Emerging Talent in the Field of Cancer Research Unveiled
In the heart of New York, the University of Rochester (UR) School of Medicine and Dentistry is making strides in cancer research, thanks to a new Cancer Biology curriculum. This innovative programme, developed by Paula Vertino, Ph.D., and Brian J. Altman, Ph.D., is designed to equip the next generation of scientific leaders and clinicians with the tools needed to advance cancer research and improve patient outcomes.
At the forefront of this initiative is Emily Whitt, a fourth-year student in the Pathology - Cell Biology of Disease graduate program. Whitt, who grew up in Pullman, WA, and earned a bachelor's degree in Biophysics from Brigham Young University before starting her studies at UR, aims to understand the mechanisms behind breast cancer metastasis. Specifically, she is focusing on the molecular switch that tells breast cancer cells to spread to other tissues.
Another key player in this research is Zachary Sechrist, a second-year graduate student in the Pathology-Cell Biology program. Sechrist, who joined UR in 2021 after earning his bachelor's degree from Clarkson University, is studying cancer-related cachexia, a common side effect that diminishes quality of life and can prevent patients from withstanding certain treatments. Sechrist's research is focused on identifying a possible drug target for this debilitating condition.
The new curriculum is not just training researchers, but also fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. For instance, Christina Kaszuba, a second-year student in the Biomedical Engineering graduate program, is studying leukemia's microenvironment in bone. Kaszuba appreciates the various perspectives offered in the new curriculum and hopes to discover which cell types or components of the bone contribute to cancer development.
The Wilmot Cancer Institute is also playing a pivotal role in building a pipeline of research trainees with a special interest in cancer. Emily Quarato and Emily Whitt are among the leaders of the Wilmot Cancer Trainees (WilCaTs) group, which aims to bring together student cancer researchers, postdocs, and medical students for support and peer-to-peer learning. WilCaTs hosts student-led workshops to teach specific lab skills or techniques, review grant applications or papers, and work out the kinks on a grant proposal or scientific paper.
The WilCaTs group has also been actively involved in community events. They participated in the 2022 Wilmot Survivor's Night and the 2023 STEM Community Day, showcasing their research and raising awareness about cancer.
Brian J. Altman, Ph.D., now oversees the programme and is an assistant professor of Biomedical Genetics and a member of Wilmot. Altman, who took over from Paula Vertino, Ph.D., the creator of the special course concentration and the Wilmot Distinguished Professor in Cancer Genomics, is committed to continuing the programme's success.
The new Cancer Biology curriculum is gaining momentum with each new crop of students. It integrates fundamental cancer biology concepts with emerging technologies and translational research, preparing students to tackle complex challenges in oncology. Graduates emerge ready to lead research initiatives, contribute to novel therapeutic developments, and influence future directions in cancer treatment and prevention.
- Emily Whitt, a student in the Pathology - Cell Biology of Disease graduate program, is investigating the molecular switch that triggers breast cancer cells to spread to other tissues, with the ultimate goal of understanding the mechanisms behind breast cancer metastasis and improving health-and-wellness outcomes for patients.
- Another graduate student, Zachary Sechrist, is focusing on cancer-related cachexia, a medical-condition that lowers quality of life and can impede treatment, and his research aims to identify a drug target for this debilitating side effect, contributing to the advancement of cancer research and health-and-wellness.
