Director of the National Cancer Institute visits UChicago

Michelle Le Beau, PhD, and NCI director Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD
Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Michelle Le Beau, PhD, director of the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center.

On October 3, we were honored to host a visit from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) director Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, who previously served as the director of the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In addition to serving as director of NCI, Dr. Sharpless continues his research in understanding the biology of the aging process that promotes the conversion of normal self-renewing cells into dysfunctional cancer cells. Dr. Sharpless has made seminal contributions to the understanding of the relationship between aging and cancer, and in the preclinical development of novel therapeutics for melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer.

During his visit to UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, he met with  Comprehensive Cancer Center leadership, faculty, and students. He also delivered an afternoon seminar on an overview of NCI priorities and initiatives, as well as his work in cancer and aging.

Our Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of 49 in the nation and receives vital funding from NCI to organize our scientific research programs to make the biggest impact on cancer care.