Our top 20 accomplishments of 2025

Our scientists, clinicians, community partners, and researchers are driving major advances in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Together we are transforming cancer care, from Minnesota to across the world. Especially of note in 2025, building on a year of steady leadership, in December MCC confirmed Jeffrey Miller, MD, as director and David Largaespada, PhD, as deputy director, moving both from interim to permanent roles to support long-term strategy, shared leadership, and continued momentum across the center.

The twenty accomplishments below are only a glimpse into the incredible work happening at MCC on a daily basis. We’re proud of all the achievements, advances, new understandings, and changed lives that MCC’s work has brought. Join us in celebrating the accomplishments on this list and all the other ones that happen behind the scenes year-round! 

1. Expanded access to research across Minnesota. MCC studies enrolled 4,387 participants in clinical trials. The cancer center also supported the efforts of the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network (MNCCTN), which, since its inception, has enrolled 4,614 participants across the state in cancer clinical trials.
2. Faster trial activation delivered innovation to patients sooner. A new FastTrack system decreased clinical trial start-up time from 212 days to 171 days, speeding promising treatments to Minnesotans who need them. One example is the ACE-232 study, a global clinical trial for advanced prostate cancer opened in 66 days, a record time for MCC's Clinical Trials Office (CTO).
3. New Community Advocates elevated community voices in cancer research. The Community Advocates Program, driven by the MCC Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and MNCCTN teams, grew to include 25 Advocates. Advocates played an essential role this year by reviewing study materials, informing grant decisions, shaping education campaigns, and joining outreach efforts across Minnesota. Their guidance helps make research more understandable, accessible, and aligned with the needs of communities historically excluded from clinical studies. Thanks to a $15,000 grant from Cargill to support stipends, the program continues to grow and strengthen its connection to Minnesotans.
4. Funded innovation in radon risk reduction for Minnesota homes. MCC funded one new Community Catchment Pilot Grant in 2025, selecting a project focused on identifying barriers to radon mitigation and testing a voucher program to help people with high radon levels install mitigation systems. Radon exposure is an issue that uniquely affects Minnesota homes, and this project supports research and community action tied to our state’s greatest environmental cancer risks.
5. Strengthened statewide cancer outreach. MCC’s Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) team oversaw activities that reached 6,414 Minnesotans through cancer education. They also facilitated breast, skin, and colon cancer screening for 294 individuals, with continued growth into rural areas. The team even added a new outreach-focused team member dedicated to reaching people across Greater Minnesota!
6. Invested in early-career cancer scientists. In 2025, MCC strengthened the pipeline of future cancer researchers through two major training initiatives. The Upper Midwest Emerging Scholars Exchange supported early-career faculty by giving them opportunities to present their work and build collaborations across regional cancer centers. Plus, the second annual Trainee Research Symposium showcased research from students, postdocs, and early-career staff, expanding mentorship and career development across MCC.
7. Helped researchers build tools and skills for cancer career success. MCC’s Support & Training for Research Independence, Development, and Engagement (STRIDE) program expanded its career development support in 2025 by launching a How-To Series designed to help early-career cancer researchers build essential skills for long-term success. Through sessions on grant writing, authorship, mentorship, and time management, MCC provided practical tools that trainees can apply immediately in their work. Together, these resources help trainees build the skills and networks needed for successful cancer research careers.
8. Accelerated discovery through translational teams. In 2025, the Cancer Research Translational Initiative (CRTI), led by Dr. Emmanuel Antonarakis and Dr. Deepa Kolaseri, strengthened MCC’s translational research pipeline by bringing basic, clinical, and population scientists together through active Translational Working Groups. These teams are helping move discoveries more efficiently from the lab to the clinic, including the launch of a new ViroTherapy Translational Working Group focused on advancing virotherapy innovations toward patient care. This collaborative model has already supported new therapies such as Peptide Alarm Therapy (PAT)—a clinical trial currently open for enrollment at the University of Minnesota—demonstrating how team science and shared infrastructure can accelerate the development of new cancer treatments.
9. Uncovered greater understanding of how cancer starts so we can improve prevention. MCC researchers uncovered how chemicals in tobacco and the environment can damage DNA and change cell behavior in ways that lead to cancer. This work helps develop new ways to prevent cancer early, especially for Minnesotans with greater exposure risks.
10. Used research to guide policies for reducing tobacco addiction. MCC teams studied how lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes could make it easier for people to quit. These findings support national policies that have the power to save thousands of lives in the coming years.
11. Applied new insights to stop leukemia from hiding in the brain. Dr. Peter Gordon showed how leukemia cells survive inside the brain, where treatments struggle to eradicate them. This work lays the groundwork for potential clinical trials that could one day help patients remain cancer-free longer.
12. Developed a new blood test to find and track prostate cancer earlier. Dr. Scott Dehm and collaborators developed AR-ctDETECT, a tool that detects very small amounts of tumor DNA in the blood. This may help doctors quickly see whether treatment is working and respond faster if cancer returns.
13. Linked genes to cancer outcomes thanks to a global, multi-institutional study. A study of 24,309 cancers revealed how inherited mutations change treatment success for several major cancers, including breast and prostate. Several MCC members were involved in the study, including Justin Drake, Hai Dang Nguyen, Stephanie Huang, Justin Hwang, Emmanuel Antonarakis, Scott Dehm, and Emil Lou. This moves us closer to truly personalized cancer care for patients everywhere.
14. Began testing a gene-guided virus therapy for pancreatic cancer. A first-in-human trial is evaluating a new oncolytic (cancer-fighting) virus designed by MCC scientists. The therapy uses the tumor’s own genetic features as a weakness, providing hope for people with very difficult-to-treat cancers.
15. Created a new strategy to keep leukemia from returning. Immune cells often weaken after treatment, allowing cancer to come back. Researchers found a new way to keep these cells strong for longer, helping more patients stay in remission.
16. Completed immune cell therapies for hard-to-treat tumors. MCC researchers created NK-cell immunotherapies that remain active even in tumors with very low oxygen, common in prostate and head and neck cancers. These advances expand who can benefit from cutting-edge immunotherapy.
17. Offered same-day lung screening to close cancer gaps in Tribal communities. Led by Dr. Abbie Begnaud, MCC partnered with clinics serving American Indian patients to bring lung cancer screening directly to the community. This helps people get lifesaving scans sooner, reducing travel time travel and supporting improved access to care..
18. Piloted HPV self-testing to help Somali women find cancer early. Thanks to the work of Dr. Rebecca Pratt and team, Somali women in Minnesota can now screen for cervical cancer using simple self-testing in trusted clinic settings. This supports early cancer detection in a group that has been historically under-screened.
19. CRISPR-engineered immune cells showed a complete response in a young patient. A first-in-the-world clinical trial edited immune cells using CRISPR to make them stronger against colorectal cancer. The first patient experienced a durable, complete response—meaning their cancer went into remission—even after other treatments had previously failed.
20. Made bone marrow transplants safer via new therapy. MCC researchers designed a new type of CAR T-cell that prevents graft-versus-host disease, a dangerous transplant complication. This could help many more patients survive and heal faster after a transplant.  

Thank you to everyone in our Masonic Cancer Center community for your continued support. Here's to another year of achievements, tiny and mighty, that help us advance knowledge and enhance care!