Distinguished Lecturer Symposium Celebrates Moffitt’s Research Community

The Moffitt Postdoctoral Association (MPDA) hosted the Distinguished Lecturer Symposium (DLS), a highlight event for the Moffitt Cancer Center community, on April 7, 2026. This year, Dr. Jennifer Wargo, an industry-leading scientist and surgeon from MD Anderson Cancer Center, was honored as the 2026 distinguished lecturer. The event was a full day of scientific discourse, professional networking and research presentations that brought together a wide array of researchers, clinicians and trainees from across Moffitt.

Dr. Wargo gave a keynote address to a packed Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium. In her talk entitled "Targeting the Microbiome to Promote Health and End Cancer," Dr. Wargo shared the critical discoveries she and her team have made regarding the connection between the gut microbiome and patient responses to immunotherapy. Specifically, her team has found that melanoma patients with higher gut microbial diversity show improved response to anti-PD-1 therapy.

She demonstrated her commitment to translational research and clinical impact by focusing much of her talk on the harmful and helpful practices clinicians can take to improve patient outcomes, such as increasing dietary fiber intake and avoiding broad-spectrum antibiotics during immunotherapy treatment.

The afternoon provided an opportunity for trainees to engage with Dr. Wargo in a Q&A session. She shared anecdotes from her professional and educational career, as well as helpful tips for early-career researchers.

The day concluded with the Postdoc Presentation Competition. Dr. Wargo, along with a panel of distinguished Moffitt faculty and research scientists, were this year’s panel of judges. The 2026 Postdoc Presentation finalists were:

• Dr. Paige Lake (Postdoctoral Fellow, Oswald Lab, “Understanding the Role of Patient-Centered Communication in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology:
  Insights from AYA Patients and Clinicians on Fertility, Decision-Making, and Psychosocial Care” )
• Dr. Sadegh Marzban (Postdoctoral Fellow, West Lab, “Cell State Transitions Drive Therapy Resistance & Relapse in B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia”)
• Dr. Sayalee Potdar (Postdoctoral Fellow, Medina Lab, “I Tumor-associated Treg phosphatidylserine reveals distinct functional cell states”)
• Dr. Tomas Zelenka (Postdoctoral Fellow, Gomes Lab, “Reprogramming Aging T Cells for Effective Cancer Immunotherapy”)

After the final vote was cast, Dr. Tomas Zelenka (Gomes Lab) was announced as the winner. Congratulations, Dr. Zelenka!

The 2026 DLS celebrated the outstanding achievements of Dr. Wargo and showcased the talent within the Moffitt Cancer Center research community. This annual event fosters meaningful connections between researchers and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and mentorship in advancing scientific discovery.