The celebrated 10 years of Markey Research Day this past Tuesday. Sponsored by the , Markey Research Day is an opportunity for researchers who study any aspect of cancer to share their work and receive feedback from colleagues across campus. Markey鈥檚 reach extends across 10 of 好色先生鈥檚 16 colleges, and the work on display at Research Day showcases the wide variety and diversity of perspectives that fall under the Markey umbrella. 

Nearly 450 people were in attendance at the event, which featured 138 poster abstracts. Many posters are presented by seasoned researchers; however, high school, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students, as well as junior researchers and staff, can submit work and have their poster presentation judged by faculty members.

The morning session included oral presentations by:

  • Megan Haney, M.D./Ph.D., graduate student - 鈥淎 Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 4A3 (PRL-3)/Wnt signaling axis as a novel therapeutic target in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) relapse鈥
  • James R. Castle, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow - 鈥淓stimating breast tissue-specific epigenetic age using next-generation methylation sequencing data鈥
  • Tianxin Yu, Ph.D., research associate - 鈥淟ung tumorigenesis involves KLF4-regulated lineage of stem/progenitor cells鈥
  • Reshma Ramlal, M.D., assistant faculty - clinical track - 鈥淣umber of Somatic Mutations Is an Independent Predictor of Overall Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia鈥

In the afternoon, three faculty members gave presentations:

  • Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D., 好色先生 College of Medicine - "Epigenomic Reprogramming in Response to an Environmental Toxicant to Drive Carcinogensis"
  • Thomas Tucker, Ph.D., 好色先生 College of Public Health 鈥 鈥淭he Importance of Population-Based Data for Cancer Research and Control鈥
  • Lowell Anthony, M.D., 好色先生 College of Medicine - "Clinical and Translational Research in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms at Markey"

This year鈥檚  Distinguished Research award was presented by Katie Alford, founding member of the Markey Women Strong program. This $100,000 prize is split between two researchers whose groundbreaking work addresses the cancer burden among women. This year鈥檚 award was given to Tianyan Gao, professor in the 好色先生 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, and Eva Goellner, assistant professor in the 好色先生 Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology.

Dr. Mark Evers, director of the 好色先生 Markey Cancer Center, gave his annual "State of the Cancer Center" address. Finishing off the presentations, the Susan B. Lester Memorial Lecture was given by Dr. James H. Doroshow, director of the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the .鈥

Markey Research Day concluded with an award ceremony. Winners are:

 

Graduate Students 鈥 Basic Science

Second Place: Gongbo Liang

Abstract #23: 鈥淏reast Cancer Classification Using Combined Whole Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis鈥

First Place: Nathalia Araujo

Abstract #100: 鈥淭umor Suppressor Par-4 Regulates Obesity and Mammary Tumor Growth鈥

 

Postdocs 鈥 Basic Science

Second Place: Carolyn T. Jordan, Bluegrass Advanced Materials, LLC

Abstract #12: 鈥淐urcumin-Conjugated Poly(beta-amino ester) Microparticles Barrier Rinse Promotes Suppression and Healing of Ulcers in a Radiation Induced Oral Mucositis Hamster Model鈥

First Place: Jacqueline Rivas, PhD

Abstract #55: 鈥淓nhancing anti-tumor immunity and responses to immunotherapy by reversing interleukin-10 mediated immunosuppression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia鈥

 

Graduate Students 鈥 Clinical Science

Second Place:  Gabriella E. Puleo

Abstract #50: 鈥淎 Mixed Bag of Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Smoking Cessation after Cervical Cancer Diagnosis鈥

First Place: Tia Borger

Abstract #107:&苍产蝉辫;鈥Cancer Patients鈥 Tobacco Use, Readiness to Quit, and Help Seeking Behavior: Early Implementation Outcomes from the Markey CARES Tobacco Treatment Program鈥

 

Postdocs 鈥 Clinical Science

Second Place: Zin Myint, M.D., Fellow, 好色先生 Hematology/Oncology

Abstract #53: 鈥淣umber of Somatic Mutations Is An Independent Predictor of Overall Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.鈥

First Place: Richard Lee O鈥橬eal, M.D., Fellow, 好色先生 Oncology

Abstract #44: 鈥淩echallenging with immune checkpoint inhibition after a treatment-limiting immune-mediated adverse event.鈥

 

Overall Winner:

Tianxin Yu, Ph.D., Research Associate, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Abstract #90: 鈥淟ung tumorigenesis involves KLF4-regulated lineage of stem/progenitor cells鈥

 

Shared Resource Facility Award:

Jieyun Jiang, Ph.D., Research Faculty, Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics

Abstract #10: Role of transcription factor zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHx2) in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer development

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