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On May 28 and 29, 2026, the Division of Internal Medicine hosted its annual Research Retreat, bringing together a broad audience of faculty, trainees, and researchers for two days of scientific exchange and collaboration, both in person and virtually.

The event was led by Ajay Sheshadri, MD, associate professor and chair of the Research Committee, and Jun-ichi Abe, MD, PhD, professor and deputy chair, with David Tweardy, MD, serving as master of ceremonies.

Poster Session
The retreat opened with a dynamic poster session held in the Duncan Building Conference Rooms. Students, trainees, and postdoctoral fellows presented their research across three categories—Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Quality Improvement—highlighting the breadth and depth of ongoing work within the division.

Designed to foster engagement, the session encouraged interactive discussions between presenters and attendees, sparking new ideas and potential collaborations.

A poster competition added energy to the event, with top honors awarded in each category based on innovation, scientific rigor, clarity of presentation, and overall impact.

Keynote speaker and Cyrus Awards

The retreat continued on May 29 with a keynote presentation by distinguished guest speaker Carla Kim, PhD, of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Kim is a principal investigator in the Stem Cell Program and a professor of Genetics and Pediatrics, widely recognized for her pioneering research in lung stem cell biology.In her talk, titled “Cell-Cell Interactions in the Regulation of Lung Progenitors in Injury Repair, Aging, and Cancer,” Dr. Kim shared new insights into the cellular mechanisms that drive lung repair and disease.

She presented innovative techniques for developing airway and alveolar organoid models from both mouse and human samples, offering powerful tools to study lung biology and early disease processes using minimal patient material.

Dr. Kim also highlighted the discovery of a transient lung repair cell state that may play a role in the earliest stages of lung adenocarcinoma, identifying potential vulnerabilities for future therapeutic targeting.

In addition, she described findings from preclinical models demonstrating how aging and acute injury can trigger complex, tissue-wide responses involving epithelial, immune, and mesenchymal cells—interactions that may contribute to disease development.

Collectively, these advances provide new insight into the interplay between cellular and environmental factors in lung disease and cancer, opening the door to novel strategies for improving patient outcomes.2026 Cyrus Scholar Award Winners

Basic Science: Sivareddy Kotla, PhD, Associate Professor, Cardiology
Presentation Title: "Targeting ALDH2: Colchicine Directly Activates ALDH2 to Protect Against Radiation-Induced Senescence and Atherosclerosis”

Clinical Research: Ajay Sheshadri, MD, Associate Professor, Pulmonary Medicine  
Presentation Title: "Trastuzumab Deruxtecan–Associated Pneumonitis in Non-Breast Solid Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study​​"

On April 24–25, leaders in cancer care and research convened for the joint ASPIRE–IOTOX Symposium, hosted by the Division of Internal Medicine, the Division of Cancer Medicine, and ASPIRE. The hybrid event welcomed more than 250 participants, both in person at the Zayed Ballroom and online.

This year marked the first time the annual ASPIRE Conference was aligned with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center’s IOTOX Scientific Symposium—an important milestone that created a unified forum focused on immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The combined meeting drew participation from more than 20 academic centers and practices worldwide, reflecting growing global interest in addressing the challenges of immunotherapy-related toxicities.“

This was the first combined conference between the National irAE Consortium (ASPIRE) and the institutional IOTOX Symposium, and it drew the highest attendance in recent years,” said Yinghong (Mimi) Wang, MD, PhD, professor of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and chair of the ASPIRE organizing committee. “A defining strength of the meeting was the inclusion of patient perspectives, which helped guide priorities and ensure the needs of those affected by irAEs remain central.”

Centered on the theme, “Delivering What Matters: Patient-Centered Outcomes Through IOTOX Translational Science,” the program brought together experts from academia, industry, clinical practice, and patient advocacy to address the challenges of diagnosing, treating, and preventing toxicities associated with immuno-oncology (IO) therapies.

A distinguishing feature of the symposium was the inclusion of patients who have experienced these toxicities firsthand. Their perspectives provided powerful context and reinforced the importance of developing better diagnostic tools, treatment strategies, and supportive care models.

The program also stood out for its highly interactive format. “It was exciting to see the level of engagement from the audience,” said Kristen Pauken, PhD, assistant professor of Immunology and co-chair of the IOTOX organizing committee. “It really felt like everyone was there to advance the mission of improving the lives of patients receiving immunotherapy, particularly by mitigating the burden of these immune-related adverse events.”

She noted that audience participation often extended beyond Q&A sessions, evolving into broader discussions where attendees shared their own clinical experiences.

Beyond the educational sessions, the symposium fostered meaningful collaboration across institutions.

“Connecting with irAE specialists from around the country and globe led to making new collaborations to push the field forward,” said Ajay Sheshadri, MD, associate professor of Pulmonary Medicine and co-chair of the IOTOX organizing committee. He also highlighted the keynote presentation by Alexandra-Chloé Villani, PhD, as a source of inspiration for advancing multidisciplinary research and breaking down barriers between fields.

Keynote speakers included:

• Kerry Reynolds, MD, Associate Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital (ASPIRE Annual Conference)
• Alexandra-Chloé Villani, PhD, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital (IOTOX Day 1)
• Douglas Johnson, MD, Professor, Vanderbilt University (IOTOX Day 2), 

Early evaluation results reflected an overwhelmingly positive response, with 80% of attendees rating the symposium “excellent” and 20% “good.” Participants особенно valued the practical, real-world focus on immune-related adverse events and the opportunity for cross-disciplinary dialogue through interactive sessions.

Building on this success, attendees expressed strong interest in expanding future programming to include complex clinical case discussions, ICD-10 guidance, oncology referral pathways, and survivorship-focused content—further positioning ASPIRE–IOTOX as a leading platform for advancing patient-centered approaches to immunotherapy safety.

The Internal Medicine division has launched the IOTOX Algorithm App, a new clinical tool designed to support oncology and internal medicine providers who manage immune checkpoint inhibitor–related toxicities.

Built on UT MD Anderson’s extensive experience with immune‑related adverse events, the app delivers evidence‑based, organ‑specific algorithms that offer clear, step‑by‑step guidance at the point of care.  The project represents a collaborative effort across the institution, translating years of clinical expertise into a mobile platform that strengthens real‑time decision‑making for faculty and trainees alike.

By centralizing best practices and simplifying access to trusted guidance, the app aims to improve confidence, consistency, and safety in managing ICI toxicities. This rollout will broaden access across the department and further advance efforts to enhance patient care through innovation in education and clinical practice.

The iOS version is now available in the Apple app store here; the Android version is available in the Google Play Store as a beta (pre-release) release here.

On May 15–16, 2025, the Division of Internal Medicine hosted its annual Research Retreat, bringing together a record 249 participants in person and virtually to showcase innovative research and collaboration.

The retreat opened with a poster session featuring work from students, trainees, and fellows across basic science, clinical research, and quality improvement.

Attendees engaged in lively discussion while judges evaluated posters for originality, rigor, clarity, and impact, recognizing outstanding contributions in each category.

The second day featured a keynote address by Michael Irwin, MD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, titled “Insomnia and Inflammation Conspire to Heighten Depression Risk: Implications for Treatment and Prevention of Depression in Cancer Survivorship.”

The program concluded with presentations from Cyrus Scholar Award finalists, with awards presented in Basic Science and Clinical Research.

2025 Cyrus Scholar Award Winners

Basic Science: Anand Singh, Ph.D., Symptom Research
“Understanding Pediatric Chemotherapy Treatment–Induced Long‑Term Neurological Deficits”

Clinical Research: Sarah Hamidi, M.D., Endocrine Neoplasia
“Real‑World Experience with Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab in Metastatic BRAF Wild‑Type Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma”