Nebraska Medicine Marks 10 Years of CAR T-Cell Therapy Innovation

Nebraska Medicine, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will celebrate a decade of innovation and patient impact in CAR T-cell therapy during a special event, "Trailblazing a Decade of CAR T-cell Therapy: 10 Years of Innovation at Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.”

Patients, caregivers, health care teams, researchers, donors, and supporters who have helped shape the program's first 10 years will gather at The Barn at Ackerhurst Dairy Farm in Bennington for the event.

Guests will enjoy dinner, networking, and a program highlighting the evolution of CAR T-cell therapy and its impact on patients and families. Featured speakers include Matt Lunning, DO, medical director of Gene and Cellular Therapy; Kim Schmit-Pokorny, director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant and CAR T-Cell Program; Susan Blumel, research nurse manager in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office; and patients Nick Howe and Jan Janish-Hanzlik, along with other patients whose stories reflect the transformative power of cellular therapies.

"Over the past decade, CAR T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment landscape for many patients facing serious blood cancers," says Dr. Lunning. "This event is an opportunity to celebrate the patients who placed their trust in us, the teams who helped advance this work, and the innovations that continue to shape the future of cancer care.”

The evening will conclude with live music from local musician Tyler Anthony.

The event will honor the many individuals who have contributed to the growth of the CAR T-cell program while looking ahead to the next generation of cellular therapy advances and breakthroughs.

WHAT: Trailblazing a Decade of CAR T-cell Therapy: 10 Years of Innovation
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, 5:30 to 10 p.m. (patients speak 7:15-7:45)
WHERE: The Barn at Ackerhurst Dairy Farm, 15220 Military Rd., Bennington, Neb.

The above info is for media planning purposes only—the event isn’t open to the public.