Major – Public Health

Project – The Effect of Tomatidine on Pancreatic Tumor Cell Chemosensitivity and ATF4 Activity

Mentors – Thomas Mace, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I want to be involved in cutting-edge research that directly contributes to transforming and saving lives.

Major – Molecular Genetics

Project – Mechanisms Underlying Coordinate Regulation of Notch Signaling by DLL3 and LFNG

Mentor – Susan Cole, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I am looking at the regulation of the Notch signaling pathway. This pathway is misregulated in multiple cancer types, so hopefully, understanding its regulation will provide better treatment options.

Major – Health Sciences

Project – Investigating the OCA2 Gene and Its Role in Skin Cancer Detection

Mentors – Amanda Toland, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I was inspired by my father, an oncologist, to pursue a career in cancer research.

Major – Microbiology

Project – Inhibition of Specific Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay Branch as Potential Cancer Therapeutics

Mentor – Guramrit Singh, PhD

Major – Psychology and Finance

Project – Depression and Cardiovascular Health in Breast Cancer Patients

Mentor – Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD

Idea Inspiration – Almost everyone I know has been affected by cancer in some way. My grandfather died from pancreatic cancer, and watching his struggle was one of my most difficult experiences. I want to contribute to the fight against cancer in every way I can.

Major – Zoology

Project – Determining How Two Chromatin Remodeling Proteins Modulate RAD52 Function

Mentors – Renee Bouley, PhD, and Ruben Petreaca, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I know cancer affects countless people and families, my family included. I chose cancer research to help them.

Major – Molecular Genetics

Project – Examining the Role of Pheomelanin in Mutagenesis and Melanoma Formation

Mentor – Christin Burd, PhD

Idea Inspiration – Cancer affects everyone. If I can make even the smallest impact, that’s what I’ll do.

Major – Biomedical Science

Project – Investigating the Role of TIM-3/CD9 and a Uterine-Like Phenotype of NK Cells in Multiple Myeloma

Mentor – Don Benson, MD, PhD

Idea Inspiration – My grandpa passed away from leukemia, and I want to contribute to finding a cure.

Major – Biomedical Science

Project – Stimulation of NOD2 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Reinvigorates Suppressed NK Cells

Mentor – Susheela Tridandapani, PhD

Idea Inspiration – Our lab has published findings regarding a novel combination treatment that induced cell death in acute myeloid leukemia cells. This treatment also activated natural killer (NK) cells from their suppressed state, which target and kill cancer cells. The ability to modify the innate immune system to become active and kill leukemia cells was a very interesting find, and thus I was inspired to begin a project focused on studying the mechanism by which these NK cells are activated with our proposed treatment.

Major – Chemical Engineering

Project – Profiling the Effects of ECM Composition, Applied Electric Fields and Microvessel Permeability

Mentors – Jonathan Song, PhD

Major – Biomedical Science

Project – Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras: A Novel Mechanism for Improving FGFR Targeted Therapy

Mentor – Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I want to immerse myself in a career of lifelong learning that can bring us closer to finding a cure for cancer..

Major – Molecular Genetics

Project – FBW7 Null Cancer Cell's Dependency on USP37 in Response to Replication Stress Induced by Cyclin E

Mentors – Matthew Summers, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I chose cancer research because I know the pain of having someone important in your life fall victim to cancer, and I do not wish for that to happen to anyone else.

Major – Neuroscience

Project – Investigating the Role and Targetability of ROR1 in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Mentor – David Carbone, MD, PhD

Idea Inspiration – My grandmother recently died of lung cancer. I seek to improve and extend the lives of patients like her.

Major – Molecular Genetics

Project – Determining the Mechanism of Heightened BRAF Dimerization in NRAS-Driven Melanoma

Mentor – Christin Burd, PhD

Idea Inspiration – Cancer is a chronic disease that affects so many people. I want to help through my research.

Major – Biomedical Science

Project – The Role of Iron-Trafficking Molecules in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Mentor – Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, PhD

Idea Inspiration – A family history of different cancers inspired me to help investigate new paths toward eradicating this complex disease.

Major – Animal Science

Project – Stabilin-1 Receptors in Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Mediate Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth

Mentors – Latha Prabha Ganesan, PhD

Idea Inspiration – I am inspired by the fact that several members of my family have been fighting cancer for generations.

Major – Biomedical Engineering

Project – In Vitro Model of Glioblastoma to Study Treatment Induced Heterogeneity

Mentors – Aleksander Skardal, PhD

Idea Inspiration – Cancer has pervaded my family, taking my maternal grandmother at 49. The desire to improve outcomes motivates me.