WVU Cancer Institute

02/27/2026

We’re proud to see our partners at Princeton Community Hospital unveil this meaningful mural in honor of National Cancer Prevention Month. 🎗️

Created in partnership with the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities, this powerful piece represents hope, prevention, and the life-saving impact of early detection. 🦋

Together, we’re working to change the story of cancer in our region — expanding access, strengthening education, and improving outcomes close to home. 💙

02/26/2026

💊 Did you know?

You can turn unused cancer medications into hope for someone else.

Through the West Virginia University Hospitals Drug Repository Program, eligible, unopened medications can be safely donated and redistributed to patients receiving care at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center who may be experiencing a gap in access.

✔️ Unopened, tamper-evident packaging
✔️ No refrigeration required
✔️ Not a controlled substance

Anyone can donate — you don’t have to be a WVU patient. Your unused medication could make a meaningful difference for a neighbor in need.

Learn more ➡ https://bit.ly/4cXb1hw

02/18/2026

Jim Fawley became the very first patient to ring the bell after completing chemotherapy at WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center.

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Congratulations, Jim – we’re so proud to celebrate this milestone with you! 🔔✨

02/17/2026

🌎 First-in-the-world clinical trial reveals positive results 👏

The WVU Cancer Institute is leading the first-ever clinical trial using a subcutaneous formulation of blinatumomab to treat CD19-positive mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) — an ultra-rare and aggressive leukemia with historically limited options.

In an unprecedented milestone, the first patient treated in this trial achieved complete remission with full hematologic recovery, transfusion independence, and no detectable Philadelphia chromosome after just one cycle of therapy.

“This achievement underscores that transformative cancer innovation is not confined to large institutions,” Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD said. “It’s happening here in West Virginia, and it’s reaching patients who need it most.”

Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) accounts for just 1–3% of acute leukemia diagnoses — and adults often face survival measured in months. There is no FDA-approved, disease-specific therapy.

For patients who have faced an extraordinary therapeutic void, this trial represents new hope, expanded access to innovation, and the possibility of redefining the standard of care.

Breakthroughs happen when research meets compassion. 💙💛

Learn more ➡

A WVU Cancer Institute team has achieved a global medical first in a clinical trial examining the efficacy of subcutaneous blinatumomab in treating one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of leukemia.

02/16/2026

This weekend, a major new piece of equipment arrived at the WVU Cancer Institute — and it’s going to make a real impact.

We’re installing a new system for cancer treatment, bringing highly precise, targeted technology to the patients we serve.

It’s advanced. It’s powerful. And it’s going to help us treat certain cancers more efficiently — offering shorter treatment times and even greater precision.

Stay tuned for more details!

02/13/2026

💛 Soup for the Soul: Nourishing hope, one meal at a time.

For Judy McNair, long infusion days at the WVU Cancer Institute are made a little brighter thanks to a simple act of kindness — a free lunch delivered by volunteers.

Supported by generous donors, the Soup for the Soul Fund has provided more than 10,000 meals to patients since 2015, offering comfort and one less worry during treatment.

“It’s just wonderful,” Judy shared. “These lunches make your day.”

Thank you to our donors for helping us care for the whole patient — body and soul. 💙

✨ Mark your calendar: Our Day of Giving is March 25, and you’ll have the opportunity to support programs like Soup for the Soul that make moments like these possible.

Over her two-decade battle with cancer, Judy McNair has maintained a positive outlook and cheerful disposition, relying on her faith and those around her to help her on her journey.

02/12/2026

🎗️ Nearly 40% of cancers in the U.S. are preventable.

During National Cancer Prevention Month, WVU Cancer Institute experts emphasize:

✔️ Primary prevention — healthy eating, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, HPV vaccination, and avoiding to***co
✔️ Secondary prevention — detecting cancer at its earliest stage through appropriate screening when treatment is most effective and outcomes are best

We have population-based screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, as well as low-dose CT scans for those at high risk for lung cancer. Shared decision-making about prostate cancer screening is also encouraged.

Prevention and early detection save lives. Talk with your provider about your cancer risk and screening options.

Read more 🔗 https://bit.ly/4rlAqWS

As part of National Cancer Prevention Month, West Virginia University experts emphasize two types of cancer prevention — primary prevention, which focuses on keeping the disease from happening, and secondary prevention, which focuses on detection at the disease’s earliest stage.

02/11/2026

A journey of hope, powered by compassion 💛

After a leukemia diagnosis turned his world upside down, Charles Walker found more than treatment at the WVU Medicine Cancer Institute at Berkeley Medical Center – he found a care team that became family. Now, with a bone marrow donor match and a transplant ahead, Charles’ story is inspiring a donor drive to help others facing the same fight.

His journey is a powerful reminder: one donor can change – and save – a life. 🩸✨

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4coPY7n

02/10/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Steven Campbell, MD, PhD, chair of the WVU School of Medicine Department of Urology, on receiving the inaugural Faculty Educator Award from the Society of Academic Urologists at its annual meeting in Houston.

Dr. Campbell was recognized for his outstanding contributions to urologic education and his lasting impact on residents and colleagues nationwide. A nationally renowned expert in urologic oncology, he has authored more than 400 publications and helped shape national guidelines for kidney cancer care.

A well-deserved honor for an exceptional educator and leader! 👏

02/09/2026

New technology. Better care. Closer to home. 💙

The Cecil B. Highland, Jr. & Barbara B. Highland Cancer Center at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center has installed the Varian TrueBeam® linear accelerator — delivering faster, more precise radiation treatments while protecting healthy tissue.

This state-of-the-art technology delivers faster, more precise radiation treatments, helping protect healthy tissue while giving patients more personalized care closer to home. Treatments that once took up to 30 minutes can now be completed in just minutes.

“This is a game-changer for our patients,” said David Anthony Clump II, MD, PhD. “TrueBeam allows us to deliver precise treatment quickly — helping patients get back to their lives sooner.”

Read more ➡https://bit.ly/45ZQLYC

02/04/2026

This World Cancer Day, we honor every patient, caregiver, and researcher working toward better outcomes and brighter futures. The WVU Cancer Institute is proud to be part of the worldwide effort to end cancer.

02/04/2026

Dannell Boatman, EdD, MS, WVCTSI Research Scholar and faculty member at the WVU Cancer Institute, is helping ensure science reaches the people who need it most.

Rooted in her West Virginia upbringing, Dr. Boatman leads research focused on improving lung cancer screening across Appalachia, combating health misinformation, and turning complex evidence into clear, actionable health communication. Through her leadership of the CHATS Lab and Core, she’s bridging the gap between discovery and real-world impact—centering community voices and advancing communication as a form of care.

Learn how mentorship, collaboration, and a deep commitment to Appalachia are shaping her work to create tangible change for our communities.

Read more: https://www.wvctsi.org/news/story?headline=wvctsi-research-scholar-feature-dannell-boatman