Bro. Jelani C. Zarif named among inaugural cohort of White House Cancer Moonshot scholars
Bro. Jelani C. Zarif, [Kappa Delta Lambda, '08] was recently announced as one of 11 inaugural researchers in the National Cancer Institute's 'Cancer Moonshot' scholars. The cohort, presented today by the White House, will receive $5.4 million in federal funding to support innovative approaches to cancer research, prevention, and treatment - specifically in underrepresented communities throughout the United States.
According to the White House, the Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is designed to support early-career scientists, researchers, and innovators from diverse backgrounds, including from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences research workforce. The Biden-Harris Administration intends to fund up to 30 additional Cancer Moonshot Scholars by 2025.
“We are at our best when we capitalize on the diversity of the nation’s skills, talents, and viewpoints to solve the complex problems in cancer research, and the Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is a critical step in that direction of equity,” said NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Director Dr. Sanya A. Springfield.
Bro. Zarif is the Robert E. Meyerhoff Endowed Professor and Assistant Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and is also a member of the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. The Zarif laboratory studies molecular mechanisms by immune cells within the tumor microenvironment that ultimately promote tumor growth, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. The Zarif laboratory also focuses on discovering and investigating new biomarkers that may be expressed on myeloid cells that could predict clinical response to standard-of-care treatments for prostate cancer. He is also an adjunct professor at Morgan State University in Baltimore City.
A Chicago native, Dr. Zarif obtained both his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Jackson State University and then earned his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University. He then completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has been the recipient of several research awards, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Young Investigator award, The Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund, the Department of Defense Translational Research award, and the NCI K22 Career Transition award.
Delta Lambda makes strong showing at Alpha Phi Alpha 97th General Convention in Dallas
A delegation of 30 Delta Lambda Chapter brothers attended the 97th General Convention Dallas, Texas in July. While the temperature outside in Dallas was hot, the temperature inside the Hilton Anatole was “Ice Cold” as the brothers attended to the business of Alpha.
Interspersed between business sessions and regional caucus meetings, brothers had an opportunity to connect socially and to revel within the bonds of Alpha brotherhood. A convention highlight for the chapter was Bro. James Benton receiving his 60 year pin from General President Willis Lonzer.
Additionally, Bro. Dr. Anton C. Bizzell was honored as a finalist for the international 'Alumni Brother of the Year' award following similar accolades given by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Chapters (MAAC) district and the fraternity's Eastern Region in the months leading up to the convention.
Chartered in 1919, the Delta Lambda is among the oldest and largest alumni chapters in the fraternity.
Delta Lambda leadership retreat focuses on innovation, frontline engagement
Brothers of the Delta Lambda Chapter executive council met at Johns Hopkins University in July to chart the course for the 2023-2024 fraternal year. Chapter President Bro. Ryan Turner charged the group with the theme for the fraternal year, “Delta Lambda on the Frontlines,” and challenged group members to identify ways of elevating the chapter's presence in the greater Baltimore area.
Brothers discussed areas involving chapter finance, membership apathy, brotherhood, national programs, and reclamation. The conversation, centered within the title of the seventh chapter in the fraternity history book, "The Leaven of Self-Examination," helped to develop new strategies in measuring chapter impact, individual engagement of new and seasoned brothers, auditing chapter programming for strength and efficiency in community service, examining our geographic service area, and building membership cohesion.
The chapter will host its annual retreat on Saturday, August 19 at Spark Baltimore. Brothers are encouraged to register today.