October 13, 2015

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, according to Ted Trimble, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Global Health at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Trimble visited the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Oct. 1 and was co-hosted by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) and the Gillings Global GatewayTM at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Students from the Gillings School presented posters on cancer research during Dr. Trimble’s visit.

The first half of Trimble’s visit focused on the current work of the LCCC. He joined a real-time telepathology session at UNC Hospitals with the UNC Lineberger-Malawi Cancer Consortium Project. During the session, pathologists Dr. Liomba, in Malawi, and Dr. Fedoriw, in Chapel Hill, looked at the same slide and discussed the cancer diagnosis for the patient. On the basis of their joint opinion, treatment was initiated in Malawi.

While at the LCCC, Trimble also discussed the critical areas that the Center for Global Health has identified as vital for improving the quality of clinical laboratory services. He stressed the importance of “twinning” comprehensive cancer centers in the United States with partners in low and middle-income countries, particularly when developing low-cost, molecular-based approaches to cancer diagnoses.

“Dr. Trimble’s talk was very informative and highlighted the great unmet need for research in global oncology,” said Blossom Damania, PhD, Boshamer Distinguished Professor and assistant dean of research at the UNC School of Medicine. “The UNC Lineberger Global Oncology program and the Gillings Global Gateway are committed to making great strides in global cancer and global health.”

The Gillings School hosted Trimble in the afternoon. Students from the Departments of Epidemiology and Health Behavior presented scientific posters on their current cancer research. Topics included HPV rates in North Carolina, HPV vaccine uptake, smoking cessation in Mexico and theories around implementation of smoke-free laws in Indonesia.

Following lunch with students and faculty members, Trimble shared his expertise in global cancer control and cancer research from the NCI perspective during the inaugural Global Oncology Lecture. He detailed the Center for Global Health’s core themes for the implementation of cancer control plans, including: the strengthening of health surveillance systems, the rollout of vaccinations against Hepatitis B and HPV, and the screening and early diagnosis of various cancers through expansion of the International Cancer Screening Network.

Dr. Trimble shared his expertise at the inaugural Global Oncology Lecture.

Trimble also met with students of Jennifer Smith, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School, to discuss global cancer research in even more depth.

“It was a great pleasure being able to discuss my collaborative research on the discovery of optimal treatment procedures for cervical dysplasia during Dr. Trimble’s visit to UNC,” said Basola Sanusi, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology. “Seeing his presentation, as well as those by other students, encouraged me to widen my perspective of oncology research.”


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Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: David Pesci, director of communications, (919) 962-2600 or dpesci@unc.edu
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