Ivann Agapito and Julia Trudeau, graduate students in the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, recently attended the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/Association Francophone des Soins Oncologiques de Support (AFSOS)/International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) 2024 Annual Meeting in Lille, France. Their trip was made possible through the support of travel grants funded by proceeds from the UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge.
Every year, MASCC and ISOO members gather together to learn and connect with other cancer care professionals from around the world. As student attendants of the conference, Agapito (a student pharmacist) and Trudeau (a PhD student) had the opportunity to share their own research, listen to presentations, and network with pharmacists, doctors, researchers, educators, and other cancer care experts.
Agapito presented his research on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). He shared that the conference exposed him to an array of perspectives about health disparities and the financial and psychosocial struggles of cancer patients, survivors, and their families.
Trudeau gave a presentation on CRCI biomarkers in adolescent and young adult cancer patients. Some highlights of the conference for her included learning more about validated assessment tools, toxicities and side effects of cancer treatments, and the important relationship between researchers and clinicians in improving cancer care.
With the help of student travel grants from the Anti-Cancer Challenge, Agapito and Trudeau were given resources to enhance their training toward careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical science. The UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge annually invites participants to run, walk, bike, and raise money for the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), and cancer-related research and education throughout the Anteater community.