Grace G. Bushnell, PhD
Grace G. Bushnell, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota investigates breast cancer dormancy and metastasis, focusing on the mechanisms that drive tumor progression and immune system interactions. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, where her doctoral research focused on engineering biomaterial implants to recruit, detect, and study metastatic tumor cells. She then completed a K99/R00 postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Max Wicha at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she developed immunocompetent models of breast cancer dormancy and defined the mechanisms of metastatic latency. Dr. Bushnell also holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, where she conducted research with Dr. Phillip Messersmith. At the University of Minnesota, she leads the Bushnell Oncomaterials Research Group (BORG), integrating cancer biology, biomaterials, and immunology to uncover new insights into metastatic dormancy.
Matthew P. Goetz, MD
Matthew P. Goetz, M.D., is a consultant in the Department of Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Goetz holds the academic rank of Professor of Oncology and Pharmacology and is recognized with the distinction of the Erivan K. Haub Family Professorship in Cancer Research Honoring Richard F. Emslander, M.D.
Dr. Goetz is the Director of the Mayo Breast Cancer SPORE. Additionally, he is the Enterprise Deputy Director of Translational Research within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Research Chair for the Department of Oncology.
Dr. Goetz has been extensively involved in laboratory and translational research as well as in the conduct of early and late-phase clinical trials, with a focus on the development of new endocrine approaches for the treatment of ER+/HER2 negative breast cancer.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Goetz is active in professional organizations. He is a former member of the NCI Breast Cancer Steering Committee and currently serves on the Executive Committees of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium and the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group.
Ningling Kang, PhD
Ningling Kang, PhD is a Professor at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota. Trained in molecular medicine and tumor biology (Beijing Normal University; Free University Berlin/Max Delbrueck Center; Mayo Clinic), Dr. Kang leads an NIH-funded research program focused on how the liver microenvironment regulates metastatic growth. Her lab investigates the molecular and mechanobiological mechanisms that drive activation of hepatic stellate cells into metastasis-promoting fibroblasts, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets that disrupt pro-metastatic niches in the liver.
Dr. Kang’s work has been published in journals including The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Cell Reports, and her early studies using genetic mouse models produced first-authored papers in Science and Cancer Cell. She serves the field through NIH and international grant review panels and editorial leadership in molecular medicine and gastroenterology.
Pennie Ladlie
Pennie Ladlie is a third-generation farmer from Hollandale, Minnesota living with metastatic breast cancer. A devoted wife, mother, sister, and daughter, Pennie strives each day to fulfill her life’s purpose of being hospitable, caring, and giving.
When not traveling with her husband, Pennie enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and volunteering with her church.
Pennie is honored to be speaking at this year’s conference, and hopes that her story serves as an inspiration to researchers, scientists, and clinicians to continue to do their incredible work of understanding, treating, and defeating cancer, while keeping in mind that the people they treat are people and not just patients.
David A. Largaespada, PhD
Dr. Largaespada is an authority on mouse genetics, gene modification, cancer genes, and disease models. He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, co-director of the Brain Tumor Program and Center for Genome Engineering, and Deputy Director of the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota. He holds the Hedberg Family/Children’s Cancer Research Fund Chair in Brain Tumor Research. Dr. Largaespada has co-founded four biotechnology companies. He was awarded the American Cancer Society Research Professor Award in 2013. His group developed methods for forward genetic screening for tumor development and metastasis in mice using the Sleeping Beauty transposon. Using this method, they’ve identified new genes and genetic pathways that cause osteosarcoma, peripheral nerve sheath tumors, brain tumors, and other tumors. This technology is now being used to find methods to improve adoptive cell therapies. His lab is also using small molecule and genetic screens to find selective drug sensitivity or synthetic lethal relationships with loss of tumor suppressors. A special focus of the lab is the cancer predisposition syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1.
Beth Lortz
Beth Lortz is an Administrative Assistant for the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District in Iowa and a dedicated cancer patient advocate. She is a devoted wife and mother of two who enjoys golfing, camping, and making memories with family and friends.
In November 2024, Beth was diagnosed with Stage IVB High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Her advocacy journey began shortly after her diagnosis when she was invited to share her story at a cancer symposium in Albert Lea, Minnesota. This experience led to her current role as a speaker for the 7th Annual Global Cancer Consortium Conference.
By participating in this year's conference, Beth hopes to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and the urgent need for better early detection and screening methods. She wants to encourage others facing a late-stage cancer diagnosis to hold onto hope, maintain a positive mindset, and always “Keep the Faith.”
Branden Moriarity, PhD
Dr. Branden Moriarity is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology. He graduated from Saint Olaf College in 2007 with a BA in Biology, Chemistry, and Biomolecular sciences. He received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics at the University of Minnesota in 2012. From 2012-2014 he was a postdoctoral fellow in David Largaespda's lab, where he worked on identifying the genetics of pediatric sarcomas. He joined the Department of Pediatrics Faculty in 2014.
Dr. Moriarity runs a basic/translational research laboratory working to develop novel cellular therapeutics for gene therapy and cancer immunotherapy with the goal of translating new therapeutics to the clinic. To accomplish these goals, the Moriarity lab uses cutting edge genome engineering technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, base editor technology, transposons, and rAAV. These tools allow for high frequency gene knockout, gene knock-in, induction of targeted sequence changes, and activation and/or repression of endogenous gene expression. Target cells for engineering include T cells, B cells, NK cells, Monocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells. In addition to developing cellular based therapeutics, the Moriarity lab also performs preclinical drug testing for pediatric cancers, such as osteosarcoma, in order to launch new clinical trials using antibody therapies rather than toxic chemotherapy.
Gina Razidlo, PhD
Dr. Gina Razidlo is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is a cancer cell biologist and investigates mechanisms of tumor cell invasion and pancreatic cancer through interrogation of cell signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics, and metabolic organelles. Her research program focused on pancreatic cancer is funded by the National Cancer Institute, and she is an Emerging Leader in the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD
Dr. Kaylee Schwertfeger received her PhD from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO followed by post-doctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX where she developed an interest in understanding how activation of oncogenic signaling pathways in breast cancer cells drives tumor promoting alterations within the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Schwertfeger joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 2006 is currently a Professor in the Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology and the Co-Leader of the Cellular Mechanisms Program in the Masonic Cancer Center. The overarching research focus of her laboratory is to define key tumor-stromal interactions that drive breast cancer initiation, growth and malignant progression. Her current work is focused on using spatial technologies to define key niches within the tumor microenvironment that impact tumor progression and therapeutic response.
Jacquelyn Vranicar
Jacquelyn Vranicar is the founder of vraniCURE, a nonprofit committed to funding metastatic breast cancer research and supporting women in treatment. Diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, Jacquelyn turned her diagnosis into a mission—raising critical funds for research and creating meaningful support for women facing the disease. Her work bridges science and humanity, helping drive forward new treatment options while ensuring no woman feels alone in the process. She is a passionate advocate, speaker, and believer in progress—working every day toward more time, more options, and ultimately, a cure.
Linghua Wang, MD, PhD
Dr. Linghua Wang is a Professor with tenure in the Department of Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Co-Lead of the Institute for Data Science in Oncology (Focus Area 2: Single-Cell & Spatial Multi-Omics), and an Associate Member of the James P. Allison Institute. Her expertise spans translational genomics and AI, computational oncology, AI-enabled digital pathology, single-cell and spatial biology. Her lab specializes in deep profiling the complexity and dynamics of the tumor ecosystem to unravel tumor-cell heterogeneity, plasticity, and tumor–immune interactions that drive disease progression and therapy response. They utilize cutting-edge single-cell and spatial omics technologies, cellular and molecular imaging, digital pathology, and AI/ML methods, integrated with advanced bioinformatics tools and frameworks, to drive transformative discoveries. Dr. Wang’s group has published numerous groundbreaking studies in top-tier journals with more than 66,000 citations overall. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple prestigious honors, and she serves on the Cancer Cell Advisory Board and as a Scientific Editor for Cancer Discovery.
John Woerner
John Woerner is a retired senior financial services executive, stage IV rectal cancer survivor, and passionate advocate of clinical trials and research for better treatments and a cure for colorectal cancer (CRC). John serves as Board Chair for Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Chair of Project Cure CRC Patient Advisory Committee, patient advocate grant reviewer for Project Cure CRC, consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and is a patient mentor/buddy to numerous CRC patients. John is a patient advocate member of ASCO, ESMO, and AACR, and recently completed AACR’s Scientist Survivor Program. John is also an active member of Colontown, FightCRC, and Man up to Cancer. Outside of CRC advocacy, John is a board member for First Command Financial Services, Senior Advisor to Partners Group, treasurer for St. Martin’s-by-the-Lake, and a member of finance committee for the City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach. He lives in Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota and is married with 4 sons.
