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Please click on a student's name to read about their research:
Rachel, Alfonso, Scott, Cindy, Jose, Joe, Adam, Amy, Daniele, Becky, Cheryl, Alyson, Neha, Meghan, Phil, Nick, Shruti,
Emily, Ani, Danielle, Michelle |
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Rachel
Brunel University, United Kingdom
Major Professor:
Richard Jove, Ph.D.
Co-Major Professor:
W. Douglas Cress, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are latent cytoplasmic transcription factors that play a role in both cytokine and growth factor signaling. STAT3 is a member of the STAT family that is transiently activated as required in normal cells, but is constitutively activated in many human tumors, causing its target genes to be continuously transcribed. STAT3 has become the subject of intense investigation as an anti-cancer therapeutic target wince the genest it turns on play a role in cell growth, proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. To date a handful of these genes have been identified, including cyclin D1, p21WAF1, Bcl-x, Mcl-1 and c-Myc. It is highly likely, however, that there are additional unidentified genes associated with STAT3 activation which, when constitutively transcribed, may play a role in oncogenesis. Therefore, the focus of my dissertation research is to identify novel STAT3-regulated genes that are important in tumor development and progression.
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Ildefonso
"Alfonso"
Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Spain
Major Professor: Eduardo Sotomajor, M.D.
Research Interest:
Dr. Sotomayor's laboratory is focused on searching for novel strategies to direct the immune response against tumors. This task has been proven to be specially challenging mainly due to the establishment of tumor antigen specific T cell tolerance that blocks the development of an immune response strong and long enough to get rid of the disease. Recent evidence demonstrates that the T cell response is mainly determined by the state of maturation of the cells presenting the antigen (APCs). The detection of pathogen associated products on their environment constitutes one of the signals that will cause maturation of the APC. It is the rational of my project to use one of these products, flagellin, to design new immunotherapy strategies that may break the T cell energy observed during the development of the tumor.
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Scott
Central Michigan University, USA
Major Professor:
W. Douglas Cress, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research interests include studying the role of Bcl-2 family members in cell cycle regulation. My current focus is on how the overexpression of Bcl-2 family member MCl-1 inhibits cell cycle progression.
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Cynthia
"Cindy"
University of South Florida, USA
Major Professor: Jiandong Chen, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
I am currently researching the regulation of the p53 family as well as interacting proteins (MDMX). The MDM2 homolog MDMX is an important regulator of p53 response after DNA damage. My current project has identified new insights on the mechanism, by which
14-3-3 and Chk2 phosphorylation, after DNA damage, regulate MDMX and p53 responses.
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Jose
Pontifical Catholic University, Puerto Rico
Major Professor:
W. Douglas Cress, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
I am working on one of the specific aims of Dr. Cress's funded NIH proposal entitled: "Transcriptional control of Bok and Mcl-1 by E2F1". My part of this project is to determine the relative contribution of Bok/Mtd in p53-independent E2F1-meditated apoptosis. Our preliminary data supports the hypothesis that bok/Mtd and Mcl-1 likely account for the majority of E2F1 induced apoptosis. To approach this question, I am using Bok small hairpin inhibitory RNA molecules to block the expression of Bok protein and thus its induction by E2F1. The preliminary data suggests that blocking Bok expression by siRNA can block the induction of apoptosis by E2F1.
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Joseph
"Joe"
Eckerd College, USA
Major Professor:
William Kerr, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research consists primarily of two projects, both centered on the NK cell. The first project is the study of the effects of SHIP deficiency on NK cells. The second project is determining and examining the kinome of the NK cell and its various developmental stages.
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Adam
University of South Florida, USA
Major Professor:
Said Sebti, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research is focused on crosstalk signaling between ß-adrenergic receptor and MAP kinase in cancer, and developing novel therapeutic strategies based on protein expression patterns that can predict sensitivity to ß-adrenergic agonists or antagonists.
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Amy
University of Florida, USA
Major Professor: William Kerr, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My two current research projects are related to the role of Src Homology 2 Domain-containing Inositol-5-phosphatase (SHIP) in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology. Last year, I undertook a third project involving the hematopoietic kinome, which is the combined cellular kinase activity of hematopoietic cells. By combining the results of these studies, I hope to determine key signaling molecules involved in
HSC self-renewal.
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Daniele
University of Florida, USA
Major Professor: Jiandong Chen, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
The tumor suppressor protein p53 pays a key role in monitoring genomic stability and preventing malignant transformation. The main focus of current p53 activation studies involve DNA damage and aberrant growth signals. MDM2 and it homolog MDMX are potent regulators of p53 activity and stability following damage signals. The focus of my research is to determine under what circumstances and to what degree MDMX affects p53 activation and to determine whether it is important for tumorigenesis.
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Rebecca
"Becky"
University of Central Florida, USA
Major Professor: Srikumar Chellappan, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research is conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Srikumar Chellappan. Our lab studies cell cycle regulatory proteins like the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, Rb and E2F1. My personal project is focused on screening drugs for the disruption of Rb and Raf-1 binding. We have identified compounds that disrupt this interaction in vitro and in vivo. The goal is to identify the most selective and specific compound for the Rb/Raf-1 interaction.
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Cheryl
Wittenburg University, USA
Major Professor: Hong-Gang Wang, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
The focus of my research is on the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (9-1-1) complex and its role, not only as a regulator of cell cycle checkpoints, but also in apoptosis. I'm currently investigating why cells that lack a functional
9-1-1 complex are more susceptible to DNA damage-induced apoptosis.
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Alyson
University of Massachusetts, USA
Major Professor: Alvaro Monteiro, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research involves characterizing interactions of proteins downstream of ATM and CHK2 in the DNA damage response pathway.
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Neha
University of Delhi, India
Major Professor: Jiandong Chen, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My project involves studying the regulation of SirT1 and its possible role in tumorigenesis. Not much is known about this gene but its homolog in yeast has been linked to longevity upon calorie restriction. If this gene had a similar role in humans, it was possible that it might be a key in promoting tumor growth despite the well-known fact that conditions within solid tumors are stressful in terms of nutrients and oxygen. I am in the process of trying different stress conditions on knock down cell lines and hope to test it in animals soon.
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Meghan
University of Arizona, USA
Major Professor: Thomas Guadagno, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research focuses on mechanisms that control spindle assembly during mitosis. In particular, I am investigating the role of B-Raf, a MEK kinase, in spindle assembly. In addition, I am studying the potential role that oncogenic B-Raf may have in generating genomic instability.
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Philip
"Phil"
McGill University, Canada
Major Professor: Ed Seto, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
HDAC inhibitors represent a relatively new class of anti-cancer therapeutic drug. Our lab's focus is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of HDACs. I am interested in characterizing several members of the Class III HDAC family.
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Nicholas
"Nick"
University of Nebraska, USA
Major Professor: Hong-Gang Wang, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
I am studying the effects of Src overexpression on anoikis. Src is often found to be mutated or overexpressed in many types of aggressive cancer. Understanding the role of Src will lead to a better understanding of cellular changes that contribute to metastasis.
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Shruti
University of Pune, India
Major Professor: Kenneth L. Wright, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research interests focus on the genetic changes during cancer development that lead to immunological alterations. I would also like to know how these alterations can be used as drug targets to help develop a possible cancer cure. This is a broad area of research and I hope to focus on a particular aspect after my first year of laboratory rotations.
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Emily
Miami University (Ohio), USA
Major Professor: TBD
Research Interest:
My research interest focuses on how immune tolerance of tumors occurs and what can be done to overcome this tolerance.
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Aneliya
"Ani"
St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia, Bulgaria
Major Professor: Alvaro Monteiro, Ph.D.
Research Interest:
My research is focusing on the biochemical role of BRCA1 (Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Gene 1) in DNA damage response and understanding its function in transcriptional regulation.
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Danielle
University of Nebraska, USA
Major Professor: William S. Dalton, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Interest:
Currently, my research interests include studying the role of certain genes in DNA repair, cell cycle control and apoptosis. I am also interested in the effect of different types of cancer drugs on these genes and processes.
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Michelle
Florida Institute of Technology
Major Professor: TBD
Research Interest:
My current research interests are: signal transduction pathways leading to metastasis during cancer development, formation of protein complexes involved in DNA replication or transcription in cancerous cells, the interaction between immune cells and cancerous cells and angiogenesis and cancer growth and metastasis.
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