Chairperson
Assistant Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
In 2007, I completed my Ph.D. in cancer biology at Vanderbilt University. I investigated tumor initiation and progression in models of microbial-induced stomach cancer. I wanted to continue to investigate tumor initiation and progression, while increasing my knowledge of genetically modified mouse models. I also wanted to be in an environment where I would be able to learn more about translating bench research into the clinic. This led me to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC where I developed preclinical mouse models of thyroid cancer. These models closely recapitulate the development and progression of the disease in humans. I found that activation of the MAPK pathway through different proteins within the cascade led to dramatically different phenotypes, and these findings were consistent with clinical observations.
I am now using these models in my own laboratory to investigate the role of MAPK signaling, and to determine the role of activation of various effectors in the pathway on the initiation and progression of thyroid cancer and other epithelial malignancies. I am also working closely with physicians at UAMS to translate our laboratory discoveries into the clinic, as well as to determine the challenges they are facing in treating thyroid cancer patients so that we can better design our laboratory experiments to address the evolving clinical needs.
During my graduate studies and postdoctoral studies, I served on committees to act as a liaison between the student-trainee population and faculty. I have continued this role within the AACR, serving as a voice for early-career scientists and especially female scientists. I would like to continue to help facilitate interaction and networking between early-career scientists and senior scientists, and continue to promote and showcase the achievements of early-career scientists within the AACR. I believe having an active voice is crucial for all early-career scientists, and that we must play a role in science policy and advocacy efforts to ensure continued funding and recognition of cancer research. I feel very strongly that researchers in the cancer field need to give back to the community and those affected by cancer.
Chairperson-Elect
Assistant Research Professor, Division of Clinical Cancer GeneticsCity of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
My research focus is in interdisciplinary cancer epidemiology. I spent the past three years identifying clinical and epidemiologic profiles and biomarkers that could be used to help predict cancer risk and outcomes, specifically among tobacco-related cancers. I recently completed my dissertation at the City of Hope examining associations between hormone therapy, physical activity, and lung cancer risk and survival among women enrolled in the California Teachers Study. As I begin my new fellowship in the Division of Clinical Cancer Genetics at City of Hope, I plan to combine my skills in epidemiology and biostatistics with the fields of molecular biology and clinical genetics to explore breast and other cancers among women to develop individualized prediction models, particularly among women at high risk of cancer and those in underserved populations.
Past Chairperson
Program Director, Host Susceptibility Factors Branch, Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
Following the completion of my Ph.D. in nutrition at Cornell University in 2003, I joined the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). During the first year of my fellowship, I earned an M.P.H. at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concentrating in epidemiologic and biostatistical methods for public health and clinical research. While at Hopkins, I became increasingly interested in the molecular epidemiology of chronic disease. This led me to join the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis at the NCI in 2004, where I studied the molecular epidemiology of colon and lung cancer, focusing on the biological health disparities. More recently, I joined the Host Susceptibility Factors Branch in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the NCI as a program director, where I develop scientific initiatives in the area of cancer epidemiology and manage a diverse portfolio of grant-supported research that focuses on factors that influence personal susceptibility to cancer.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Surgery
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
(2009-2012)
I am devoted to translational research and the application of basic science to the clinic. As a graduate student in Dr. Tony Hollingsworth’s laboratory in the Eppley Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, I studied the role of inflammation, the tumor microenvironment and aberrantly activated developmental programs (e.g., Sonic Hedgehog) in the progression of pancreatic cancer. In Dr. Hollingsworth’s lab, I also orchestrated a project to identify mature miRNAs expressed in metastatic pancreatic cancer and to define their function. My passion to study developmental programs in the progression of pancreatic cancer and to better explore pancreas biology led me to the laboratory of Dr. Steven Leach at Johns Hopkins Medical School where I am currently developing transgenic mouse models of pancreatic cancer. We are also developing novel pancreatic explant cultures to better study the pancreas and PanIN formation. My long-term goal is to develop diagnostic and therapeutic applications for pancreatic cancer from these discoveries.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Cancer Biology
Children’s Memorial Research Center – Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
(2010-2013)
My primary research focuses on the study of metastatic disease, specifically in breast cancer. Over 90 percent of the morbidity and mortality that results from cancer is due to metastasis. Thus, the understanding of this process is crucial to the development of novel therapies for cancer patients. The tumor suppressor Maspin (Mamarry serine protease inhibitor) is expressed in normal mammary tissue but significantly reduced in invasive breast carcinoma. Maspin plays a role in the regulation of a diverse array of cellular functions including cell adhesion, migration and apoptosis. My research is focused on studying the effects of Maspin interacting proteins, and the delineation of signaling pathways through which Maspin exerts its effects. Discoveries in these areas will lead to a more mechanistic understanding of how Maspin functions, and offer potential for the development of more specifically targeted treatments in the battle against breast cancer and metastatic disease.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biological Chemistry
School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
(2011-2014)
My main research interest is the study the involvement of inflammatory processes in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. PCa is one of the most frequent cancers in men. The strong correlation between inflammation and cancer shows the relevance of the neoplasm stroma in tumour growth, invasion, metastasis and neovascularization. The molecular alterations produced by free radicals as a consequence of the inflammatory process can lead to the interruption of cellular events such as DNA repair, cell cycle check points and apoptosis. My Ph.D. thesis focused on Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) and PCa. HO-1 exerts its cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. It is necessary to identify those biochemical and molecular events that control the acquisition of the resistant phenotype, in order to develop novel and more effective therapeutic avenues, which implicate modifiers of host tissue response as means of controlling metastatic tumour growth. Genetic or pharmacological modulation of HO-1 expression may rise as therapeutic challenge in prostate cancer.
Having attended the past AACR meetings and having followed its activities even further before, I’ve become a strong believer of the importance of the collaborative force that emerges from this great association. I believe that developing programs and services that address the needs of young investigators in cancer research and having the opportunity of networking with other prestigious members from different countries are essential for a career in cancer research. My membership in the AACR has played a key role in my scientific career enabling me to get in touch through its scientific programs with "state of the art" research in cancer, and most important of all, to pursue collaborations with fellow members. Coming from a developing country (Argentina) where financial resources are very limited but the minds are the most valuable resource, I can help channel these resources through the AMC and enable Latin American scientists to work toward international collaborations and trigger their carriers in cancer research.
Director of Oral Cancer Screening Program
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
(2009-2012)
My interest is in identifying efficient detection and prevention strategies for head and neck cancers. Our research involves evaluating novel screening techniques to detect premalignant lesions in head and neck and in identifying a wide range of biomarkers including genetic, molecular, bacterial, viral and histopathological changes that can predict the progression of these lesions. We evaluate expression of multiple biomarkers both at the lesion and patient levels. My goal is to create a comprehensive lesion and patient profile that would be used in a predictive model to identify the real high-risk population in which the premalignant lesion will eventually progress to cancer.
Postdoctoral Scientist
Centocor R&D Inc., Radnor, PA
(2011-2014)
I have always been attracted to the life sciences. When my grandmother was diagnosed with a fatal lung cancer, I naively promised her that I would cure cancer for her. This experience prompted me to perform breast cancer metastasis research from the moment I stepped foot on campus at Pennsylvania State University as a first-year student. The first time I presented my work was at an AACR annual meeting as an undergraduate student, and I was inspired to continue my research after receiving my B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology. I sought a Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, where I performed leukemia research. Afterward, I successfully combined my interests in immunology and oncology as a postdoctoral trainee at Washington University in St. Louis where I studied the role of type I interferons and dendritic cells in the recognition and elimination of sarcoma. Currently, I am a postdoctoral scientist at Centocor R&D, Inc. where I participate in the drug discovery process. What began as a naïve promise has turned into a life’s work.
I understand and have experienced the many challenges that scientists face as an associate member. I want to help others successfully navigate this early stage of our career by providing knowledge and opportunities. For instance, I am a founding member of a non-profit organization that provides low-cost advising solutions to local biotechnology companies in St. Louis while providing graduate student and postdoctoral researchers professional development opportunities as consultants. I am enthused that as a member of the AACR associate membership council, I can further aid in the careers of other early-career scientists on an influentially larger scale.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
(2010-2013)
My principal research interests reside in how the chemistry and biology of inflammation contributes to the etiology of cancer and in the discovery and evaluation of biomarkers that predict disease onset. I am currently applying analytical mass spectrometry and proteomics techniques to uncover protein targets and modified-amino acids from the serum of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis). Additionally, I am investigating the kinetic and thermodynamic equilibria of protein S-nitrosation reactions (posttranslational modification of nitric oxide to cysteine residues) to better understand intracellular regulatory mechanisms. The biological processing (biotransformation, transport, and elimination) of endogenous DNA adducts is also of interest.
Graduate Student, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
(2011-2014)
As a graduate student, in the laboratory of Dr. Donald Buchsbaum and a Howard Hughes Med to Grad fellow, my research is centered in translational breast cancer research using a novel monoclonal anti-DR5 antibody, TRA-8. This antibody functions by binding to TRAIL death receptor 5 (DR5) to induce cell death through the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. My research, funded by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and the NIH SPORE in Breast Cancer, specifically focuses on the investigation of TRA-8 as targeted therapy to basal-like breast cancer stem cells, alone or in combination with chemotherapy and inhibitors of the NOTCH pathway.
As an associate member at the early-stages of my career in cancer research, I can provide the perspective of graduate students transitioning into postdoctoral fellows. While an active participant of the events organized by the AMC, I found them extremely valuable for a young scientist to stay competitive and learn about the resources available to them. As an incoming member to the AMC, I have two projects I hope to realize during my time with the council: 1) to offer opportunities for associate members to interact with survivors and advocates; 2) to better guide the process of international associates wanting to develop their careers in US institutions, as well as facilitate national associates to advance their careers abroad. Both these goals may be accomplished by developing new programs, or integrating AMC into already established networks.
Joining the AMC council is an important step in my professional journey. Although my previous leadership roles in POSSE, McNair, Toastmasters International and HHMI have primed me to be an effective ambassador, I hope to further develop my leadership and networking skills with the AMC. I also look forward to working with the outstanding investigators, faculty and staff that comprise AACR.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Pathology
USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
(2010-2013)
My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of development and progression of urinary bladder tumors. The broad translational aspect of my investigations deals with generation of concise and cost-effective panels using low-to-high throughput gene and protein expression analyses that can more effectively predict patient prognosis and response to traditional and novel therapeutics. I am also involved with the international, multicenter p53-targeted bladder cancer therapy trial. I am bringing the results of this clinical trial back to the bench by investigating the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in these patients. My studies involve extensive collaborations with urologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, computational biologists and molecular biologists from academic institutions across three continents, and include industry partnerships. This has imparted a multidisciplinary flavor to my work and has introduced me to team science. The overarching goal of my studies is to develop tools that assist physicians to better predict prognosis and treatment response in individual patients.
Graduate Student
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
(2009-2012)
Having been involved in research for nearly nine years spanning across five different institutions, the bulk of my research interests have been in the investigation and development of biomedical imaging and spectroscopic techniques and its application in medicine. Over the years, my interest has focused on these technological developments and targeted contrast agent development for cancer and more specifically breast cancer. My current thesis has focused on the translation of this research from the lab through a clinical prototype currently used in the surgical suite and the development of contrast agents basic synthesis, to cell and small animal studies.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sudbury Regional Hospital, Sudbury, Canada
(2011-2014)
My broad research interest is to further understand the mechanisms by which tumors acquire drug-resistance thereby impeding effective cancer treatment. I completed my Ph.D. in 2010 during which I examined the temporal relationship between epigenetic changes within the ABCB1 promoter and the acquisition of drug resistance in breast tumor cells. I am currently investigating the use of RNA integrity as a novel biomarker with which to measure patient response to chemotherapy treatment. Current clinical practices lack the capacity to reliably and quickly identify non-responders to chemotherapy so that patients can be switched to alternative therapies early in treatment. Recent work in association with the MA.22 clinical trial has shown that docetaxel/epirubicin treatment of breast tumors induced a mid-treatment reduction in RNA integrity, which was strongly correlated with pathological complete response in patients post treatment. My work further investigates the use of RNA integrity as an approach to monitor patient response to chemotherapy treatment based on the ability of chemotherapy agents to induce substantial RNA reductions in tumors. I am working to define the conditions under which a loss of RNA integrity occurs and to explore the mechanism(s) responsible.
I joined the AACR as an associate member in 2008 following attending my first AACR Annual Meeting. I was impressed by the sheer magnitude and relevance of the meeting. Attending the meeting was integral to the advancement of my studies by furthering my knowledge by attending lectures from leading and upcoming scientists in the field, providing the opportunity to share my work and inspiration to take my research in new directions. I gained important networking experiences as well that led to fruitful scientific collaborations. This positive experience early in my research career inspired me to seek a heightened level of involvement with AACR through the Associate Member Council. My goal is to participate in the development and implementation of programs so that other researchers early in their careers may benefit from the AACR and AMC as I did and continue to do. As a Canadian postdoctoral fellow with a passion for cancer research, I feel I contribute a unique international perspective that is of value to my associate member peers. I am deeply honored to represent the interests of my fellow associate members on the AMC.
Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology University
Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA
(2009-2012)
My research focuses primarily on biomarker discovery and validation for thyroid cancer. Although the vast majority of thyroid cancers have a favorable prognosis, a small subset do not. These patients actually have one of the worst survival rates for any cancer, often measured in months. Additionally, identification of cancer from thyroid nodule (present in up to 30 percent of women) can be difficult and no good biomarker currently exists. Much of my current research centers on understanding the role of a protein, Galectin-3, in the setting of thyroid cancer. This protein may be an excellent biomarker for diagnosis and disease monitoring, and may also hold promise as a therapeutic target.
My interest in research began when I was selected as a Doris Duke clinical research fellow, prior to graduating from medical school. During this one-year fellowship I was exposed to basic biostatistics, research methodology and research ethics. I also learned that I wanted to be a cancer researcher, and was introduced to the AACR for the first time.
During my residency I was able to continue my research endeavors, culminating in a fellowship in London, U.K. My membership in the AACR has played an integral role in defining my career path, and I plan to continue my membership throughout my academic career. I recently obtained a full-time faculty position at Georgia Health Sciences University as a physician-scientist, with the majority of my time devoted to translation bench work. Serving on the Associate Member Council has allowed me to in turn give back to this organization and help other young scientists as they begin their careers.