Student Award Recipients
Fall 2023
UNDER GRADUATE CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS
(Awarded $96,000 for students and research expenses)
Anatomy & Physiology
Caden Blake – Mentor: Masaaki Tamura
Study of the effect of water extract from Euglena gracilis on T cell activation in vitro.
Logan Glover – Mentor: Masaaki Tamura
Direct effect of a newly designed inhibitory peptide for CTLA-4 on the expression of CTLA-4 in lung carcinoma cells.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Michael Bartkoski – Mentor: Pankaj Baral
Understanding the role of neurotransmitter receptors in anti-Aspergillus fumigatus immunity: a translational potential to treat Aspergillosis in Cancer Patients
Dylan Feist – Mentor: Erika Geisbrecht
Cancer-related functions for secreted proteins in cell adhesion
Jaycee Stewart – Mentor: Erika Geisbrecht
Investigation of NUAK function in cancer using Drosophila melanogaster
Biology
Bryttan Adams – Mentor: Sonny Lee
Effects of Folate on Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Ayianna Bailey – Mentor: Kathrin Schrick
Transcriptional regulation of cell expansion relevant to cancer cell proliferation
Katherine Boston – Mentor: Bradley Olson
The role of cyclin D gene family expansion in the evolution of undifferentiated multicellularity in Gonium pectorale
Heather Crawshaw – Mentor: Anna Zinovyeva
Differential usage of miRNA strand selection rules by mir-34 and mir-54.
Cole Hayden – Mentor: Ruth Welti
The molecular basis for variation in levels of anti-cancer compounds in vegetables
Carson Ingold – Mentor: Sonny Lee
Investigating the role of Lachnospiraceae derived glutathione in amelioration of colitis-associated inflammation in Caco-2 DSS model
Kade Kaufman – Mentor: Katsura Asano
Mechanism of eIF3 suppression of uncontrolled mitosis through translational control important in cancer
Samira Laytimi – Mentor: Kathrin Schrick
Protein interactions involved in transcriptional control of cell division in cancer
Allie Sandoval – Mentor: Nicholas Wallace
Using DNA repair inhibitors to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in cervical cancer
Grace Sakai – Mentor: Katsura Asano
Analysis of eIF3g interaction with HSP70 mRNA responsible for translational control important in cancer
Mia Thompson – Mentor: Sherry Fleming
B2-GPI Derived Peptide Changes Macrophage Differentiation to Fight Tumor Growth
Emily Tolbert – Mentor: Nicholas Wallace
Impact of viral genes on innate immunity and skin cancer
Lidia Lopez Vazquez – Mentor: Bradley Olson
Experimental evolution of cellular differentiation to understand the origins of tumor suppression
Chemical Engineering
Setareh Khanjani Kouyakhi – Mentor: Davood Pourkargar
Leveraging Machine Learning for Integrative Analysis of Liver Cancer Data
Chemistry
Riley Blitt – Mentor: Patricia Calvo
Polymer-drug conjugates for controlled delivery of anti-cancer drugs
Carson Cole – Mentor: Peter Sues
Ruthenium Phosphinimine Olefin Metathesis Catalysts: Exciting New Tools for Cancer Drug Discovery
Jane Eilers – Mentor: Christer Aakeroy
Altering bioavailability of selenium and sulfur containing anti-tumor compounds
Adyson Harm – Mentor: Ryan Rafferty
Investigations into the development of a general strategy for enhanced cancer drug delivery
Prabhleen Kaur – Mentor: Daniel Higgins
Towards Guided Drug Delivery with Nanostructured Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Gels: Single Molecule Spectroscopy Studies of Dye Diffusion in Hexagonal Mesophases
Veronica Knight – Mentor: Patricia Calvo
A new treatment for pediatric osteosarcoma - chelating polymers for internal radiation therapy
Marrissa Raynesford – Mentor: Christer Aakeroy
Optimizing molecular-recognition abilities of 1,2,4-triazole based anti-cancer compounds
Ryan Tucker – Mentor: Chris Culbertson
UPLC-MS/MS Development of a Pain and Inflammatory Evaluation Method for Cancer Patients via Prostaglandin Quantitation in Human Plasma
Kameron Wildeman – Mentor: Ryan Rafferty
Lagunamide C: Synthesis of the Potent Anticancer Natural Product
Food, Nutrition, Dietetics & Health
Hilary Tallman – Mentor: Mark Haub
Nutritional Strategies to Improve Quality of Life during Chemotherapy
Geology
Sarah (Sam) Galliardt – Mentor: Karin Goldberg
Water quality and the high cancer incident in Russell and Lincoln Counties
Psychology
Paige Anderson – Mentor: Chalres Pickens
Reinforcement and punishment during withdrawal from the cancer-associated drug nicotine
Jihyeon Kim – Mentor: Chalres Pickens
Effects of exposure to cues associated with the cancer-related drug nicotine on brain activity
Spring 2023
GRADUATE CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS
GRADUATE CANCER RESEARCH
(Requested - $135,000 Awarded - $135,000)
Chemistry
Bingun Habarakadage – Mentor Jun Li ($7,500)
Development of Nanomaterials-based Electrochemical Biosensors
Chao An – Mentor: Ping Li ($7,500)
Developing chemical probes to interrogate the biology of N-terminal methylation
Jordan Gipper - Mentor: Peter Sues ($7,500)
Using Ligand Design to Develop Next Generation Olefin Metathesis Catalysts and Enable the Discovery of New Anti-Cancer Treatments
Abigail Kreznor – Mentor: Chris Culbertson ($7,500)
The Development of a 3D-printed Microfluidic Device for the Analysis of Glioblastoma Migration in Stable Chemical Gradients
Vidya Nadar– Mentor: Ryan Rafferty ($7,500)
Targeting Cancers of the Brain: A new delivery strategy for CNS penetration and drug delivery
Aloka Amarasooria Prins – Mentor: Christer Aakeroy ($7500)
A Trojan horse approach to delivery of small-molecule anti-cancer drugs
Chemical Engineering
Suna Jo -Mentor: Won Min Park ($7,500)
Biosensor development for the detection of hypercalcemia-related cancers at early stages
Kinesiology
Olivia Kunkel – Mentor: Brad Behnke ($7,500)
Radiation resistance in breast cancer: potential therapeutic implications of heat therapy
Britton Schueremann – Mentor: Carl Ade ($7,500)
Chemotherapy-related cardiovascular toxicity and its role in cognitive impairment throughout cancer treatment and survivorship.
Biology
Emily Burghardt - Mentor: Jocelyn McDonald ($7,500)
The role of the integrated stress response in a model of tumor invasion.
Tanner Richie – Mentor: Sonny Lee ($7,500)
Utilization of host nutrients and immune response products by Enterobacteriaceae leads to gut inflammation and colon cancer
Peter Hodoameda – Mentor: Rollie Clem ($7,500)
Investigating the genetic stability of an oncolytic virus that is under development as a cancer therapy
Cathryn Haas – Mentor: Michael Veeman ($7,500)
'Insights into Development and Cancer from Evaluating Gene Regulation in a Quantitative Dose/Response Framework'
Chinemerem Onah – Mentor: Pankaj Baral ($7,500)
Neuronal regulation of Aspergillus fumigatus lung infection and fungal pneumonia
Grant Brooke– Mentor: Nick Wallace ($7,500)
"Beta human papillomavirus infections may promote skin cancer"
Zoong Lwe – Mentor: Ruth Welti ($7,500)
Integration of omics data to understand the role of a potentially cancer-protective enzyme
Geology
Fidelis Onwuagba– Mentor: Karin Goldberg ($7,500)
Uranium Concentration in Groundwater and its Potential as a Natural Contaminant in Bourbon County, Cherokee Basin, Southeastern Kansas
GRAD STUDENT TRAVEL
(Awarded: $3,984 Requested: $7,073)
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Yungui Guo – Mentor: Erika Geisbrecht
64th annual Drosophila Research Conference Chicago, IL
Ziwei Zhao – Mentor: Erika Geisbrecht
64th annual Drosophila Research Conference Chicago, IL
Biology
Peter Hodoameda – Mentor: Rollie Clem
Annual meeting of the American Society for Virology June 24-28, 2023 Athens, GA
Kinesiology
Olivia Kunkel – Mentor: Brad Behnke
American Physiological Society 04/20/2023-04/23/2023
Long Beach, CA
Britton Schueremann – Mentor: Carl Ade
American Physiological Society 04/20/2023-04/23/2023
Long Beach, CA
Shannon Parr – Mentor: Carl Ade
American Physiological Society 04/20/2023-04/23/2023
Long Beach, CA
Vanessa Turpin – Mentor: Carl Ade
American Physiological Society 04/20/2023-04/23/2023
Long Beach, CA
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Anna Bottiglieri – Mentor: Punit Prakash
Society for Thermal Medicine, 38th Annual Scientific Meeting
04/23/23- 04/28/23
San Diego, CA
Fall 2022
Anatomy and Physiology
Tyler McCoach, SR, Anatomy and Physiology, David Poole Lab, Lenexa, KS
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Lauren Apprill, SO, Biochemistry, Kathrin Schrick Lab, Des Moine, IA
“This award provides me with opportunities to grow in my research skills so I will be better prepared for future research endeavors.
Louis Cabrera, SR, Medical Microbiology, Heather McCrea Lab,
Dylan Feist, JR, Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, Lenexa, KS
Annabelle Hall, FR, Biochemistry and Psychology, Masaaki Tamura, Monument, CO
"This scholarship gives me the opportunity to help people and hopefully find a better cure for cancer."
Cole Hayden, SO, Medical biochemistry, Ruth Welti Lab, Manhattan, KS
"I am thrilled to receive the CRA! I feel like I can put more effort into pursuing meaningful research and helping make scientific advances because of the support and funding it has offered me."
Samira Laytimi, JR, Biochemistry/Medical Biochemistry, Kathrin Schrick Lab, Lawrence, KS
"This cancer research award means the world to me. Like many people, I have family members who have been affected by cancer, and the chance to conduct research to help the scientific world come closer to finding a cure is so important to me."
Ruth Mekuria, SR, Medical Biochemistry/ Pre-Medicine, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, Junction City, KS
"This award is a wonderful honor for me and allows me to contribute useful knowledge to the growing field of cancer research. This support that allows me to be a part of the scientific community at K-State and contribute helpful cancer research is one of the best experiences of my undergraduate years."
"This CRA award means a lot to me as it allows me to pursue research and accelerates my ability to go to PA."
Kinsley Ochsner, SR, Medical Biochemistry, Katsura Asano Lab, Wichita, KS
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to lean into my curiosity and scientific knowledge in my research. I have a passion for studying the mechanism of disease and its translation to medicine. This award allows me to pursue this mission within the laboratory."
Mia Thompson, SO, Medical Biochemistry, Sherry Fleming Lab, Manhattan, KS
"Being a CRA awardee means that I get to share my research not only with other researchers, but to community members and my peers. I love research because it gives me hands-on experience with topic learned in class. It also gives me a great support system and could not be more grateful!"
Emily Tolbert, SO, Microbiology, Nicholas Wallace Lab, Newton, KS
Olivia Waren, SO, Medical Biochemistry and Psychology, Charles Pickens Lab, Lenexa, KS
Biological Systems Engineering
Avanelle Stoltz, JR, Biological Systems Engineering, Nicholas Wallace and Sebastian Wendel Lab, Leawood, KS
Biology
Summer Adamson, FR, Biology, Ruth Welti Lab, Wichita, KS
"The CRA award means that I am surrounded by a community that encourages and supports my interest in cancer research."
Michael Bartkoski, JR, Biology, Pankaj Baral Lab, Lenexa, KS
"I am very honored to be selected as a recipient of the CRA award. This award allows me to further my undergraduate cancer research as I work to find novel therapeutic drug targets for cancer chemotherapy patients fighting fungal lung pneumonia."
Mikaela Garcia-Escamilla, SR, Biology, Thomas Mueller Lab, Garden City, KS
Maddison File, SO, Biology, Sherry Fleming Lab, Beloit, KS
"Cancer research allows me to learn new information hands on while giving me the opportunity to potentially benefit the research community with my findings."
Katie Janzen, SO, Biology Environmental Science, Christopher Culbertson Lab, Olathe, KS
Caleb Kutz. SR, Biology, McDonald, Jocelyn Lab, Overland Park, KS
"What the JCRCA has meant to me is that I get to learn how to apply what I have learned into real world scenarios, as well as do research that could help people in the future struggling with cancer."
Kathleen McDaniel, SR, Biology and Integrative Health Studies, Charles Pickens Lab, Overland Park, KS
"This cancer research award means so much to me because it is allowing me to continue my passion in research, as well as providing a steppingstone to a planned career in medicine. I am so grateful to Kansas State and the Johnson Cancer Research Center for providing these amazing undergraduate opportunities."
Aiden Ozga, JR, Biology/Pre-medicine, Anna Zinovyeva Lab, Naperville, IL
Brandon Rider, SR, Biology, Katsura Asano, Shawnee, KS
Chemistry
Kaden Creamer, SR, Chemistry, Ping Li Lab, Olathe, KS
Jane Eilers, JR, Chemistry, Christer Aakeroy Lab, St. Charles, MO
"The cancer research award means an amazing opportunity to participate in important research. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the chance to gain experience in cancer research that could help someone in my community or out in the world. This is my second year participating and I am just as excited to continue my research!"
Karrin Larson, SR, Chemistry, Tendai Gadzikwa Lab, Clay Center, KS
Rachel Pang, SR, Chemistry, Ping Li Lab, Overland Park, KS
"The CRA award is like a point of light in the dark, representing a better future."
Marrissa Raynesford, SO, Chemistry/Spanish, Christer Aakeroy Lab, Hays, KS
Kameron Wildeman, SR, Chemistry, Ryan Rafferty Lab, Garden City, KS
"This research award will provide me with more invaluable time in the laboratory that will be devoted to answering questions related to drug delivery optimization and therapeutic repurposing of existing drugs."
Psychology
Samantha Weber, SR, Psychology, Spanish & Integrated Health Studies, Thomas Mueller Lab, Crete, NE
Spring 2022
GRADUATE CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS
(Awarded: $135,000 | Requested: $142,500)
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Hannah Miller – Mentor: Om Prakash
Understanding the molecular recognition basis of EGFR inhibitors for cancer treatment
Biology
Anuja Paudyal - Mentor: Govind Vediyappan
Role of gymnemic acids in Candida albicans morphology and virulence
Emily Burghardt - Mentor: Jocelyn McDonald
Analysis of the Drosophila border cell gene expression profile reveals stage-specific changes during migration
Debolina Dasgupta - Mentor: Kalyani Pyaram
Role of KEAP1-NRF2 pathway in T helper cell differentiation
Bibek Subedi - Mentor: Kathrin Schrick
Post-translational regulation of GLABRA2 transcription factor in Arabidopsis
Chinemerem Onah - Mentor: Pankaj Baral
Neuronal regulation of Aspergillus fumigatus lung infection and fungal pneumonia
Tanner Richie - Mentor: Sonny Lee
Specific microbial community interactions with host and applications to disease outcome of inflammatory bowel disease
Tshegofatso Ngwaga - Mentor: Stephanie Shames
Characterizing the role of the Legionella pneumophila effector LegC4 and proteasome activator (PA)28ab in antimicrobial host defense and macrophage homeostasis
Peter Hodoameda - Mentor: Rollie Clem
Mechanisms leading to extreme variation in virus titer between individual Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after oral infection by Sindbis virus
Chemistry
Viraj De Silva - Mentor: Christer Aakeroy
From molecular recognition to new materials and pharmaceutical applications
Abigail Kreznor - Mentor: Chris Culbertson
Development of 3D-printed microfluidic device for the analysis of glioblastoma migration in stable chemical gradients
Bingun Habarakadage - Mentor: Jun Li
Development of nanomaterials-based electrochemical biosensors
Chao An - Mentor: Ping Li
Developing chemical probes to interrogate the biology of N-terminal methylation
Shashika Perera - Mentor: Ryan Rafferty
Total synthesis of lagunamide C and biological evaluation, synthesis of the proposed natural product lagunamide E, and construction and evaluation of chemical screening libraries based on the uvaretin total synthesis
Kinesiology
Olivia Kunkel - Mentor: Brad Behnke
Breast cancer and heat therapy
Stephen Hammond - Mentor: Carl Ade
5-Fluorouracil cardiotoxicity: Mechanisms and modalities for improved cancer outcomes
Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Kuan-Lun Ho - Mentor: Shih-Kang Fan
dDMF: Digital assay on digital microfluidics with electric emulsification for single exosome analysis
Plant Pathology
Joel Steyer - Mentor: Richard Todd
Regulation of branched chain amino acid metabolic genes in Aspergillus nidulans
TRAVEL AWARDS
(Awarded: $2,800 | Requested: $2,800)
Carson Gido, Brian Geisbrecht Lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Alexis Carpenter, Rollie Clem Lab, Biology
Peter Hodoameda, Rollie Clem Lab, Biology
Yungui Guo, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Ziwei Zhao, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Olivia Kunkel, Brad Behnke Lab, Kinesiology
Fall 2021
UNDER GRADUATE CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS
(Awarded $65,000 for students and research expenses)
Anatomy & Physiology
Grace Calo – Mentor: Masaaki Tamura
Oral administration of euglena water extract increases IgA cell number in MALT which may help attenuating lung tumor growth
Morgan Phillips – Mentor: Masaaki Tamura
Study of the effect of a newly designed inhibitory peptide for CTLA-4 on NK cell activation and function and its effect on lung carcinoma cell growth
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
Hannah Miller – Mentor: Om Prakash
Understanding the molecular recognition basis of EGFR inhibitors for cancer treatment
Taryn Lubbers – Mentor: John Tomich
Peptide nanocarrier delivery of mRNA vaccines for treating melanomas
Carson Gido – Mentor: Brian Geisbrecht
Inhibition of neutrophil serine proteases by EAP domain proteins
Chemistry
Mae Cook – Mentor: Duy Hua
Quantitative detection and profiling of selected overexpressed proteases for monitoring of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Qiling Zeng – Mentor: Ping Li
Development of inhibitors to carcinogenic NTMT1
Kaden Creamer – Mentor: Ping Li
Continued efforts of PhaC crystallization for cancer drug delivery using PHA
Jane Eilers – Mentor: Christer Aakeroy
Improving bioavailability of selenium-based anti-tumor mimics
Biology
Ashley Panagakis – Mentor: Kathrin Schrick
Bio-layer interferometry analysis of cancer driver mutations in oncogene 5MP1
Hailey Casey – Mentor: Katsura Asano
Mechanism of transcriptional regulation with relevance to gene expression in cancer cells
Taylor Bugbee – Mentor: Nick Wallace
Effects of p300 inhibition on chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancers
Ashlyn Bugbee – Mentor: Kalyani Payaram
Role of antioxidant protein Nrf2 in metabolism and anti-tumor activities of CD8+ T-cells
Lucy Fischer – Mentor: Govind Veddiyappan
Efflux pump inhibitors for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in cancer patients
Mikaela Garcia-Escamilla – Mentor: Thomas Mueller
The role of tumor-suppressor gene Lhx6 during cellular migration of GABAergic interneurons in the zebrafish forebrain
Emily Cranwell – Mentor: Thomas Mueller
Analyzing cFos expression patterns in zebrafish models of cancer using deep machine learning
Abigail Parker – Mentor: Ruth Welti
Subcellular localization of putative transacylase
Claire Richardson– Mentor: Jocelyn McDonald
Role of nuclear shape during collective cell migration and invasion
Caleb Kutz – Mentor: Jocelyn McDonald
Genetic screen to identify protein kinases conserved in tumor invasion and metastasis
Davanté Hammer – Mentor: Sherry Fleming
Effect of novel peptides on tumor associated macrophage phenotype
Mia Thompson – Mentor: Sherry Fleming
Macrophage Phenotypes in Mouse Melanoma
Kennedy Ayre – Mentor: Ruth Welti
Characterization of a mutation in a gene potentially affecting tissue senescence
Hieu Nguyen – Mentor: Kathrin Schrick
A novel transcriptional activation domain relevant to cancer cell regulation
History
Louie Cabrera – Mentor: Heather McCrea
Meeting at the margins: Approaches to cancer in Navajo communities
Philosophy
Indera Coffel – Mentor: Shay Logan
Investigating the impacts of correlation in iterated treatment decisions
Plant Pathology
Daniel Tran – Mentor: Richard Todd
Identification of functional domains in a mediator complex component with a human counterpart involved in breast and prostate cancers
HEART RESEARCH AWARD
(Awarded: $9,652 – Requested: 9,652)
Olivia Kunkel – Mentor: Brad Behnke
Protective effects of heat therapy against breast cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction
Stephen Hammond – Mentor: Carl Ade
The intersection of cancer and thromboembolism: A role for eNOS?
2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, Spring 2012