Inova Embraces Obama Administration "Moonshot" to Cure Cancer Initiative by Naming Thomas P. Conrads, PhD, to Cancer Research Team

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At last week's State of the Union address, President Obama brought renewed resolve to the fight to cure cancer, acknowledging that the scientific community is on the brink of significant break-throughs. He called for additional research, more funding, and collaboration among health systems, academic research institutions, private industry, and government. As Inova ramps up its commitment to personalized health, particularly in cancer prediction, prevention and treatment, it announced today that Thomas P. Conrads, PhD, a nationally-recognized translational cancer researcher, will join the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute (Schar Cancer Institute) as the Associate Director of Scientific Technologies. In this role, he will develop and apply trans-disciplinary approaches for cancer biomarker discovery using advanced analytical and molecular research technologies.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tom to the team," said Donald "Skip" Trump, MD, CEO, Inova Schar Cancer Institute. "His extensive research experience reaches across silos and is focused on clinically relevant work. In this role Dr. Conrads will facilitate Schar Cancer Institute translational scientists' development of innovative clinical trials and translational science. He will also help accelerate the application of these new scientific discoveries to patient care throughout the Inova Health System and beyond."

Prior to joining the Schar Cancer Institute, Dr. Conrads was the Chief Scientific Officer of the Department of Defense Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence its and flagship laboratory, the Women's Health Integrated Research Center at Inova Health System. Dr. Conrads will continue his work with this important program in gynecologic cancer research while developing clinical and translational science in the Schar Cancer Institute. From 2006-2010, Dr. Conrads was professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also directed the Cancer Biomarkers Facility in the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Prior to this position, Dr. Conrads served as the Director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility at NCI Frederick, where he also served as the Deputy Director of the Biomedical Proteomics Program.

Dr. Conrads' scientific career has been spent developing new technologies in chemistry and biology, and in applying cutting-edge applications and workflows in genomics and proteomics for systems biology and cancer biomarker discovery and validation in tissues, proximal fluids and serum/plasma. The focus of his efforts for the past 10 years has been toward creating increasingly integrated multi-disciplinary research programs that span multi-omic approaches for conducting novel molecular discoveries and identifying translational opportunities for clinical potential.

Dr. Conrads has authored more than 190 peer-reviewed publications, is the recipient of multiple cancer biomarker patents, is PI of a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Ovarian Cancer Research grant, and is a member of numerous professional associations, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Human Proteome Organization, and the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.

About Inova

Inova is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that serves more than 2 million people each year throughout the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond.  Inova is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient services and facilities, primary and specialty care practices, and health and wellness initiatives.

Inova encompasses the full array of health services, including the area's only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit. We are home to many nationally and internationally recognized programs, including Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI), Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI), Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute (ISCI).  

Inova is a global leader in the science of genomics and the new era of personalized health, which uses a person's genetic make-up, family and medical history, and lifestyle to determine the best prevention and treatment.  We connect researchers, clinicians and empowered consumers to improve patient care, enhance prevention and encourage wellness. 

Contact: Kelly Schlageter, [email protected], 703-205-2221

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