Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat 2026 (DoIM)

The emphasis of this annual research retreat is to: encourage collaboration, highlight research accomplishments, and provide opportunities for innovation and discovery.

The in-person Poster Session is Thursday, May 28. Posters are encouraged for all abstracts submitted - both Cyrus Award-eligible and non-eligible research. All posters submitted are accepted for display.  Poster Award Finalists are pre-selected from the top five scoring posters in the categories of Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Quality Improvement.  A roving panel of judges will evaluate finalist’s poster presentations and winners will be announced on Friday.  Finalists must be present at the Poster Session to be considered.  

The hybrid Research Retreat is to be held Friday, May 29. The Keynote Speaker will be Carla Kim, PhD followed by the Cyrus Scholar Awards in the categories of Basic Science and Clinical Research. A panel of Distinguished Judges from MD Anderson will score the Cyrus Scholar presentations and select two winners.

Carla Kim, PhD
Principal Investigator, Boston Children’s Hospital Stem Cell Program Faculty Stem Cell Program Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Carla F. Kim is a professor at the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and a Principal Investigator at the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is also a Principal Faculty member at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, where she also serves as part of the Executive Committee. Kim was born in Fremont, Ohio where she received her bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University (1997) and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002). Kim completed her postdoctoral training in the Tyler Jacks Laboratory at MIT (2006) with the support of the Jane Coffin Childs Research Fellowship. During her time in the Jacks Lab, Kim discovered the first stem cell population in the adult mouse lung, bronchioalveolar stem cells (BASCs).

Working with genetically engineered mouse models that accurately represent human lung cancer, Kim’s group was the first to identify cancer stem cell populations in the two most frequent types of lung cancer in patients. Her lab’s knowledge in lung stem cells has revealed a new combination therapy approach for particular subsets of lung cancer patients. Most recently, Kim’s lab has developed a 3D lung organoid system that makes it possible to derive specialized lung cells from lung stem cells. Kim’s work has been recognized by a variety of organizations, she has received the Forbeck Scholar Award, V Scholar award, the Basil O’Connor Scholar award from the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society’s Research Scholar award, and most recently the William Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.

The Research Retreat opens at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2025, with the Poster Session. The Research Retreat will continue with the Keynote Address at 7:30 AM on Friday, May 29, and will adjourn at 1:00 PM

LOCATION NOTICE:

• Poster Session will be held in CPB / Duncan Building - Thursday, May 28, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Research Retreat will be held in Hickey Auditorium - Friday, May 29, 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM

FREE REGISTRATION: Online registration is required. 

• In-Person Attendance (includes lunch) - MDACC Employees Only 

• Virtual Attendance - live internet streaming (details and login information will be provided via emailed the week of the retreat) - MDACC Employees Only

Call for Abstracts
Division of Internal Medicine faculty, fellows and staff may submit abstracts for presentation involving original research.  Abstracts not presented at the 2025 DoIM Research Retreat but previously accepted, presented or published will be accepted.

All abstracts submitted by instructors, assistant professors and associate professors automatically qualify for the Cyrus Scholar Awards competition.  Winners from 2020- 2025 are not eligible to compete for the Cyrus Scholar Awards. Awardees will receive their awards in-hand during the General Session on Friday.

Submit your abstracts with the following criteria:
1. Categories: Basic Science, Clinical/Translational Research, Quality Improvement

2. Open to: All, including faculty, fellows and residents with MD Anderson mentorship, and non-faculty research employees.

3. Poster award eligibility: MD Anderson-appointed trainee, clinical fellow, postdoctoral fellow, undergraduate student, or graduate student (Research must be in collaboration with a Division of Internal Medicine faculty).

4. Cyrus award eligibility: First or senior author must be a Division of Internal Medicine instructor, assistant professor, or associate professor.

5. Quality poster award: Authors may include faculty, APPs or trainees (bonus points if project is multidisciplinary). Demonstrates use of QI methodology, QI tools is required. Must clearly describe measures (process, outcome, balancing measures). AIM statement should be in SMART format.  

Abstract Submissions - January 30, 2026 @ Noon

Abstract Instructions and Submission Form- click here

Cancellation Policy
The Department of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) reserves the right to cancel activities prior to the scheduled date if low enrollment or other circumstances make it necessary.  Each registrant will be notified by mail, email or at the phone or fax numbers given on the registration form.

CPE reserves the right to limit the number of participants in a program and is not responsible for any expenses incurred by an individual whose registration is not confirmed and for whom space is not available.

Additional Information
Please contact Eric Gagneaux, CE Activity Management, Continuing Professional Education, 713-745-0080; or Reyvian Mason, Administrative Coordinator, 713-794-5515.

Special Assistance: contact CPE at 713-792-2223 or toll free at 866-849-5866 or via e-mail: [email protected].

View the accessibility policy for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Eric Gagneaux
Continuing Education Planner
MD Anderson Cancer Center

CPE Planner

Non-Clinical Exception

Carla Kim, PhD
Director, Career Enhancement for Faculty in Science
Harvard Medical School

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Ajay Sheshadri, MD
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

David J. Tweardy, MD
Division Head
MD Anderson Cancer Center

Faculty

Non-Clinical Exception

Reyvian Mason, Other
MD Anderson

Planning Committee Member

Non-Clinical Exception

Cara McCutcheon, MHA, MHA
Program Coordinator
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Planning Committee Member

Non-Clinical Exception