Shannalee R. Martinez, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Ponce Health Sciences University
Ponce, Puerto Rico

Abstract 2559. Tumor lipogenesis influences macrophage polarization in advanced prostate cancer.

What are your long-term goals? 

Academic research in cancer health disparities 

Please share information about how the pandemic has impacted your research over the last two years. 

The pandemic caused a shut down of our laboratory for approximately one month (March 2020), with an extended period of limited access. Delays due to back orders and scarcity of critical reagents also affected productivity. On a personal note, the closure of elementary schools also impaired my ability to work in person, as my partner is also a researcher, and is an assistant professor in an academic institution. These challenges have delayed publication timelines and project advancement, but we are working hard to continue to progress and produce clinically relevant work to combat health disparities affecting Hispanic/Latinos in Puerto Rico.