Pinder named Cancer Moonshot Scholar by NCI
College of Medicine faculty member among first receiving honor
Leeya Pinder, MD, MPH, associate professor in the UC College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, is among the first 11 people named as Cancer Moonshot Scholars by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is designed to advance cancer science while also diversifying the pool of researchers and the approaches to cancer research that NCI funds. The program is supported by the White House’s Cancer Moonshot initiative and aligns with NCI’s Equity and Inclusion Program and NIH’s UNITE Initiative. The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is led by the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. NCI intends to fund up to 30 additional Cancer Moonshot Scholars.
Pinder’s project is “Repurposed Antiretroviral Therapies to Eliminate Cervical Cancer (POLESA Trial).” Her R37 is a seven-year award totaling $2.75 million during the first five years, with additional funding coming during the project’s last two years.
The overall goal of Pinder’s project is to find new, non-invasive, easily scalable solutions that address the profound gap in secondary cervical cancer prevention, particularly among women living with HIV. The study, which will enroll 180 women who present for cervical cancer screening in a Cervical Cancer Prevention Program clinic in Zambia, will also assess the safety and acceptability of a vaginal capsule containing the protease inhibitors lopinavir and ritonavir given alone or in combination with thermal ablation to treat screened women found with precancerous abnormalities that are eligible for ablative therapy.
Related Stories
Camp aims to empower children, teens who stutter
July 17, 2024
A one-week, evidence-based program for children and teens who stutter at the University of Cincinnati will teach kids to communicate effectively, advocate for themselves and develop confidence about their communication abilities. Camp Dream. Speak. Live., which is coming to Cincinnati for the first time July 22-26, began in 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at UT expects to serve more than 2,000 children at camps across the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe this year.
UC archivist explores Troy’s invisible workers
July 17, 2024
UC Classics archivist Jeff Kramer examined the unheralded and largely uncredited role laborers played in the 1930s excavation at Troy in Turkey.
U.S. stroke survival is improving, but race still plays role
July 16, 2024
U.S. News & World Report, HealthDay and Real Health covered new research from the University of Cincinnati that found overall rates of long-term survival following stroke are improving, but Black individuals experience worse long-term outcomes compared to white individuals.
Presidential challenge to UC: Join Ride Cincinnati to fight cancer
July 16, 2024
UC President Neville Pinto has again challenged every UC college and unit to send at least one rider to the September 14 Ride Cincinnati event to help fundraise for cancer research and cancer care. UC students ride free. Signup by July 31 for free UC-branded cycling jersey.
Pediatric ICU rates linked to housing quality, income, education
July 16, 2024
Healio highlighted research led by the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Carlie Myers that found a link between pediatric ICU admission rates and housing quality, household income and education.
UC study: Long-term stroke survival improving, but racial disparities remain
July 15, 2024
New research from the University of Cincinnati published in the journal Neurology found long-term survival rates following acute ischemic strokes are improving, but Black individuals experience worse long-term outcomes compared to white individuals.
Students organize to shake up Parkinson's care model
July 15, 2024
University of Cincinnati student and Parkinson's Together founder Mallika Desai joined the Parkinson's Experience Podcast to discuss the nonprofit's origins and multidisciplinary mission to meet the needs of patients in their community.
Mobile app could help people manage fibromyalgia, UC study suggests
July 15, 2024
WVXU highlighted research led by the University of Cincinnati's Lesley Arnold and Swing Therapeutics that found a self-guided smartphone-based behavioral therapy led to significant improvements for patients with fibromyalgia.
UC study finds better cardiovascular health outcomes with home hemodialysis
July 15, 2024
Dialysis patients using a more traditional home hemodialysis procedure have lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than patients using a less invasive peritoneal dialysis at home, a University of Cincinnati researcher finds.
Heat waves in the U.S. kill more people in their homes than anywhere else
July 12, 2024
Tasha Turner-Bicknell, an associate professor in the UC College of Nursing, spoke with the Cincinnati Enquirer for a story about heat-related deaths. Many people are dying within their homes during periods of excessive heat and lack of air conditioning is a factor.