2023 Spring Newsletter
Greetings from the Director
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Dear Friend of K-State Cancer Research, It has been a great spring at the JCRC! You can see K-State's latest cancer research-related achievements and activities in our Spring 2023 Newsletter. We have a new slogan, a link to the updated SPARC magazine and a new t-shirt design that will be available for purchase soon. In addition, faculty and students received many honors and awards! The newsletter showcases these achievements as well as spotlighting some exciting cancer research. We highlight some recent activities that support awards for cancer research at K-State. Please add the upcoming events to your calendar. “The Cure Starts With US!- scientists – students – supporters. We couldn’t do what we do without everyone’s support! Thank you! Sherry |
Student Achievements
Johnson Cancer Research Awards Banquet
The Johnson Cancer Research Center held its annual awards banquet on April 21st for the Cancer Research Award recipients. We awarded 28 undergraduate and 18 graduate students Cancer Research Awards. https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=89965
Biology awards outstanding senior with Haymaker Award
One of our Cancer Research awardees, Taylor Lee Bugbee, senior in biology with an emphasis in human health biology, Wichita, received this year's H.H. Haymaker Award for Excellence. The Haymaker Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a biology student at Kansas State University by the Division of Biology. https: //www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=89760
Division of Biology names most promising students
Two Cancer Research Awardees were recognized as part of ten sophomores and juniors during Biology’s 2022-2023 most promising student awards. Michael Bartkoski is a junior majoring in microbiology, medical microbiology option, and biochemistry, medical track, from Lenexa. Dylan Feist is a junior in microbiology, medical microbiology option, and biochemistry, medical track, from Lenexa.
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=89758
Michael Bartkoski Dylan Feist
Chemistry department honors undergraduate scholarship recipients – we had five CRA’s be awarded
Chemistry department in the College of Arts and Sciences hosted their annual awards reception on May 2, with five of our CRA students receiving awards. Jane Eilers, junior; Marrissa Raynesford, sophomore; Karrin Larson, senior; Kameron Wildeman, senior; and Rachel Pang, senior.
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=90186
Research Spotlights
Three members received NSF CAREER Awards this spring.
Tendai Gazikwa, chemistry, Won Min Park, chemical engineering and Sonny Lee, biology all received more than $500,000 from the National Science Foundation Early Career Development Program, known as a NSF CAREER award. Each award is for up to 5 years. There are ~500 Career awards in the US given each year. Each will study their own specific work and an outreach component.
Tendai Gadzikwa, assistant professor of chemistry and member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University, received a $779,556 NSF CAREER award, to study molecular reactions in confined spaces with the goal of designing more efficient catalysts.
K-State chemist Tendai Gadzikwa receives NSF CAREER award
Sonny Lee, assistant professor of biology and a member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University, received a $900,703 NSF CAREER Award. He will use this award to study the interaction between plants and their soil microbiomes in environmental change.
https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2023-04/Lee-NSF-CAREER-award42723.html
Another member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center, Won Min Park, assistant professor in chemical engineering in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, received a $550,000 NSF CAREER Award and will use this award to develop a modular and versatile technology which will create next-generation tools in biomanufacturing and health care.
https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2023-04/Park-NSF-CAREER-award4423.html
Karin Goldberg was selected for Davids-Dunham Award for promoting diversity in the College of Arts and Sciences
Karin Goldberg associate professor of geology, and member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center, was selected by the College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee to receive the Davids-Dunham Award. This award is to recognize her excellence as a teacher and scholar and her support of promoting diversity through teaching and scholarship.
Check out our new 2023 T-Shirt Design winners and slogan!
“The Cure Starts With Us!” – Scientist – Students – Supporters! The JCRC asked students to design a new t-shirt for our new slogan. The slogan includes everyone who makes a difference here at JCRC which includes faculty and student researchers, donors, volunteers, administrators, and advisory council members, as well as those who give in memory of a loved one and anyone who wears our t-shirts! Our first place winner went to Mia Thompson and our second place winner when to Jordan Stegeman! T-shirts will be out later this summer for wearing to the football game on Saturday, September 23rd.
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=89967
Mia Thompson Jordan Stegeman
Check out our new t-shirt design:
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SPARC
SPARC – Special Partners Advancing Research in Cancer. We have updated our annual magazine with spotlights, donors, students, alumni, faculty and their hard work and dedication here at JCRC. Click the link below and read our new SPARC magazine!
https://cancer.k-state.edu/newsevents/publications/sparc/
Check out some of the Published papers our members have completed with funding from the Johnson Cancer Research Center! These might be too scientific for all, but we have tried to provide a flavor for what the JCRC members are accomplishing.
Turpin et al (Ade lab) performed a small pilot study that showed that beetroot juice (high in nitrate) may increase heart and lung function in patients with a history of cancer. You can read more at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36534177/
Chamani et al (Prakash lab) evaluated the parameters of using heat to kill tumor cells. More information is available at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36765619/
Wang et al (Zolkiewska lab) identified a molecule, ADAM 12, that causes the immune system to ignore triple-negative breast cancer. This exciting work can be found at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36545255/
Hu et al (Wallace lab) examined how human papillomavirus changes DNA to promote cancer. The published manuscript can be found at:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36692284/
Upcoming events
Stay tuned for some of our upcoming events and fundraisers to help support the Johnson Cancer Research Center!
Kaw Valley Rodeo – July 27th – July 29th
Coach Bill Snyder & 580 WIBW Wildcat Challenge to tackle cancer – Late August - Be on the look-out for a mailing from Coach Snyder
K-State Cancer Research Week – September 18th – 22th
- 18th - Open House
- 21st – Meet the Researcher
- 22nd – Data Blitz in Student Union
25th Rob Regier Golf Tournament – Friday, October 20th, 2023
A SPECIAL THANKS
24th Annual Regier Memorial Golf Tournament raises approximately $24,000
The Regier family, of Overland Park, hosted the 24th annual Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament September 16th at Colbert Hills in Manhattan. Thanks to the Regier family and many other supporters, it raised $24,000! It was great to see old and new friends and have a visit from the K-State Marching Band! Mark your calendars for the next 25th Anniversary of the Rob Regier Golf Tournament on Friday, October 20th, 2023
https://cancer.k-state.edu/newsevents/regier-golf-tournament/regier.html
Pink Power Luncheon
The Pink Power luncheon took place on October 25th, 2022, and included a panel discussion with speakers to raise breast cancer awareness and share their stories. This year, the discussion panel featured Shanna and Jeff Mittie, Susan Shipman and Brenda Barbour. They shared their story and gave a survivor and caregiver perspective of how they overcame and defeated this disease.
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=84974
Former K-State Quarterback and current Miami Dolphins Quarterback continues to support Cancer Research
Former K-State Wildcats Quarterback Skylar Thompson and his family are committed to being “part of the cure.” Back in March, Thompson held an event, “A Night with Skylar Thompson” and you could purchase tickets and be able to meet Skylar and enjoy live music and entertainment. All proceeds were donated to the Thompson Family Cancer Research Fund which support the Johnson Cancer Research Center.
We are so grateful to the Thompson family for leaving this legacy that will impact so many lives, and to the donors who supported their efforts!
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=88263
You’ll Never Run Alone 5k & 1 Mile Fun Walk
You’ll never run alone 5k & 1-mile Fun Walk was on Saturday, May 6th. We enjoyed watching everyone compete and were thankful for all the support towards the JCRC!
Science Fest
The Science Fest was on Saturday, April 29th and we had a great turn out at our booth! Kids and families were able to participate in our activities and look through the microscope at different cancer cells.
CONNECT WITH US
Visit us online at cancer.k-state.edu.
Email us at cancerresearch@k-state.edu or call 785-532-6705.
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