From Socks to Science: Fueling Research Collaboration
What inspires cancer researchers to collaborate?
Big questions. Important discoveries. And, apparently, Darn Tough socks.
UVM Cancer Center challenged cancer researchers to collaborate on a publication and earn a pair of Darn Tough socks.
The result: 19 researchers collaborated on 12 published papers and counting – proof that team science plus Vermont-made socks equals steps toward scientific progress.
Collaborative publications (as of August 11, 2026):
Mansour Gergi, Neil Zakai, and Diego Adrianzen Herrera: “Impact of thrombosis and bleeding on survival of older people with myelodysplastic syndromes: a population analysis,” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Dmitriy Akselrod and Chris Anker: “Executive Summary of the American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria for Selective Use of Pelvic Radiation Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Consensus Statement,” International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics
Dmitriy Akselrod and Chris Anker: “Executive Summary of the American Radium Society (ARS) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Locoregional Gastric Adenocarcinoma,” American Journal of Clinical Oncology
Dmitriy Akselrod and Chris Anker: “Executive summary of American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria for the treatment of locoregionally recurrent rectal cancer,” Cancer
Karlyn Martin, Mansour Gergi, Diego Adrianzen Herrera, Chris Holmes, Neil Zakai, and Brian Sprague: “Development and validation of a risk assessment model for hospital-acquired venous thrombosis in medical in-patients with cancer.” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Diego Adrianzen Herrera and Neil Zakai. “Oral Anticoagulants and Risk of Bleeding and Death in Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism.” JACC: Advances
Karlyn Martin, Emily Hallgren, and Chris Holmes: “Venous thromboembolism prevention in ambulatory oncology: A multi-method evaluation of the Vermont Model to inform adaptation to an oncology-delivered model," Thrombosis Research
Chris Holmes, Karlyn Martin, Peter Callas, and Steve Ades: “Impact of Venous Thrombosis Prevention in Ambulatory Oncology: Importance of Guideline Adherence,” JCO Oncology Practice
Trishnee Bhurosy, Brian Sprague, Jessica Heath, and Maija Reblin: “Surviving more than cancer: the unseen toll of financial toxicity and basic needs insecurity in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors,” BMC Cancer
Rohit Singh and Alissa Thomas: “Palliative Care and Quality Outcomes in Patients With Brain Metastases and Poor Prognosis: A Multi-Institutional Analysis,” JCO Oncology Practice
Neil Zakai and Diego Adrianzen Herrera: “Therapies for myelodysplastic syndromes and their impact on cardiovascular disease risk: a population analysis,” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Chris Anker, Melanie Bui, Mirabelle Sajisevi, and Conor O’Neill: “High-Risk Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Mohs Micrographic Surgery: Low Actuarial Recurrence Rates Unless Multiple Major Risk Factors Present,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
