2023 Undergraduate Student Pelotonia Scholars
Learn more about the undergraduate students who were awarded a Scholarship in 2023.
2023 Undergraduate Student Pelotonia Scholars
Alexander Abreo
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Neuroscience
Project: Targeting the extra terminal domain of Brd4 to reduce MDSC accumulation in the tumor microenvironment.
Mentor: William E. Carson III, MD, FACS
Idea Inspiration: Witnessing the impact this disease has had on loved ones, I am pursuing cancer research to continue their fight.
Mikayla Bull
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biomedical Science
Project: NOD2-mediated monocyte/macrophage stimulation as a chronic lymphocytic leukemia therapeutic strategy.
Mentor: Susheela Tridandapani, PhD
Idea Inspiration: I am inspired to use cancer’s complexity against itself to serve, remember, and honor everyone it has affected.
Jeffrey Cheng
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Investigation of niclosamide as a novel therapeutic for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Mentor: Pui-Kai Li, PhD and Chris Coss, PhD
Idea Inspiration: I chose cancer research to develop novel therapeutics, improve survival rates, and offer hope to individuals fighting cancer.
Shivani Dhekne
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Neuroscience
Project: Investigating EZH2 as a therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer.
Mentor: Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, MD and Eswar Shankar, PhD
Idea Inspiration: Watching my loved ones battle cancer has motivated me to join the fight for improving patient survival outcomes.
Adrienne Heyrosa
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biomedical Science and French
Project: Characterization of leukemia cutis and associated medullary acute myeloid leukemia.
Mentor: Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD
Idea Inspiration: Driven by my family's battle with cancer, I hope to make progress on the frontlines of cancer research.
Aidan Macaskill
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biology and English
Project: Investigating VIP924, a novel antibody-drug conjugate, in Richter’s Transformation Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma.
Mentor: Rosa Lapalombella, PhD
Idea Inspiration: I choose cancer research as a way to honor all those I have lost.
Hasan Pracha
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biomedical Science
Project: Investigating Mechanisms of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Inhibition on Head and Neck Cancer utilizing CPSI-1306 and Novel MIF Inhibitor L2 4160
Mentor: Steve Oghumu, PhD and Abhay Satoskar, MD, PhD
Idea Inspiration: Driven by my aunt's glioblastoma fight, I'm inspired to conduct research that can help others win the battle.
Grant Schrieber
Award Cycle: Spring 2023
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Profiling the biophysical properties of collagen-alginate hydrogels for 3-D in vitro tumor modeling.
Mentor: Jonathan Song, PhD
Idea Inspiration: I choose to pursue cancer research to honor my maternal grandmother's successful battle against breast cancer.