Researchers and clinicians will gather at UNMC June 29-30 for the 2026 Eppley Institute Henry M. Lemon Short Course in Cancer Biology.
The program will focus on structural molecular biology in cancer research, exploring how structural insights into DNA repair and cellular processes are transforming cancer treatment strategies.
Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer, will provide opening remarks, followed by an introduction from event host Gloria Borgstahl, PhD, professor at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and co-director of the Eppley Structural Biology Facility.
Co-organizer John Tainer, PhD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, will deliver Monday’s keynote lecture on paradigm shifts in DNA repair structural biology and their implications for cancer. Sessions also will examine replication fork protection complexes as emerging targets in precision oncology.
Jessica Tyler, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, will discuss the molecular mechanisms of aging and lifespan extension, linking biology to cancer development. Her sessions will explore how improving DNA double-strand break repair may extend cellular lifespan, offering new avenues for therapeutic research.
Tuesday’s program features presentations from Zachary Nagel, PhD, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Sheila S. David, PhD of the University of California. Dr. Nagel will discuss functional assays that improve understanding of cancer therapy responses and uncover new roles for DNA repair pathways. Dr. David will provide insights into base excision repair and the complex biology of MUTYH glycosylase.