UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center message from the chief: Edward L. Nelson, MD FACP, Chief Hematology/Oncology

February 26, 2024

Edward L. Nelson, MD FACP

The UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center has a proud tradition of excellence. The center is one of only 56 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated U.S. comprehensive cancer centers and the only one based in Orange County. We offer the only adult hematopoietic stem-cell transplant services in the county, and we are the only facility approved for commercial CAR-T cell therapy.

UCI Health has consistently been recognized as one of the nation's top hospitals for cancer services. This year, Newsweek recognized UCI Medical Center as one of America’s best cancer hospitals in its inaugural rankings of the specialty. We were ranked No. 46 for cancer programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2022-23. Our center is a designated Blue Distinction® Center for Complex and Rare Cancers for offering comprehensive adult care delivered by expert teams with advanced training for such cancers.

We are also recognized for providing the highest quality care by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification Program, which is an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

This year, UCI Health will open a brand new cancer center in Irvine, Calif. The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center & Ambulatory Care will offer 225,000 square feet of cutting-edge cancer care. The facility includes 5 stories, 52 private exam rooms, eight outpatient operating rooms. The cancer clinic floor will be named for Ralph and Sue Stern in recognition of the $12.5 million gift.

There will be 42 infusion bays – 20 open, 22 private -- all with panoramic views of the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve. An outdoor infusion center terrace, generously supported with a $2 million gift from Nicholas R. Conway, DO, and Betty Sha Family, will offer a serene, healing environment.

Our commitment to excellence continues, as evidenced by a long list of faculty awards and achievements. Our physician experts are paving the way in areas of gene therapy, stem cell studies and precision medicine.

Our faculty are nationally and internationally known for innovation and research, leading the largest early-phase clinical research program in Southern California. Twelve tumor-specific teams of experts to treat all of the various tumor types (Breast, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynecologic, Hepatobiliary, Head & Neck, Malignant Hematology [acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, lymphoma, MPN], HSCT and Cellular Therapy, Lung, Neurologic, Orthopedic & Sarcoma, Skin), and a full range of supportive services (Art & Music Therapy, Audiology, Chaplaincy, Dietary/nutrition, Integrative Medicine modalities, Occupational Therapy, Pain management, Palliative Care, Physical Therapy, Social work, Speech Therapy). The faculty have received numerous awards for clinical and educational excellence.

In 2024 our 50 faculty members include:

16 Classical and Malignant Hematology Faculty (including HSCT faculty)
28 Solid Tumor and Medical Oncology Faculty (including 2 emeritus faculty)
6 Basic Scientists

As we continue to expand and offer the highest level of cancer care to our region, we will be adding eight additional faculty, all dedicated to integrating research and prevention with the most advanced diagnostics, treatments and rehabilitation programs.

2023 Accomplishments

Ranked among the nation’s top 50 cancer programs by U.S. News & World Report
The only adult hematopoietic stem-cell transplant services in Orange County
The only Orange County facility approved for commercial CAR-T cell therapy

35+ Abstracts and Presentations at 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH)
40+ Abstracts and Presentations at 2023 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
366 active IRB-approved research protocols
$44 million in research grants
300+ cancer clinical trials, and one of the largest early-phase clinical research programs in Southern California
6 Super Doctors (2022/2023)
3 Castle Connolly Top Doctors (2022/2023)
98 invitations to lecture at noteworthy meetings (since 2019)
34 innovation/patent applications
ASCO QOPI Certified since 2010

Optum Health - Cancer Center of Excellence (COE)

A Blue Distinction® Center for Complex and Rare Cancers

2023-24 News Highlights

UCI Health, one of America’s 'Best Cancer Hospitals' - UCI Health has been recognized as one of America’s best cancer hospitals by Newsweek in its inaugural rankings of the specialty, highlighting the academic health system’s commitment to exceptional cancer care. "Being named one of America's best cancer hospitals is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team of physicians, nurses and support teams who continue to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to providing outstanding cancer care for our patients and community,” said UCI Health CEO Chad T. Lefteris.

Unique therapy shows promise to combat lymphoma in first-in-human clinical trial - Early results for a first-in-human clinical trial of a novel gene-engineered therapy for relapsed or refractory large B cell lymphoma and B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma showed such promise that the FDA has granted expedited review status for the treatment called CB-010, developed by Caribou Biosciences Inc. Leukemia specialist Dr. Susan M. O'Brien at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, presenting investigator for the ANTLER clinical trial, said data for the first cohort of patients demonstrated the potential of CB-010 to help patients with these highly aggressive diseases.

International stem cell transplant saves top OC chef from rare blood cancer - Top Orange County chef Pascal Olhats is grateful to the team at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center for the stem cell therapy that is keeping him alive. Olhats’ daughter, who lives in France, was the best donor match for the bone marrow stem cell transplant he needed to treat his rare angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Her blood stem cells were harvested and sent overnight for transplantation by Dr. Stefan Ciurea, who directs the UCI Health Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program.

UCI opens specialized infusion center for cell and gene therapy studies - The UCI Alpha Clinic launched a new outpatient infusion center in November dedicated to supporting clinical trials conducted by the researchers and clinicians of the UCI Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center (SCRC). The infusion center will allow the Alpha Clinic team to administer cell and gene therapies in support of an expanding number of clinical trials, including many first-in-human studies of the latest regenerative medicine therapies. The infusion center is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, research coordinators, schedulers and laboratory staff members. It also is equipped with the latest technical infrastructure to support all outpatient procedures for phase 1, 2 and 3 trials at the Alpha Clinic, which is the clinical trials arm of the SCRC.

Colon cancer on the rise in young adults - Primary care specialists, oncologists, other physicians and the healthcare community in general are well aware of the dramatic rise in colon cancer cases among those between the ages of 20 and 49, but the general public may not be. Dr. Jason Zell, a hematology-oncology specialist at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, spoke with CBS News about the spike and its potential causes.

"Physical activity, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for colorectal cancer in general. Colorectal cancer, unlike most other tumors, is extremely sensitive to dietary changes. The western dietary pattern, a diet high in fat, meats, sweets, is not good for colorectal cancer risk." Zell emphasized the need for routine screening starting at age 45.

Stem cell transplant and cellular therapy programs receive FACT accreditation - The UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and its adult bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell transplant program has received accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for meeting the national standard of excellence in cellular therapy programs. The program has performed over 200 HSCT and is averaging greater than 80 procedures on an annual basis.

Select Faculty Achievements

Brém, Elizabeth A.

Member, American Society of Hematology (ASH)/Publications Committee
Associate Editor, ASH Clinical News (American Society of Hematology)
Board Member, ASH News Daily Editorial Board
Member Editorial Board, eJHaem (British Society for Haematology)
Women in Oncology, PRIMO (Practical Recommendations in Immuno & Molecular Oncology)
Member & Chair, University of California Hematologic Malignancies Consortium (UCHMC), Lymphoma/CLL committee

Chow, Warren A.

Editorial Board: Faculty of 1000
Editorial Board: PLOS ONE
Editorial Board: Scientific Reports: Nature
Member, ASCO Questions Writing Group

Ciurea, Stefan O.

Editorial Board Member, Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy
National Principal Investigator, Phase 2 Study of Descartes-08 Consolidation Treatment in Patients with High-Risk Multiple Myeloma Who Have Residual Disease After Induction Therapy, Cartesian Therapeutics Inc.

Book Chapters

Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. In Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. Ronald Hoffman, Edward J Benz, Jr, Leslie E. Silberstein, Helen E. Heslop, Jeffrey Weitz, Mohamed E. Salama, Syed A. Abutalib (editors), 8^th Elsevier
Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. In Manual of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies for Hematological Malignancies. Bashir Q, Shpall EJ, Champlin RE (editors). Elsevier
Kongtim P, Ciurea SO. Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In: Expert Clinical Perspective on Diagnosis and Management of Cancer, Second Edition. Editors Abutalib S and Markman M. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Member Editorial Board: Advances in Cell and Gene Therapy
Member Editorial Board: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplant
Presenter Donor Selection & Conditioning Regimens in Adults: III Congreso Argentino de Transplante Hematopoietico y Teraia Celular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Researcher of the Month, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California

Coombs, Catherine

Originating PI Phase III Open-Label, Randomized Study of Fixed Duration Pirtobrutinib (LOXO-305) Plus Venetoclax and Rituximab Versus Venetoclax and Rituximab in Previously Treated CLL
Plenary speaker, “Pirtobrutinib in covalent BTKi pretreated CLL” at 2^nd Bermuda Heme Translational Summit on Hematologic Malignancies, Hamilton, Bermuda, 7/27/23
Presenter, “The Therapeutic Potential of Next Generation BTK Inhibitors in CLL/SLL” lecture from the Academy of Continued Healthcare Learning series, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Presenter: “Understanding How Biomarkers Help Guide Treatment Decisions for Those with CLL/SLL,” CLL Society webinar

Cozen, Wendy

American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award
Co-Director of California Twin Program
Director, African American Multiple Myeloma Study (AAMMS)
Editorial Board Member , The Open Leukemia Journal
Editorial Board Member, Special Edition of Twin Research and Human Genetics: Atopy, Allergy and Asthma
Editorial Board Member, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention
Editorial Board Member, AIMS Public Health
Editorial Board Member, Cancers
Standing Member, Cancer and Hematology Study Section Review Committee, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
Member, American Society of Hematology Scientific Advisory Committee
Member, Interagency Cancer Risk Assessment Committee
Member, Organizing Committee, “Summit on “Genetic and Genomic Contributors to Health Disparities”, American Society of Hematology
Moderator, Panel Discussion Moderator, “Assessing the relative contribution of biologic/genetic factors vs. social determinants of health in determining health disparities outcomes” Health Disparities in Hematologic Malignancies: From Genes to Outreach. Hosted by MD Anderson and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, May 12-13, 2023
Keynote Speaker, “Genetic and non-genetic risk disparities for Hodgkin lymphoma and MGUS/multiple myeloma: Current state of knowledge and future directions”, Health Disparities in Hematologic Malignancies: From Genes to Outreach.
Chair and Moderator, “Twins in Chronic Disease and Cancer”, World Congress on Twin Pregnancy and 18th Congress of the International Society of Twin Studies (ISTS), Budapest, Hungary Symposium Co-Chair, June 17,2023
Keynote Speaker, “Searching for clues for the etiology and risk disparities of multiple myeloma and it’s precursor MGUS: Current state of knowledge and future directions.” Keynote Speaker, Annual Cancer Research Symposium, Basic and Translational Science session, UC Davis Cancer Center, Davis, CA, Oct 5, 2023
Keynote Speaker, “Genetic studies in SLE”, UC San Diego Lupus Center Opening: 2023 Symposium on Lupus, UC San Diego, Moore’s Cancer Center, October 14, 2023

Dayyani, Farshid

ETCTN - Pittsburgh Cancer Consortium Pewter Wheel Barrel Award for top individual for accrual to ETCTN trials, 2023
Clinical Staff Investigator CFCCC since 2019
ABIM question reviewer “Oncology”
Principle investigator for three Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials.
Editorial Board Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology
Guest Editor, Cancers (Basel), Special Issue, “Translational Research of Liver Cancer”
Scientific Advisory Board for GlyTR technology

Fleischman, Angela G.

Editorial Board Chair, HemeOnc Times
Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), UC Irvine School of Medicine
Member, SouthWest Oncology Group (SWOG), Leukemia group
Member, MPN Quality of Life Study Group

Gupta, Pankaj

Member, VA National Oncology Field Advisory Committee
Lead, VA VISN22 Hematology/Oncology Community of Practice
Member, ABIM Medical Oncology Board Examination Item-Writing Task Force
Member, Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Intergroup Working Group, NCI
Member, Symptom Management and Quality of Life Steering Committee, National Cancer Institute, NIH
Editorial Board Member, Stem Cells and Cellular Therapy
Editorial Board Member, Experimental Hematology
Principle Investigator: Southern California Lung Cancer Program (STELLAR): VA Lung Precision Oncology Program

Jeyakumar, Deepa

Co-Chair, Steering Committee for LA Lymphoma Rounds
Member, Steering committee for UC Malignant Hematology Consortium
Presenter: “Therapeutic options for TP53 mutated AML/MDS.” 10^th Whistler Summitt on Hematologic malignancies. March 31, 2023

Kim, Jacqueline

Selected attendee for the Dissemination and Implementation Science Program at ACCORDS, University of Colorado, Denver
Selected attendee for the NIA R25 Genomics for Social Scientists Workshop
Selected attendee for the New York University School of Global Public Health Multiphase Optimization Strategy Workshop
Member, Editorial Board, Asian American Journal of Psychology
NIH Early Career Reviewer Program

Lavasani, Seyah

Panel Member, Inflammatory Breast Cancer subcommittee (new pathway development), Elsevier (VIA) Clinical Pathway
Panel Member, Breast Cancer Committee, Elsevier (VIA) Clinical Oncology Pathways
Member, ASCO Publishing Research Group
Member, ASCO Technology Research Group
Member, Breast Cancer Committee, Southwest Oncology Group
Member, Writing Group, Women’s Health Initiatives (WHI)
Member Editorial Board, Journal of Oncology and Biomarker Research
Member International Editorial Board, MPH Journal
Presenter, HER2 Positive Breast Cancer: Establishing Proper Sequences Through Clinical Pathways, CME, Oncology Clinical Pathway Conference, Boston, MA
Presenter, HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Updates from ASCO 2023. San Diego Hematology Oncology Conference (Binaytara Foundation), San Diego, CA

Lee, Lisa

UCI SOM Physician Scientist Training Program Awardee
Associate Program Director – Hematology Oncology Clinical Fellowship

Lee, Sunmin

Standing Member, NIH Study Section (Health Promotion in Communities (HPC))
Member site visit team P30 Cancer Center Support Grant application
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Epidemiology

Ma, Helen

Lymphoma Research Foundation Gregory Scholar
Recipient Society of Hematologic Oncology - Young Investigator Program (YIP) Grant
Recipient VA Career Development Award
Editorial Board member Frontiers in Hematology

Mar, Nataliya

Program Committee Member, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
Board of Directors Member, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
Member, Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) Genitourinary Committee
Member, SWOG Neoadjuvant Bladder Platform Sub Committee
SWOG Study Chair for Neoadjuvant Arm on trial 21CTP.GU01
UC Irvine School of Medicine Women’s Leadership Academy

McLaren, Gordon (Emeritus)

Member, Haemochromatosis International Scientific Committee
Member, Board of Directors, Iron Overload Diseases Association
Member, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, Iron Disorders Institute

Mehta, Rita

Member, SWOG Breast Committee and Breast Working Group Committee
Member, Athena Breast Cancer Network

Meyskens, Frank (Emeritus)

Doctor Poets and Other Healers: COVID in their own words, UCI Center for Medical Humanities
Co?Organizer: Sixth Annual Symposium on the Poetry of Healing and Hope
Senior Advisor to Chair, SWOG Cancer Research Network
Editorial Board: Oncology Times

Nabar, Rupali

Board Member, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)

Nagasaka, Misako

Editorial Board Member , Lung Cancer: Targets and Therapy
Member, University of California Cancer Consortium (UCCC) Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) Steering Committee
Organizing committee member, SITC Lung Cancer Meeting San Diego
Scientific committee for metastatic lung track, IASLC WCLC 2024
Invited discussant for the ASCO 2023 Clinical Science Symposium for the Lung Cancer track. June 2, 2023

Nelson, Edward L

Contact PI for ACS – Institutional Research Grant
Institutional Representative, Consortium of Comprehensive Cancer Centers for Quality Improvement (C4QI)
Member, C4QI End of Life Working Group
Member, UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC)
Member, UC CRCC Steering Committee,
Member, University of Az Cancer Center – CRTEC virtual mini-site visit
Hematology Oncology Division Chief
CFCCC Assoc Director for Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination

O'Brien, Susan

Executive Officer, SWOG Cancer Research Network
Scientific Advisor, Gateway for Cancer Research Advisory Committee
Treasurer , International Workshop on CLL (iwCLL)
Member, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program
Member, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Medical-Scientific Committee
Member, Lymphoma Hub Steering Committee
Member, Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) Education Committee
Member Board of Directors Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO)
Member, External Safety Committee, Epizyme Tazemetostat
Member, International Workshop on CLL (iwCLL e.V.)
Member, Data Safety Monitoring Board, Janssen Research & Development
Member Scientific Advisory Board, LLS Technology Acceleration Program
Member, Board of Directors, CLL Society, Inc.,
Member, Executive Board Impact Giving
Chairperson, Impact Giving - Grants Committee
Chair, Data Safety Monitoring Board, Celgene Corporation
Editor, Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology
Section Editor - Hematological Malignancies, Cancer
Section Editor, Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia
Ohio State Clinical Translational Grant Review

Ou, Sai-Hong Ignatius

Editor-in-Chief, Lung Cancer; Targets and Therapy
Associate Editor, Journal of Thoracic Oncology
Associate Editor , Journal of Thoracic Oncology Clinical Research and Reports
Member, Editorial Board, Clinical Lung Cancer
Member, Editorial Board, Translational Lung Cancer Research
Member, Editorial Board, Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) (32583), Member Institution PI

Parajuli, Ritesh

Member, NRG Oncology: Early Career & New Investigator (ECNI) Committee
NCI CTEP/ Early Career Investigator LOI Writing Workshop, Accepted as an ECT
NRG Breast Cancer Translational Research Subcommittee
SWOG Breast Committee, Member, Working Group
Co-author on Nature and Nature Genetics reports (2023)

Panunzio, Nick

NIH/NCI MERIT R37 CA266042
Member, NIH study section ZRG1 OBT-Y (55) R, “Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities”

Pinter-Brown, Lauren

Member, Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation Board of Directors
Member, Lymphoma Research Foundation, Patient Publication Medical Literature Committee
Board Member, International Society of Cutaneous Lymphoma Board of Directors
Member, Editorial Sub-Committee, Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation
Member, Steering Committee, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma International Registry
Head, Steering Committee for Lymphoma Rounds, Los Angeles
Member, Medical Review Committee, Lymphoma Research Foundation
Co-Lead, Registry Committee, United States Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium

Rezazadeh Kalebasty, Arash

Editorial Board Member , World Journal of Clinical Oncology
Editorial Board Member , Cancer Investigation

Sworder, Brian

Awarded Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)

Valerin, Jennifer

UCI SOM Physician Scientist Training Program Awardee
Co-principal Investigator Dr. Nicholas Pannunzio: Identification of a genomic signature for homologous recombination deficiency in pancreatic cancer and mismatch repair deficiency in microsatellite instable colorectal cancer.
Co-principal Investigator Dr. Christopher Halbrook: Parp Inhibition in Pancreas Cancer: Utilization of CRSPR to Confirm Novel Resistance Mechanisms

Van Etten, Richard A.

Member, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), Leukemia Committee
Member, Board of Directors, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter
Member, Board of Directors, UCI Health University Physicians & Surgeons
Member, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center External Advisory Board
Member, Society of Hematologic Oncology Education Planning Committee
Member, T32 CA009054 Steering Committee
Member, ICTS Steering Committee
Member, UCI School of Medicine Dean's Research Council
Member, National Cancer Institute Subcommittee A on Cancer Centers
Member, University of Alabama Birmingham O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center External Advisory Board

Zell, Jason

Chair, SWOG/The Hope Foundation Coltman Fellowship Program Committee
Board of Directors Member, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
Member, National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute – Gastrointestinal Steering Committee, Rectal-Anal Task Force
Member, Cancer Prevention Steering Committee, NIH, National Cancer Institute, (NCI)
Program Director – Hematology Oncology Clinical Fellowship
Hematology Oncology Vice Chief for Academic Affairs