Nebraska Medicine Marks a Decade of CAR T-Cell Therapy Innovation
核心洞察
Nebraska Medicine (搜索) and UNMC celebrated 10 years of CAR T-cell therapy with over 300 attendees at a commemorative event in Bennington, Nebraska.
The program has transformed the treatment landscape for patients with serious blood cancers (搜索) and is now expanding into autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis (搜索).
Patient speakers, including Jan Janisch-Hanzlik who received CAR T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (搜索), shared firsthand accounts of the therapy's transformative impact.
More than 300 patients, caregivers, health care professionals, researchers, donors, and supporters gathered on August 7 at The Barn at Ackerhurst Dairy Farm in Bennington, Nebraska, to celebrate "Trailblazing a Decade of CAR T-cell Therapy: 10 Years of Innovation at Nebraska Medicine (搜索) and UNMC." Hosted by Nebraska Medicine, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), and the National Cancer Institute-designated Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (搜索), the event marked a decade of progress in CAR T-cell therapy and its transformative impact on patient care.
"Over the past decade, CAR T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment landscape for many patients facing serious blood cancers (搜索)," said Matt Lunning, DO, the James O. Armitage, MD, chair in Hematological Malignancies and medical director of Gene and Cellular Therapy. "This event is an opportunity to celebrate the patients who placed their trust in us, the teams who helped advance this work, and the innovations that continue to shape the future of cancer care."
A Program Built on Patient Trust and Scientific Innovation
The evening featured dinner, networking, and a program highlighting the evolution of CAR T-cell therapy and its impact on patients and families. Featured speakers included Dr. Lunning; Kim Schmit-Pokorny, director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant and CAR T Gene and Cellular Therapy programs; and Susan Blumel, manager of the Clinical Trials Office at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (搜索).
Dr. Lunning reflected on the broader significance of the milestone: "The event was about recognizing the people who built this program, celebrating the patients who entrusted us with their care, thanking the partners who believed in our vision, and inspiring the next generation who will take gene and cellular therapy further than any of us can imagine."
Patient Voices: From Blood Cancers (搜索) to Multiple Sclerosis (搜索)
Among the evening's patient speakers was Jan Janisch-Hanzlik, who shared her perspective on receiving CAR T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (搜索)—a notable expansion of the technology beyond its initial hematologic oncology applications.
"This treatment happened right here in Nebraska, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine (搜索), and I'm so proud to say it's happening here, and I can't thank everyone enough," Janisch-Hanzlik said. Additional patient speakers, including Nick Howe, shared their own stories reflecting the transformative power of cellular therapies.
NCI-Designated Excellence
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (搜索), a partnership between Nebraska Medicine (搜索) and UNMC, is Nebraska's only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center—a distinction held by a select group of cancer centers nationwide. This designation recognizes excellence in cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, helping ensure patients have access to the latest scientific discoveries and emerging therapies.
The evening concluded with live music from local musician Tyler Anthony, honoring the many individuals who have contributed to the growth of the CAR T-cell program while looking ahead to the next generation of cellular therapy advances and breakthroughs.