Elaina Boyle
Project – Development of a Programmable Ribonuclease Capable of Cleaving Metastasis-Inducing Pathogenic RNA
Summary – Develop a programmable RNase based on a highly specific yeast AGO and then identify the accessible and targetable sites on the metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) using this newly established technology. This strategy will lead to the development of a highly efficient and cost-effective programmable ribonuclease capable of cleaving pathogenic RNAs such as MALAT1.
Karthik Chakravarthy
Project – Defining How BRAF and NRAS Mutations Cooperate With UVA and UVB Light to Initiate Melanoma
Summary – Use mouse models to determine the efficacy of common UVB filters in preventing melanoma in order to improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind UVA-induced melanoma formation and aid in the formulation of effective melanoma preventatives.
Watch as Karthik shares more details about his research project.
Amanda Deighen
Project – Targeting FACT to Radiosensitize Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells
Summary – Monitor the impact of FACT inhibition on the ability of CSCs to repair DNA damage as monitored by immunofluorescence. If the treatment of FACT inhibition in conjunction with irradiation renders positive data, this would provide incentive to further research FACT inhibition via curaxin-137 in conjunction with irradiation in mouse models and as a potential combination treatment for GBM.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
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Aastha Dhakal
Project – Investigating Signaling and Gene Expression Between Melanoma-Common and -Uncommon NRAS Mutations
Summary – Determine functional differences between NRAS mutations commonly found in melanoma and NRAS mutations found in other cancers to discover potential targets for therapies specific to NRAS-driven melanoma.
Kelly Dubay
Project – Effects of Physical Activity on the Adipose Tissue Microenvironment That Impact Pancreas Cancer
Summary – Study the role of the physical activity-induced, anti-inflammatory effect in pancreatic tumors and its relation to the changing adipose tissue microenvironment. These findings will help suggest possible treatment options that could mimic the effects that physical activity has on preventing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) growth and provide insights in determining the mechanism responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of physical activity on PDAC.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 45 miles
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Kathryn Duncan
Project – BRCA1-WWOX Axis in DSB Break Repair
Summary – Initiate a double-strand break (DBS) in known sequences of DNA using a CRISPR-Cas9 cassette with sgRNAs in the presence and absence of WWOX, and then analyze the differences in sequences following repair.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
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Gabrielle Ernst
Project – Identifying the Mechanism of How Acute Myeloid Leukemia Disrupts Human Innate Lymphoid Cell Development
Summary – The method by which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affects helper innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and in turn might influence the AML microenvironment, are currently unknown. By determining this mechanism, we can ultimately design improved immune-based therapies for AML patients and reveal ample rationale to study human helper ILC development.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
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Jared Fehlman
Project – The Role of Stress-Inducible Gene ATF3 in Establishing the Pre-Metastatic Niche
Summary Develop a better understanding of the mechanisms behind cancer metastasis, as well as how stressors such as chemotherapy can create pro-metastasis effects, by researching the role of ATF3 in pre-metastatic niche formation.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 45 miles
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Browning Haynes
Project – The Role of Microglia in Chemotherapy-Induced Fatigue
Summary – Investigate the changes in neuroinflammation in an in vivo mouse model with the introduction of chemotherapy and then determine the effects of chemotherapy on sickness behavior. The overall goal is to find a potential relationship between microglial activation and chemotherapy-induced fatigue.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
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Andrew Hu
Project – WEE-1 Kinase Inhibitor AZD-1775 Radiosensitizes Esophageal Cancer Cells to Radiotherapy
Summary – Analyze cell cycle changes with flow cytometry and detect alterations of cell cycle regulator proteins to determine the effects that the drug AZD-1775 has on radiotherapy treatment for esophageal cancer.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 35 miles
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Ali Lahooti
Project – The Role of Increased Physical Activity in Pancreatic Cancer Development
Summary – Study the mechanistic benefits that increased physical activity might have on preventing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and tumor development.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
Bailey Lucas
Project – Genetic Analysis of Skb1 Function in DNA Double-Strand Break Repair
Summary – Investigate the function of the methyltransferase Skb1 in DNA double-strand break repair to better understand how DNA damage is repaired in living cells.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 100 miles
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Rohan Makhijani
Project – Impact of AR-42 to Enhance the Effect of Exercise in the Prevention of Cachexia in the ApcMin+ Model
Summary – Investigate whether the treatment of cancer-induced cachexia with AR-42 in combination with endurance exercise will prevent a decline in lean mass and skeletal muscle function. The results of this study will aid in developing a strategy to prevent muscle wasting in cachectic patients of various malignancies, therefore reducing the risk of treatment-related health effects.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 55 miles
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Riley Mullins
Project – Canonical and Variant Androgen Receptor as a Therapeutic Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Summary – Research the role of a protein called the androgen receptor in liver cancer to uncover new therapies that may provide patients with a better quality of life and perhaps halt or reverse liver cancer progression.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 55 miles
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Shelby Naegele
Project – The Roles of Rga7’s Rho-GAP Domain and F-BAR Domain During Cytokinesis
Summary – Study the roles of of Rga7's Rho-GAP domain and F-BAR domain to provide insight into the localization and membrane binding of F-BAR proteins and how this binding to the membrane is critical for their function within the cell.
Julia Sabella
Project – The Role of Bromodomain 4 (BRD4) on the Activation and Expansion of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment
Summary – By silencing Bromodomain 4 (BRD4) in breast cancer cell lines, it will reduce the production of MDSC-promoting cytokins, leading to impaired MDSC generation and expansion, and underscoring the potential for BRD4 inhibitors to be utilized to improve checkpoint inhibitor therapy response.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 25 miles
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Luke Scarberry
Project – Effect of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitors on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Migration and Adhesion
Summary – Develop novel myeloid-derived suppressor cell depletion/deactivation strategies that can be quickly translated to the clinical setting to improve the effectiveness of immune-based therapies.
2018 Pelotonia Participant – Rider: 45 miles
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Allen Zhang
Project – Role of STAT3 in Promoting Precancerous Changes in Abruptly Involuted Mouse Mammary Glands
Summary – Study the effects of STAT3 deletion on collagen deposition, inflammatory response and the distribution of epithelial subpopulation in the AI mammary glands using immunohistochemistry and florescence-activated cell sorting.
Watch as Allen shares more details about his research project.