Pillar of Excellence: Cancer

Georgetown Lombardi’s Young Scholars Program (YSP) and the Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience and Mentorship (CURE-M) Program are dedicated to expanding pathways into STEM careers.

A partnership between Georgetown Lombardi and the KID Museum, the YSP engages elementary-age youth in hands-on STEM and cancer research experiences to cultivate a sense of enjoyment and capability in science. It has provided over 1,200 elementary students with hands-on learning opportunities in the sciences.

CURE-M, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, pairs undergraduate students, many of whom have had limited opportunity to do biomedical research previously, with Georgetown scientists.

Georgetown Lombardi’s world-class scientists have made remarkable strides in immunotherapy research, which harnesses the power of the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. These breakthroughs have transformed the landscape of cancer care—a success illustrated by the story of Emily Micale Moe, a Stage 4 melanoma patient.

Under the care of Michael Atkins, MD, deputy director of Georgetown Lombardi, Moe received an innovative drug that targeted a specific mutation in her tumor. This treatment has kept her cancer-free for years. Moe and her husband now have a family of their own.

Launched in 2023, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention (RLC) at Georgetown Lombardi works to eliminate health disparities by increasing equitable access to preventive cancer care, treatment and education.

Since its founding, RLC has guided approximately 2,500 patients to care, provided 3,200 cancer screenings, held educational sessions with 8,100 participants, and referred over 170 patients to clinical trials. The center has built relationships with nearly 100 partners across the region and recruited more than 30 students into its community engagement internship program.