Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer holding first symposium Aug. 28-29

Article body

The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, or AURIC, will hold its first Cancer Symposium Aug. 28-29 to bring together Auburn University researchers and others who focus on cancer research to enhance awareness about scientific developments and projects.

"This is an incredible opportunity for those interested in cancer research to see what’s happening at Auburn," said Dr. Bruce Smith, the director of AURIC and a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "It will give Auburn faculty the chance to put together new teams to investigate new problems, which is a great opportunity for all involved and will be an integral part of our continued efforts to strengthen cancer research at Auburn.

The two-day conference at the Marriot Hotel and Conference Center at Grand National in Opelika will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. Registration for the event is now open and can be done online at https://tpg.auburn.edu/ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=4&CATID=13. The event is titled AURIC Symposium.

The event is free for AURIC members and registering for the symposium provides membership and free attendance for non-members. AURIC currently has 125 members, of which 65 are Auburn faculty, across nine Auburn colleges and three other universities.

The primary audience for the meeting is researchers who are actively conducting work in cancer treatment and innovation. Parties that are not involved in cancer research but are interested in possibly attending the event may contact Dr. Smith.

AURIC grant recipients will present the current findings of their scientific work to peers, including faculty and post-doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students. Platform and poster presentations will outline detailed results of ongoing research by AURIC members and informative sessions will showcase opportunities and facilities available to researchers. The meeting also will provide researchers the opportunity to network and discover new opportunities for collaboration.

"Often scientific meetings are a hectic rush of seminars, with no down time," Smith said. "We want attendees to interact one-on-one to discuss their mutual interests and form new partnerships. Also, we have invited collaborators from other institutions and from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries to attend with the intention that they too would join in these collaborations."

A portion of the meeting will be devoted to familiarizing attendees with Auburn University resources that could assist their research.

"This will include physical resources such as the Auburn Laboratory for Imaging Animal Systems (ALIAS) and our collaborative venture with HudsonAlpha as well as discussions on grant writing and pathways to extramural funding," Smith added.

The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer promotes research that enhances competitiveness to advance the understanding of the biology of cancer, and fosters the translation of novel technologies from the laboratory to the clinic. AURIC is human medicine, animal medicine, research and diagnostics where faculty, students, and staff work together to solve the complex puzzle of cancer. AURIC, founded in 2012, is based at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Though based in Auburn, AURIC researchers collaborate with researchers and educators across the nation, seeking to share knowledge and spearhead advances in cancer treatment. For more information about AURIC, contact Dr. Bruce Smith at (334) 844-5587 or smithbf@auburn.edu

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.