Monica Bertagnolli, MD, will deliver the keynote address when the UNMC College of Medicine holds its 2026 annual research retreat on Oct. 8.
The retreat will run from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., at The Forge Event Center and the Steelworks Boardroom in the Catalyst Building, in the UNMC EDGE District.
A surgical oncologist, Dr. Bertagnolli served as the 17th director of the National Institutes of Health and, before that, as director of the National Cancer Institute. She previously practiced and taught at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she was the first woman to lead surgical oncology and held the Richard E. Wilson Professorship of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
Her laboratory work centered on the role of adenomatous polyposis coli mutations in colorectal cancer, and she has long advocated for the inclusion of rural communities in clinical studies. Dr. Bertagnolli is a past president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and president of the National Academy of Medicine.
The annual event brings together basic, translational and clinical researchers from across the UNMC College of Medicine – faculty, along with postdoctoral researchers, residents, fellows, students and staff – for a keynote address and extended question-and answer session, recognition of college achievements, a poster session and networking. Refreshments will be provided on-site by Big Grove Brewery.
Howard Fox, MD, PhD, senior associate dean of research and development at the college, encouraged people to attend.
“The retreat is one of the best opportunities of the year to step outside our usual circles, discover the remarkable work happening across the UNMC College of Medicine and make connections that can spark new ideas and collaborations,” he said.
Registration now is open to the UNMC College of Medicine community for the retreat.
Accommodation requests may be made via email or by calling 402-639-3531.