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Project Title for the Award: Role of STAT5b in Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Research Statement: "By some estimates, 48% of breast cancers exhibit increased levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This correlates to poor prognoses and increased metastasis. This study aims to elucidate the signaling mechanism behind EGFR-induced metastasis, with signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5b as its focus. STAT5b mediates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in breast cancer, and has been implicated in migration and invasion of cancer cells. Investigating EGF-induced activation of STAT5b in migration, invasion, and in vivo metastasis of breast cancer cells, could lead to improved therapies to prevent metastasis."Previous Education: B.S., Microbiology, Pittsburgh Return to TOP |
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Project Title for the Award: Genome Delivery of Neurotropic Herpesviruses. Research Statement: "This research will investigate the process by which neurotropic herpesviruses deliver their genomes to cells. Specifically, a dually labeled virus will be used to determine if two viral proteins, the portal and UL25, play important roles in the attachment of HSV-1 capsids to nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and DNA uncoating. Gaining a better understanding of nuclear binding and DNA uncoating will be important for the creation of safer and more efficient herpes-based vectors for gene therapy, and could lead to the development of new antiviral therapies for human diseases caused by these viruses." Previous Education: B.S., Microbiology and Cell Science, Florida Return to TOP |
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 Lauren Kingsley, a MSTP/Biochemistry Ph.D student in the lab of Theresa Guise and John Chirgwin, has received a Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Predoctoral Traineeship Award via the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).
Project Title for the Award: Inhibiting Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Targeting the HIF-1α Signaling Pathway. Research Statement: "A majority of patients who die of breast cancer will have bone metastases, which cause pain, bone fractures, nerve compression, morbidity and decreased quality of life. Current therapies alleviate pain but do not improve survival. Tumor and bone cells interact to cause a vicious cycle of tumor growth and bone destruction. Bone is hypoxic and promotes the cycle through Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-1α. HIF-1α is increased in hypoxic tumor cells and regulates prometastatic gene expression. HIF-1α may also crosstalk with other pathways important for bone metastasis, such as the Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-β) pathway. HIF-1α inhibitors may help treat and prevent bone metastases." Related Publications: PubMed Listings Recent awards: Lauren has recently received an American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Young Investigator Award and a Paget Foundation Skeletal Complications of Malignancy Young Investigator Award. Previous Education: B.A. Biophysical Chemistry, Dartmouth Return to TOP |
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 Jie Lin, a Biochemistry Ph.D student in the lab of Anindya Dutta, has received a Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Predoctoral Traineeship Award via the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).
Project Title for the Award: Checkpoint Pathways Activated by Re-Replication in Breast Cancer Cells. Research Statement: "Gene amplification, a major type of genomic instability, is frequently observed in breast cancer cells and therapies often fail because amplification leads to increased expression of the multi-drug-resistance transporter. Though many epidemiological reports link gene amplification with prognosis, the amplification mechanism remains unclear. I have a novel hypothesis: gene amplification is initiated by disorders in regulation of proteins important for replication. Recently we discovered that the depletion of Emi-1, an important cell-cycle controller, induced DNA re-replication in breast epithelial cells. This study will address whether excess DNA generated in breast epithelial cells when Emi-1 is lost leads to gene amplification." Related Publications: PubMed Listings Previous Education: B.S., Biology, Fudan University Return to TOP |
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 Adam Mueller, a MSTP/Biochemistry Ph.D student in the lab of Anindya Dutta, has received a Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Predoctoral Traineeship Award via the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).
Project Title for the Award: O-GlcNAc Misregulation and Aneuploidy in Breast Cancer. Research Statement: "O-GlcNAc is a post-translational modification in metazoans that exerts control over various cellular processes, acting as a kind of nutrient sensor, as the levels and specificity of the modification vary based on cellular metabolic rate. This mechanism has been implied in the progression of type 2 diabetes, as well as aneuploidy in some cell lines. We intend to study O-GlcNAc in the context of breast cancer progression, and determine whether misregulation of its addition can bypass checkpoint control of rereplication in breast epithelial cells. Additionally we will determine whether global and specific protein levels of O-GlcNAc in breast tumors can be correlated with prognostic indicators."
Previous Education: B.S., Biological Sciences |
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Research Statement: "My project focuses on validating tumor-associated phosphopeptides as relevant immunotherapeutic targets for melanoma. Our lab, in collaboration with Dr. Hunt's lab, has identified numerous phosphorylated peptides on cancer cell lines, and has generated phospho-specific CD8+ T cell responses for some phosphopeptides. Additionally, we want to classify phosphopeptides that are preferentially and/or differentially displayed on melanoma cell lines with particular mutations. From this, we hope to generate phospho-specific CD8+ T cell responses, optimize the immunogenicity of phosphopeptides that are weakly or non-immunogenic, and develop a xenograft melanoma model to evaluate the synergistic and/or antagonistic effects of small molecule inhibitors on phosphopeptide display in these lines." Previous Education: B.S., Biology & Psychology, Virginia Tech Return to TOP |
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Previous Education: B.A., Neuroscience and Computer Science, Rutgers |
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Related Publications: PubMed Listings Previous Education: B.S., Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University |
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| Isaah Vincent,a Microbiology Ph.D Student in the Englehard Lab, has received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows via the National Cancer Institute. Project Title for the Award: Enhancing Anti-Tumor Immunity by Blocking A2aR Signaling in Hematopoetic Cell Lineages. Research Statement: Adenosine is the product of the breakdown of ATP and is increased in areas of inflammation, necrosis, and hypoxia. As the tumor is an inflammatory site and is often highly hypoxic, the project endeavors to determine if adenosine via the inhibitory Adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR) on cells of hematopoietic origin blocks tumor clearance. The main focus of the project will be on the impact of the A2aR expressed on naive and effector CD8 T cells on their differentiation and function. Previous Education: B.A., Biology & Philosophy, Iowa State Return to TOP |
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Project Title for the Award: Characterization of CHD Family Chromodomains Implicated in Epigenetic Signaling. Research Statement: "CHD proteins are implicated in chromatin remodeling for epigenetic regulation of gene expression. They also have been implicated in diseases such as dermatomyositis, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and neuroblastoma, as well as CHARGE syndrome and idiopathic scoliosis. A structure based sequence alignment in the chromodomains of CHD proteins has suggested that the family can be divided into three groups. The variance between chromodomains appears to promote distinct epigenetic signaling for specific localization of each CHD protein. Therefore, we are interested in elucidating the structure and function of previously uncharacterized human CHD chromodomains to help determine their roles in epigenetic signaling." Related Publications: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Previous Education: B.S., Chemistry, Fayetteville State University Return to TOP |
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