state know the impact of Indiana’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Read the full story to learn how Dr. Lee is helping shape the future of cancer research in Indiana: https://ow.ly/QgWo50XC1EU.

In nearly five years at the helm, Kelvin Lee, MD, has expanded the reach and raised the profile of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

01/05/2026

We're grateful to Springfield Plastics Inc. and their Drain for the Cure fundraiser for presenting their donation to the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Your support—and the support of your community—helps drive cancer research forward and fuels discoveries that improve lives.

12/19/2025

We’re signing off for a short winter break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 to rest, recharge, and reflect on another year of progress in cancer research.

While our social channels will be quiet, the work never stops. From the lab bench to clinical trials, our scientists continue pushing discoveries forward—even during the holidays.

Thank you for being part of our community and for your ongoing support. We’ll see you in the new year with more stories of hope, innovation, and impact.

12/18/2025

Every major cancer discovery starts small, with a question, a spark, and the funding to take the first step.

Federal grants often come later, once early results show promise. But philanthropy is what makes those first experiments possible—the spark that helps researchers test bold ideas that could one day save lives.

At the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, philanthropy has launched ideas that grew into new cancer therapies, clinical trials, and discoveries that changed how cancer is treated.

When you give to cancer research, you’re not just supporting science—you’re investing in hope, possibility, and the next breakthrough waiting to happen.

Learn more about how your support fuels discovery: https://ow.ly/8y5950XJB9S.

12/16/2025

Happy holidays from the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center!

This year brought meaningful progress—including the launch of Indiana’s first and only mobile lung screening program, expanding access to lifesaving early detection for communities across the state. We also celebrated the work of our researchers and welcomed colleagues at our signature Cancer Research Day.

Join us as we look back at these highlights and more in our end-of-year video. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday season.

12/15/2025

Multiple myeloma doesn’t develop the same way in everyone, and new research is helping us understand why.

Scientists at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified important biological differences in how the disease forms and progresses in men and women.

By studying exosomes—tiny particles that carry messages between cells—researchers detected molecular differences often missed by standard methods. This work, led by Reza Shahbazi, PhD, could guide earlier detection and more targeted, sex-specific treatment approaches.

Discover how this research is shaping the future of multiple myeloma science: https://ow.ly/8blp50XJI5v.

12/13/2025

Is your student eager to explore the world of science?

Give them the chance to dive into hands-on cancer research this summer at Indiana’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Our summer programs offer students the unique experience of working alongside top physicians and researchers as they explore everything from basic lab research to clinical studies—all while learning the skills needed to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Help fuel their drive for science and set them on a path toward discovery. Encourage them to apply today by visiting https://ow.ly/j1kS50XvNNQ.

12/12/2025

What if isolating stem cells for research and future therapies could be simpler and easier on the cells themselves?

Scientists at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center tested a new device that may do just that. The study found that the technology can isolate CD34+ stem cells—vital for treatments like stem cell transplants for leukemia and lymphoma—while putting less stress on the cells.

It could help support stronger research and future clinical applications. Learn more: https://ow.ly/W4Ks50XGWvv.

A new technology used for isolating stem cells could improve cancer research. 

12/11/2025

Congratulations to the cancer center's Mark R. Kelley, PhD, for being named a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for his many contributions in pediatrics and cancer research. This prestigious honor recognizes his exceptional achievements as an inventor and his significant impact on the innovation ecosystem, economic development, and society.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/8llU50XHt7Z.

12/10/2025

A powerful moment for lung cancer advocacy in Indiana.

The 5th Annual End Lung Cancer Now Gathering brought together advocates, researchers, clinicians, and community partners who share one goal: reducing lung cancer deaths through prevention, early detection, and research. This event is a reminder of what’s possible when a community stands united.

Watch the recap and see the impact of this year’s gathering.