Metastasis Research Society

Added!

Register for our next ECLC webinar by Marco Montagner, PhD on Understanding the determinants of the invisible phase of metastasis - June 26th, 2025 - USA: 11:00 AM EDT | Europe: 17:00 PM CEST | Australia: 01:00 AM AEST - tinyurl.com/ujer8yw8

Interested in the work of the MRS and ECLC and want to connect with the global metastasis research community? Become a member now! metastasis-research.org/for-research...

8/How do you envision the ECLC evolving in the near future?
Looking forward to seeing ECLC grow its initiatives while staying true to its core mission: supporting & connecting 🤝EMCRs in the metastasis research community. The future is bright! 🌟

7/What are the biggest obstacles for ECRs in establishing themselves in metastasis research or academia?
Key challenges: 💰 Funding uncertainty & fierce grant competition 📚 Publication pressure vs long experiment timelines 🎯 Limited permanent positions ⚖️ Work-life balance with demanding research

6/What do you consider the ECLC's most impactful contribution to early career researchers' development?
The ECLC Satellite meetings alongside the biennial MRS conference were game-changing 🤩! They created a dedicated space for EMCRs to connect, share & grow within our society. 📈

5/How did you work to strengthen the early career researcher community during your tenure?
We focused on building bridges 🌉 - connecting emerging scientists with research leaders & patient advocates. This helped drive impactful research while supporting EMCR development & mentorship.

4/What was your vision for the ECLC when you first assumed the role of chair?
As ECLC Chair from 2016-2018, my vision was to continue building a vibrant community of EMCRs through networking, bursaries & mentorship.

3/What can you tell us about the formation of the ECLC?
The Early Career Leadership Council (ECLC) represents early-career stage metastasis researchers (ECMR) within the society. Established in 2011, it supports students & postdocs pursuing careers in cancer metastasis research/treatment. 🧑‍🔬👩‍💻

Matrix and Metastasis Lab | Targetting the Extracellular Matrix in Cancer Targetting the Extracellular Matrix in Cancer

2/Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe the focus of your current research?
The Matrix & Metastasis lab bridges the gap between matrix biology and precision oncology. We are developing novel ECM-targeting/anti-fibrotic approaches for personalised treatment. 👉 www.matrixandmetastasis.com

1/Meet the MRS ECLC Chairs! Dr. Thomas Cox @trcox.matrixandmetastasis.com is a Professor at the @garvaninstitute.bsky.social focussing on the Extracellular Matrix and Fibrosis in Cancer.
We interviewed Dr. Cox about his role as a founding member of the MRS Early Career Leadership Council 🧵👇

Register for our next ECLC webinar by Marco Montagner, PhD on Understanding the determinants of the invisible phase of metastasis - June 26th, 2025 - USA: 11:00 AM EDT | Europe: 17:00 PM CEST | Australia: 01:00 AM AEST - tinyurl.com/ujer8yw8

🔬 The authors posit that “targeting MCSP+ MFCs or their immune escape mechanisms could be key to curing melanoma early by preventing manifestation of metastasis.” 🤩

🔬 These cells release small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) carrying immunomodulatory proteins CD155 and CD276 which contributes to immune escape and colonization of melanoma in metastatic sites.

MCSP+ metastasis founder cells activate immunosuppression early in human melanoma metastatic colonization - Nature Cancer Guetter et al. identify a melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-positive subpopulation of metastasis founder cells from lymph node biopsies of patients with melanoma and observe that th...

🎗️ As we end out May, a reminder that May is Melanoma Awareness month.
🔬See a recently published article identifying melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP)+ melanoma cells as metastasis founder cells (MFCs): www.nature.com/articles/s43... 🧵👇

Really glad to see that President Biden's cancer is still hormone responsive but it's a sad reminder of the importance of research efforts to target this disease 😕. ~90% of men with advanced prostate cancer will develop bone mets, which causes skeletal complications and reduced survival.

9/9 Do you want to learn more about metastatic research and connect with the scientific community?
Become a member now!
metastasis-research.org/membership-a...

8/9 Federal funds support long-term projects requiring sustained investment that private industries often overlook for short-term gains. Robust funding enables researchers to make discoveries that will ultimately end cancer. It empowers the US to remain the global leader in cancer research. 💰➡️🧪💊🔬

7/9 Do you think federal funding is necessary for cancer research?
It is crucial for driving cancer research forward. Government programs like NCI provide essential resources for early-stage research, enabling discoveries of novel therapies, biology insights and development of prevention strategies.

6/9 What do you think will be the next breakthrough in metastasis research?
We are in the best time for breakthroughs. Cutting-edge tech (i.e., multi-omics) and the unprecedented power of AI will facilitate extraordinary innovations in early detection, intervention, and treatment of metastasis.

5/9 What was your goal for the MRS during your time as president?
The goal is to empower MRS for a long term and broad impact in metastasis research to benefit cancer patients in dire need.

4/9 The aims of these efforts are to gain new understanding of the mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance, and renovate mechanisms-based, rationally designed combinatorial interventions and therapies for personalized cancer care 💊

3/9 What is your research focus area?
My team’s research focuses are on 1) decoding 🧠 brain metastasis and the brain immune microenvironment, 2) enhancing responses to targeted- and immuno-therapies, and 3) developing immunoprevention strategies of breast cancer by vaccines and nutrient supplements.

2/9 When did you first join the MRS?
I learnt about the MRS from the founding chair of my department, Dr. Garth Nicholson, who was a founder of MRS. I joined the MRS in 1993 and have continued my membership since then. Since then, I have participated in almost every MRS symposium!

Meet the MRS presidents! Dr. Dihua Yu is the Hubert L. & Olive Stringer Chair of Molecular and Cellular Oncology @mdanderson.bsky.social and served as the Metastasis Research Society’s president from 2018-2020.
We interviewed Dr Yu about her research and involvement with the society 🧵…

Don't miss the next ECLC webinar by Christine Desmedt, PhD on Opportunities of post-mortem tissue donation programs to advance metastatic cancer research - May 19th, 2025 - USA: 11:00 AM EDT | Europe: 17:00 PM CEST | Australia: 01:00 AM AEST - Register here lnkd.in/gfJKJ_RT...

Don't miss the next ECLC webinar by Christine Desmedt, PhD on Opportunities of post-mortem tissue donation programs to advance metastatic cancer research - May 19th, 2025 - USA: 11:00 AM EDT | Europe: 17:00 PM CEST | Australia: 01:00 AM AEST - Register here us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

DEADLINE APPROACHING for MRS Early Career Researcher travel scholarships.

Each award provides up to US$500 for attending national conferences, and up to US$750 for international conferences.

Closes 1st May 2025

Find out more metastasis-research.org/for-research...

8/ Are you an Early Career Metastasis Researcher yourself and want to connect with the scientific community?
Become a member now!
metastasis-research.org/membership-a...

7/ How do you envision the ECLC evolving in the near future?
Create a virtual career development platform that pairs an early career researcher, for two years, with two to three senior mentors (MRS members).