The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center

Patient Care
- Research Overview
- - Membership Directory
    Search a listing of full members of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, as well as directories of members by research program.
  - Membership Criteria
    Learn about the criteria for becoming a member of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
  - Become a Member
    Apply for membership in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center by submitting a short form.
- - Shared Resources
    The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is home to state-of-the-art facilities and provides support to shared resources at UNMC.
  - UNMC Cores and Shared Resources
    Researchers also have access to shared resources through the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
  - Request Research Space
    Complete this form to request research space.
  - Research Funding Opportunities
    NCI-designated Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center supports Principal Investigators through pilot grants and seed funding to explore novel research ideas and engage in team science projects that address critical cancer care and treatment challenges.
- - Cancer Biology Program
    The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Cancer Biology Program represents a long-standing commitment to cancer mechanisms-focused research.
  - Targets, Modulators and Delivery Program
    This program develops and delivers small molecules to modulate validated cancer targets as eventual cancer therapeutics.
  - Cancer Prevention & Control Program
    This program aims at identifying and understanding the factors influencing cancer risk, with a special emphasis on disparities and rural populations in the catchment area.
- - Registries
    View registries that are currently enrolling subjects through iCaRe2.
  - Information for Patients
    Participation helps researchers understand specific cancer types, determine risk factors, advance treatment for patients and discover cancer prognostic markers.
  - Information for Researchers
    iCaRe2 aims to foster clinical and epidemiological studies and accelerate the secondary use of cancer and health related data for translational research.
  - Information for Sponsors
    Your gift will support the continuous system growth and improve strides in personalized medicine, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.
- Community Outreach Overview
- Mission
  The Community Outreach and Engagement Office aims to reduce overall cancer burden and eliminate cancer-related health disparities in its catchment area.
- Community Advisory Board
  This board advises on the direction of cancer center research, dissemination of evidence from ongoing research activities, and policy recommendations.
- Speaker's Bureau
  The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Speakers Bureau provides resources to community groups across Nebraska including experts to give presentations on cancer-related topics.
- Resources
  The Community Outreach and Engagement Office provides such resources as videos, infographics, reports and community needs assessments.
- Our Team
  Find members of the Community Outreach and Engagement Office team.
- Nebraska Breast Health Navigation Program
  This program is working to eliminate barriers for breast cancer survivors, using trained volunteers called Lay Patient Navigators who provide peer-to-peer support.
- Training & Education Overview
- Upper Midwest Emerging Scholars Exchange Program
  Learn about a new opportunity for Early Stage Investigators to share their research at peer institutions.
- Leadership Overview
- Director's Message
  Read a message from Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
- About the Center
  Learn about the mission and vision of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

Brain Tumor Working Group

Human brain

Vision

Improve the lives of patients with brain and spine tumors

Mission

To pool our complementary expertise in pediatric and adult tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) within UNMC and the greater University of Nebraska campuses to advance our understanding and patient care.

Goals

To allow for free exchange of ideas
To promote collaboration to enhance research quality and increase joint publications
To increase extramural grant funding, including multi-PI funding
To provide a panel of CNS cancer experts who may provide peer review for future projects, clinical trials, manuscripts, and grants

Group Leaders

Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Division of Critical Care

Nicole Shonka, MD

Associate Professor, Division of Oncology & Hematology
Clinic and Infusion Medical Director, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
Neuro Oncology, Sarcoma

Members

Michele R. Aizenberg, MD

Professor, Department of Neurosurgery

Xuanhua Peter Xie, PhD

Assistant Professor, UNMC Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
Research Focus: tumor initiation, recurrence, and metastasis

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Xuanhua Peter Xie, PhD photo

Surinder K. Batra, PhD

Professor and Chairman, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Kishor Bhakat, PhD

Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy

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Phone: 402-559-8467

Alfred Bothwell, PhD

Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Sahara Cathcart, MD

Assistant Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

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Sahara Cathcart, MD

Kishore Challagundla, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Nagendra Chaturvedi, PhD

Assistant Professor and Research Scientist, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Jie Chen, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

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Jie Chen, MD, PhD

Don Coulter, MD

Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Brandon Darrington

Interventional & Neuro Assistant

Brandon Darrington

Matthew Garlinghouse, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, Neuropsychology

Corey Hopkins, PhD

Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Maneesh Jain, PhD

Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Miki Katzir, MD

Assistant Professor, UNMC Department of Neurosurgery

Qateeb Khan, MD

Assistant Professor, UNMC Department of Radiation Oncology

Deb Klein

Administrative Associate/Chair’s Associate

Arnett Klugh, MD

Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery

Ram I. Mahato, PhD

Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Aaron Mohs, PhD

Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chittalsinh Raulji, MBBS

Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Sutapa Ray, PhD

Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Angie Rizzino, PhD

Professor, Eppley Institute

Afshin Salehi, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery

Kat Taylor

Credentialing, Travel & Body Assistant

Paul Trippier, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ragupathy Vengoji, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Matthew White, MD

Professor of Radiology and Neuroradiology Division Chief
MRI Fellowship Director

Poonam Yadav

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Chi (Kevin) Zhang, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology