Rogel Cancer Center names clinical research young investigators

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5 junior faculty receive support for building careers as clinical researchers

ANN ARBOR, Michigan — The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center will provide support to five junior faculty members as Rogel Young Clinical Investigators. The awards recognize faculty members’ outstanding clinical research and promising future in oncology.

Matt Pianko, M.D., and Angel Qin, M.D., will both receive $75,000 in career development support for one year, with the potential for additional support. In addition, three investigators who were awarded in 2020 will receive support for another year.

Pianko and Qin are both clinical assistant professors of hematology/oncology at Michigan Medicine.

“It can be challenging for young clinical investigators to establish their clinical research programs. These outstanding young clinical investigators have made great progress early in their careers in advancing investigator-initiated clinical research. They have tremendous potential to become established, independent clinical investigators who will make a significant difference in the care of patients with cancer,” says Eric Fearon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Rogel Cancer Center.

In 2020, Kristen Pettit, M.D., Zachery Reichert, M.D., and Paul Swiecicki, M.D., received funding. They will each receive another $50,000 in support this year.

The Young Clinical Investigators awards are part of the $150 million commitment to U-M from Richard and Susan Rogel to improve treatment and care for cancer patients, develop promising scientists, and leverage the university’s broad and deep strengths in science, innovation and patient care.

Pianko cares for patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders and conducts clinical and translational research and clinical trials of novel treatment approaches for multiple myeloma.

Qin treats patients with lung and esophageal cancer and is active in clinical trials for both diseases.