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Cohort 3
Alex Velasco, Rutgers University
Regulatory Mechanism of Oncogenic Chromatin Remodeling in Liver Cancer
Mentor: Steven Zheng, PhD/Tinghan Zhao, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Pharmacology
Tia Hart, Rutgers University
Kisspeptin Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Mentor: Moshmi Bhattacharya, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Metabolism & Immunology
Peter Filfil, New Jersey City University
Mitotic Abnormalities in HPV+ Integrated Cervical and Intestinal Carcinomas by Histopathological Evaluation
Mentor: Cristina Montagna, PhD / Yokechen Chang, PhD
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Ileana Gonzalez, The College of New Jersey
Analyzing Indoor Tanning Legislation Compliance: A Confederate Study
Mentor: Carolyn Heckman, PhD / Anna Mitarotondo
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Shelsy Rodriguez, Rutgers University
Investigating The Effectiveness of MEK Inhibitors on KRAS Q61H Mutant Tumors
Mentor: Shridar Ganesan, MD, PhD/Hua Zhong, MS, PhD
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics
Abdur-rahman Oladoja, Woodbridge High School ‘24
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis
Mentor: Antonina Mitrofanova, PhD/Michael W. Craige, PhD
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Ita O Braonain, Linden High School Class of 2024
RGD- Targeted Delivery of Alpha-Galactosyltransferase for the Treatment of Melanoma
Mentor: Steven Libutti, MD/Svetlana Bagdasarov
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics
Adriana Morono, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Union City
Developing Culturally Targeted Messages for Skin Cancer Intervention Among Hispanics
Mentor: Zhaomeng Niu, PhD/Emily Peters, MPH
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Jaina McKoy, Union County Vocational Technical High School ‘24
Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Activity of a Peptide Targeting Transcription Factor E2F1-3A with Radiation
Mentor: Bruce Haffty, MD, MS; Gulam Rather, Ph.D; Devora Schiff, BS
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics
Diego Sanabriga, Linden High School Class of 2024
Investigating the Thymidylate Synthase Polymorphism in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients
Mentor: Peter Cole MD/Yongkyu Park, PhD
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics
Elizabeth Escobar Gomez, New Brunswick Health Sciences High School Class of 2024
Role of Polymerase eta in DNA Replication at Common Fragile Sites
Mentor: Advaitha Madireddy, PhD/Mrunmai Niljikar
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Cohort 4
Abigail Ibironke, Woodbridge Academy Magnet School
Obesity, Physical Activity, and Alcohol Consumption in the New Jersey Breast Cancer Survivorship Study: A Pilot Comparison with National Recommendations
Mentor: Tengteng Wang, PhD, MSPH, MBBS
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Adriana Camacho, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Union City
Evaluating Lung Cancer Screening Practices Among Primary Care Physicians to Inform Future Interventions
Mentor: Naomi Q. P. Tan, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Angelise Benimadho, Woodbridge High School
Met Rearrangement With Tes-Met in p53 Deficient Mammary Tumors
Mentor: Bing Xia Ph.D / Yanying Huo Ph.D
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Angelly Posso, New Brunswick Health Sciences HS ‘24; Rutgers, the State University of NJ
Hispanic Skin Health: Pioneering Prevention Practices
Mentor: Zhaomeng Niu, PhD/Emily Peters, MPH
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Benjamin Esteves, Highland Park High School
Gain-of-Function mutant p53 in cancer progression
Mentor: Zhaomeng Feng, PhD/Juan Liu, PhD
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Shirley Tejeda Tabora, New Brunswick Health Sciences
EP300 Deficiency Causes DNA replication stress leading to genomic instability
Mentor: Advaitha Madireddy, PhD/Mrunmai Niljikar
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Jordan Comer, Rutgers University
Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Expression Across Adipose Depots
Mentor: Harini Sampath, PhD/Natalie Burchat, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Metabolism & Immunology
Jonathan Julian, Rutgers University
Barriers and Facilitators to Mammogram Uptake Among Hispanic Women with Intellectual Disabilities
Mentor: Evelyn Arana, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Luis Sanchez-Gonzalez, Rutgers University
Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Ewing Sarcoma
Mentor: Arnold Rabson, MD/Hsin-Ching (Cindy) Lin, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Metabolism & Immunology
Maya Saez, Rutgers University
Targeting Methionine Metabolism in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: AG270-Induced S-adenosyl Methionine Depletion Impairs Metastasis
Mentor: Matthew McBride, PhD/ Shams Shams, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Metabolism & Immunology
Cohort 5
Aaron Olmo, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on KRAS Driven LKB1 (KL) and KRAS TP53 (KP) Lung Tumor Growth
Mentor: Yanxiang (Jessie) Guo, PhD/Hyungsin Kim, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Metabolism and Immunology
Andrea Manoilova, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Characterizing Gender and Subtype-Specific Molecular Signatures in Non-Smoking NSCLC: A Multi-Omics Approach to Personalized Therapy
Mentor: Priyadarshini Kachroo, PhD
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Andrea Herrera, Seton Hall University, NJ
A Culturally-Informed Approach to Empower Hispanic Communities in Health Education
Mentor: Zhaomeng Niu, PhD / Emily Peters, MPH
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Tifeoluwani Fadugba, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Evaluating the Effects of UNC0642 on 4T1 Bearing Mice
Mentor: Bing Xia PhD / Yanying Huo PhD
Research Program: Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics
Saviour Ayim, New Jersey City University
Physical Activity Patterns in a Cohort of Breast Cancer Survivors
Mentor: Nur Zeinomar, PhD, MPH
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Damian Chamale, Union City High School, Class of 2025
Associations Between Interleukin-6 Levels and Cancer- Related Fatigue Among Black Breast Cancer Survivors
Mentor: Bo (Bonnie) Qin, PhD
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Angelo Pallotto, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Class of 2027
Visual Analysis of CD4 T-Helper Cells in Mouse Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors treated with Novel Alpha-Galactosyltransferase Gene Therapy
Mentor: Steven Libutti MD, PhD/Genesaret Rubio-Mott
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics
Natasha Lopez, Linden High School Class of 2026
The Effect of Thymidylate Synthase within Children Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Mentor: Peter Cole, MD/Yongkyu Park, PhD
Research Program: Clinical Investigations and Precision Therapeutics
Jayla Vazquez, Woodbridge High School
Project CARE Feasibility Trial: Testing Digital Tools For Genetic Risk Identification and Education
Mentor: Anita Kinney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FABMR / Julie Chapman-Greene, PhD, MPH
Research Program: Cancer Prevention and Control
Afsheen Shaik-Mohammad, High Tech High School
The Effect of Radiation-Induced Modulation of HER2 Expressions in Breast Cancer
Mentor: Bruce Haffty, MD,MS; Gulam Rather, Ph.D; Devora Schiff, BS
Research Program: Clinical Investigations & Precision Therapeutics