Evidence of Leadership in this SPORE
The Directors of this SPORE have demonstrated effective leadership and flexibility as evidenced by this SPORE’s productivity to date in terms of publications and resource development. Importantly, the Directors and Advisory Boards have been able to make difficult decisions to conserve SPORE resources by eliminating under-performing projects (e.g. the aims of Project 1 in the current SPORE submission were changed when manufacturing issues for L1 capsomere proved insurmountable) and investigators that have not participated sufficiently. In this case, the project has rebounded and flourished after the changes were made. There are several other such examples of effective leadership that are detailed in the evolution of each project.
Qualifications of Spore Directors
The Principal Investigator/Director for the Johns Hopkins SPORE in Cervical Cancer is T.-C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D., and the Co-PI and Clinical Research Director of the SPORE is Warner Huh, M.D.
Dr. Wu is a Professor of Pathology, Oncology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. He also serves as the director of the Cervical Cancer Steering Committee at Hopkins. In these roles, Dr. Wu has a leadership role in the planning of cervical cancer research and cervical cancer vaccine development in the Johns Hopkins University. His research aims to achieve a greater understanding of the role of the immune system in HPV-infected patients, to develop assays for human immunological responses to HPV, to create innovative vaccines for HPV-associated malignancies, and to identify mechanisms of antigen presentation, immune evasion by tumors, and T cell memory as they relate to HPV-related cancer. Dr. Wu has over 200 publications pertaining to human papillomavirus and its associated infections and malignant lesions. Dr. Wu has designed an E6 and E7-expressing murine tumor model, TC-1, which mimics specific molecular events in the progression of HPV+ pre-cancer lesions (SIL) to invasive cancer and has become widely used and routinely applied for assessing E6 and E7-specific antitumor effects generated by therapeutic HPV vaccines in a preclinical setting.
Dr. Wu is a gynecologic pathologist, board certified in anatomic pathology. He is also an HPV molecular virologist through his Ph.D. training at Hopkins. His expertise in anatomic pathology has given him the opportunity to apply molecular technologies for the study of various viral-related human diseases, particularly HPV-related human neoplasms, and his experience with gynecologic pathology has given him an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. His clinical and scientific experience also encompasses HPV virology and tumor immunology, allowing him to apply his broad knowledge to the study of HPV biology and the development of HPV-associated cervical cancer vaccines. Dr. Wu’s work has led to the creation of several HPV vaccines that demonstrate significant antitumor effects in a preclinical tumor model and have led to clinical trials that are currently underway or will soon commence. Dr. Wu has chaired several international meetings related to human papillomaviruses, cervical cancer, and/or tumor immunology. He has served as a peer reviewer for over 30 scientific journals and a grant reviewer for at least 25 advisory committees, including the NIH TTT (Transplantation, Tolerance and Tumor immunology) and the CII (Cancer Immunopathology & Immunotherapy) Study Sections. In addition, Dr. Wu is a member of the Research Committee of JHU Women’s Health Initiatives and other research or clinical committees dealing with cancer research. Dr. Wu has been invited to speak at more than 90 different scientific meetings sponsored by the NIH/NCI or prestigious medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world. He has also been invited by the NCI to participate in strategic planning meetings for cervical cancer research.
Dr. Wu has authority for Direction of the SPORE. As a member of a major research program in the Cancer Center, Dr. Wu will report directly to the Director of the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Cancer Center. He will be aided by the Cervical Cancer SPORE Steering Committee. This group will meet quarterly or as needed to address issues for SPORE operations. In addition to the Administration and Communication Core, this body will be responsible for research monitoring, evaluation, and planning for the SPORE program.
Warner Huh, M.D. will serve as the Clinical Research Director of the SPORE. Dr. Huh currently serves as the Vice Chair of Gynecology and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is also currently Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, the Department of Surgery, the Department of Epidemiology and holds the Margaret Cameron Spain Endowed Chair in Obstetrics/Gynecology. Dr. Huh has demonstrated exceptional leadership ability in both research and administrative posts. His clinical interests are cancer control and prevention; cervical cancer; community based research; gynecology oncology; minority health disparities; and ovarian cancer.
Dr. Huh has been or is PI or Co-PI on multiple NCI-funded grants and contracts, including the NCTN Deep South Research Consortium, which utilized Community Health Advisors to improve the cancer health status of African-American population in the rural South and the Morehouse School of Medicine/Tuskegee University/UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnerships to enhance the research capabilities of the minority-serving institutions. This grant is intended to enhance scientific goals of the NCTN within the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Huh is also a Co-PI on the UAB Referral Colposcopy Clinic meant to obtain medical expertise through consultation and collaboration with UAB medical experts regarding best practice in the area of cervical health and protocol development of the Department’s Women’s Health Program Guidelines.
Dr. Huh currently serves as President of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) and President Elect of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and have served on guideline committees for the ASCCP, American Cancer Society and SGO. I also serve on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Cervical Cancer Treatment Guideline Panel, as a consultant to the CDC on cervical cancer screening, and as an expert panelist for the upcoming American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer Screening recommendations.
Dr. Huh is responsible for oversight of the clinical translational research initiatives in the Program as well as the collection of clinical information and samples. He also oversees the Clinical Monitoring and Management Group. With expertise in both clinical and translational research, Dr. Huh will be able to help coordinate the integrated group of projects and facilitate the goal of translating research achievements into clinical applications.