Thanks to the incredible generosity of participants and donors, more than $10 million was raised at the 2025 Prouty—supporting innovative new research projects aimed at improving cancer prevention, treatment, support for survivors, and quality of life.
From bettering early detection and survivorship care to building momentum in the development of tomorrow’s new immunotherapies, here’s a look at the latest projects your support is making possible.
Opening conversations about alcohol use after cancer
Many cancer survivors are not aware that alcohol can increase the risk of cancer recurrence and affect long-term health. Yet conversations about alcohol use rarely happen during follow-up care.
In their Prouty Pilot project, researchers Jennifer A. Emond, PhD, MS, Christine M. Gunn, PhD, and Cesar U. Alas, MD, will study how physicians talk with cancer survivors about alcohol use—and what makes those conversations easier or harder. By working closely with clinicians and survivors, the team aims to develop practical tools and strategies to support open, helpful discussions. The goal is to empower survivors with clear information that supports healthier choices and better long-term outcomes.
A new way to deliver chemotherapy to brain tumors
The P. Jack Hoopes Prouty Pilot Award
The P. Jack Hoopes Prouty Pilot Award is presented annually in honor of Jack Hoopes, DVM, PhD, translational scientist at Dartmouth Cancer Center, whose collaborative research, inquisitive spirit, and dedication to learning and teaching inspired all who knew him.
Treating tumors in the brain and spinal fluid is especially challenging because medications often struggle to cross the body’s natural protective barrier around the brain.
As this year’s P. Jack Hoopes Prouty Pilot Award recipients, neurosurgical oncologist Linton T. Evans, MD, and neuro-oncologist Nupur Lala, MD, are testing a new “smart pump” system that circulates chemotherapy directly through the protective fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The system uses two access points, whereas current devices use a single access point. This closed-loop chemotherapy system is designed to deliver medication uniformly and with controlled delivery across the entire central nervous system.
The team will use pre-clinical models to study how well drugs spread using this approach and to assess safety. This work could lead to better treatments for aggressive brain tumors and cancers that spread to the central nervous system.
Why aren’t rural women getting screened for lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., yet very few eligible women receive recommended screening. Early detection can dramatically improve survival.
Thoracic surgeon Dana Ferrari-Light, DO, MPH, wants to understand why women—especially those in rural communities—are less likely to be screened. In her Prouty Pilot, Ferrari-Light will explore barriers such as lack of awareness, concerns about cost, and fear of results. She will also examine whether offering lung screening alongside routine breast cancer screening—which has much higher rates of compliance—makes it easier for women to participate.
The goal is to design community-based programs that help more women detect lung cancer early, when treatment is most effective.
Strengthening the immune system against bladder cancer
Bladder cancer often comes back, even after treatment. Current therapy uses a vaccine-like approach to activate the immune system, but many patients either don’t respond or experience a recurrence.
In his Prouty-funded project, Rodwell Mabaera, MD, PhD, is piloting a new method to deliver two natural immune-boosting proteins directly into the bladder. These proteins act as “immune amplifiers,” helping the body better recognize and destroy cancer cells. He will compare this approach to current standard treatments and study how the immune system responds.
The long-term goal is to develop safer, more effective therapies that reduce recurrence and improve quality of life.
Boosting immunotherapy for liver cancer
Mabaera is not the only scientist working to improve immunotherapies. Cancer researchers Mark Sundrud, PhD, and Christine Alewine, MD, PhD, will investigate whether adding a widely used medication called ursodiol—commonly prescribed for liver and gallbladder conditions—can enhance the immune response to help immune cells fight cancer more effectively, lessen “immune exhaustion,” reduce treatment-related side effects such as liver inflammation, and improve survival.
Currently, immunotherapy has shown promise for liver cancer, but many patients do not respond, and side effects can limit treatment. The findings of this Prouty Pilot research could change that, leading to safer, more effective treatment strategies for patients with advanced liver cancer.
Using big data to improve immunotherapy care
And finally, with rapid advancements in immunotherapy transforming cancer care by the day, many important questions arise—such as how long patients should stay on treatment and who benefits most?
Principal Investigators Erika Moen, MS, PhD, Emma Dean, PhD, and Joseph Phillips, MD, are looking to answer these big questions by using a large national database of electronic health records to study how immunotherapy is used in everyday cancer care across the country.
By analyzing trends, outcomes, and patient experiences, the team hopes to identify best practices, reduce side effects, and improve access to treatment as immunotherapy becomes a staple therapy for an increasing number of cancer types. This work will also help guide future clinical decisions that will set patients on the right track to receive the most effective care possible.
Thank you, Prouty Community
Breaking ground on pilot research is possible because of the extraordinary commitment of you: the participants, donors, volunteers, and corporate partners who make up our remarkable Prouty community.
Registration for the 45th Prouty is now open! Your generosity is shaping the future of cancer care by directly supporting Dartmouth Cancer Center’s world-class scientists. Thank you for making hope possible.