Earlier this month, six oncologists from Russia, traveling as the Sen. Ben Nelson Fellows, received red carpet tours of UNMC’s cancer treatment and research programs and developed professional contacts they hope will last for years.
They toured Omaha and the UNMC campus as part of the Open World Program, a federal legislative diplomacy initiative that strives to stimulate goodwill and collaboration between the people of Russia and the United States.
The group visited the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and met with the lymphoma, surgical oncology, breast cancer, gastrointestinal and radiation oncology teams, along with researchers from pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, genome research and drug delivery and nanomedicine. They also toured iEXCEL, the simulation lab and biocontainment center. They dined at the Omaha Country Club, hosted by donors Mike Yanney and Walter Scott and attended by Sen. Ben and Diane Nelson.
Stanislav Volchenkov, M.D., second year resident oncologist, Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, St. Petersburg, said he was particularly interested in the CAR (chimeric antigen receptor)-T cell therapy for lymphoma. “We’re just beginning to use this therapy and we have much to learn from UNMC physicians.”
Ivan Kondrashin, M.D., surgical oncologist, Voskresensk, said he hopes the contacts made during this trip form the foundation of a long-lasting professional relationship. “The knowledge we share with our American colleagues will benefit both our countries.”
Group facilitator Alexander Khilkov called the Open World Program important in the current environment.
“This is a truly unique opportunity for leaders of our countries in different fields and areas of expertise to come together and discuss issues and matters of common interest,” he said. “We’re trying to build an ongoing partnership between the two countries.”
He praised the efforts of Jane Meza, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for global and student support for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Ward Chambers, M.D., emeritus executive director of international health and medical education and one of the UNMC hosts for the group.