September Spotlight:  Scott Chin, Graduate Student Scott Chin is a 2nd year graduate student at the University of Kansas Medical Center MD/PhD program in Dr. David Akhavan’s laboratory in the Department of Cancer Biology. Scott completed his undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics in 2021. As an undergraduate, he developed his basic immunology foundation under the mentorship of Dr. Maureen Su to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms of Natural Killer cell and T cell function at homeostasis and viral infection. Following graduation, he joined Dr. Anusha Kalbasi’s lab as a research associate to study a novel therapy combining radiation and immunotherapy to reprogram the tumor microenvironment in preclinical models and translated this to the clinic for patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in a Phase I clinical trial. Scott joined the KUMC MD/PhD program in 2023 and is mentored by Dr. David Akhavan, focusing on tuning and enhancing CAR T cell function and survival in the hostile tumor microenvironment through cellular engineering and pharmacological approaches. His research interest centers on the complex signals that dictate an effective, sustained response by the immune system to cancer. Through this, he hopes to develop novel approaches to address challenges in solid tumors from a patient perspective and bring these therapies to the clinic. Outside of the lab, Scott enjoys listening to videography, traveling, and listening to live music.

Cancer Biology Associate Professor Michael VanSaun, PhD, has been recognized by the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (IGBPS) as the AY 2025–2026 Dr. Mark J. Fisher Instructor of the Year! This award recognizes Dr. VanSaun’s outstanding dedication to teaching, mentorship, and graduate education. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement! Congratulations, Dr. VanSaun!

Congratulations to Debolina Dasgupta of the Pyaram Lab who successfully defended her PhD dissertation last week with flying colors! 🎓🎉 Throughout her time in the Pyaram Lab, Debolina has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled work ethic, dedication, and commitment to advancing cancer research. She has been an integral part of not only the Pyaram Lab, but the entire Cancer Biology Department. We are incredibly proud of Debolina and all she has accomplished. Congratulations, Dr. Dasgupta! We are excited to see all that the future holds for you!

August Spotlight: Thais Sielecki-Dzurdz, PhD-Professor, Cancer Biology and Director, Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation (IAMI) Thais Sielecki-Dzurdz is a Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, with primary appointments in the Department of Cancer Biology, and is the Director of the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation (IAMI). Her research focuses on moving projects from the lab into full preclinical evaluation. Dr. Sielecki-Dzurdz developed a deep admiration for chemistry as a highschool student in Maryland. She completed her doctoral training in Chemistry from Colorado State University under the mentorship of Dr. A.I.Meyers, where she developed strong synthetic skills in asymmetric synthesis. She went on to pursue postdoctoral training at Stanford University under the tutelage of Dr. P. Wender. Her research there focused on using photocatalysis to isomerize molecules from the inactive to active forms to allow for activation of drugs in the target tumor cells. Dr. Sielecki-Dzurdz started her pharmaceutical career at DuPont-Merck Pharmaceuticals. She then when on to be V.P. of Research at Cytokine PharmaSciences prior to working with various academic institutions on spinning out promising technologies into start-up companies. She joined KUMC in the spring of 2024. At KUMC, Dr. Sielecki-Dzurdz leads a highly cross functional and collaborative research program working with multiple projects on optimizing drug candidates and moving those compounds toward IND. Her lab leads the drug discovery effort from high throughput screening to drug candidate selection and multi-gram synthesis. A major goal of her work is to translate these findings into novel therapeutic strategies. Dr. Sielecki-Dzurdz is passionate about mentoring the next generation of translational scientists with a special focus on mentoring women in science. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, fiber arts, and cycling adventures.

July Spotlight: Kamar Chahine Kamar Chahine is an MD-PhD student in the Department of Cancer Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Stefan Bossmann. She recently completed her first two years of medical school and Step 1 before beginning the PhD phase of her training. Kamar has always been interested in understanding cancer biology and using research to develop tools that can improve patient care. Before joining the MD-PhD program, Kamar completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas, where she majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and minored in Chemistry. She was involved in several cancer-focused research projects, including her work on photoactive ruthenium-based compounds for cancer therapy and biosensing, as well as research in Dr. Kristi Neufeld’s lab on the APC tumor suppressor protein in colorectal cancer cells. Kamar’s current PhD research is at the intersection of cancer biology, peptide chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. Her work focuses on developing peptide-based nanobiosensors for women’s health, with an emphasis on detecting protease activity associated with gynecologic cancers and radiation-induced fibrosis. As part of this project, she is involved in identifying disease-relevant protease targets, designing and synthesizing protease-responsive peptide sequences, and exploring how these molecular signals can be translated into biosensor platforms for disease screening and monitoring. Through this work, Kamar hopes to contribute to the development of more accessible and clinically useful screening tools that could support earlier detection, improve disease monitoring, and help bridge the gap between molecular cancer biology and patient care. Kamar is passionate about combining medicine, research, and technology to address important clinical problems. Her long-term goal is to become a physician-scientist who works at the intersection of oncology, translational research, biomedical engineering, and patient-centered care. Outside of medicine and research, Kamar enjoys playing sports, hiking, cycling, and traveling the world. She loves exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and spending time with family and friends.

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Aprajita Tripathi on successfully defending her PhD dissertation! As a valued member of the Kalyani Pyaram Lab in the Cancer Biology Department, Aprajita has made meaningful contributions through her dedication, hard work, and commitment to advancing cancer research over the past several years. We are incredibly proud of this well-earned achievement and look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes in the next chapter of her career. Congratulations, Dr. Tripathi! Wishing you continued success and all the best for the future! 🎓✨

June Spotlight: Jared Rack-Graduate Student Jared Rack is a graduate student in the department of Cancer Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Ben Woolbright. Born and raised in Kansas, Jared has always been driven by his desire to understand complex systems. Through his biology courses in high school, he specifically became interested in how the human body functions as well as what gives rise to various disease states. While working as an undergraduate researcher in a behavioral neuroscience lab, Jared fell in love with research. This prompted him to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical sciences research at Kansas City University. During this period, Jared researched blood-based biomarker discovery for neurodegenerative diseases, expanding on his prior knowledge and motivating him to continue his education. Jared began attending the University of Kansas Medical Center in the fall of 2023 and is currently working on completing his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology. His current research focuses on the intersection of bladder cancer, aging and the microbiome. By studying how the aging microbiome impacts carcinogenesis, Jared hopes to develop therapies in which microbiome manipulation can improve outcomes for patients and potentially reduce occurrence in at-risk individuals. Jared is passionate about making scientific discoveries in the hope that they will lead to improvements in people’s lives. As for future goals, he is currently exploring various career options for after graduation. He ultimately wants to use the knowledge and expertise gained during his education to continue helping people. In his free time, Jared enjoys going on walks with his family and trying new restaurants around Kansas City.

May Spotlight: Kalyani Pyaram Kalyani Pyaram is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, with primary appointments in the Department of Cancer Biology and affiliations with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Her research sits at the intersection of immunology, metabolism, and cancer, with a focus on understanding how metabolic pathways shape T cell function and can be leveraged for therapeutic benefit. Dr. Pyaram was born and raised in India, where her father’s deep admiration for scientists shaped her aspiration to become one. Dr. Pyaram completed her doctoral training in Biotechnology from National Center for Cell Sciences in Pune, India, where she developed a strong interest in immune mechanisms. She went on to pursue postdoctoral training in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania and later at the University of Michigan. Her research was in molecular and cellular immunology focused on immunometabolism, and how cellular metabolic programs shape the development, and immune responses of innate-like T cells. Dr. Pyaram started her independent lab at Kansas State University and in 2023, she joined KUMC to establish her research program. At KUMC, Dr. Pyaram leads a research program investigating the role of the transcription factor Nrf2 as an immunometabolic regulator of T cell function. Her lab integrates molecular biology, multi-omics approaches, and in vivo disease models to study how Nrf2 controls T cell responses in tumor microenvironments and inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis. A major goal of her work is to translate these findings into novel therapeutic strategies, including targeted drug delivery approaches to selectively modulate the responses of specific immune cells. Dr. Pyaram is passionate about to mentoring trainees into next generation of scientists and is deeply committed to graduate and medical education. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisines, and embracing the fun (and occasional chaos) of life with her two kids.

April Spotlight: Vincent Lam-Graduate Student Vincent was born and raised in the Chicago metropolitan area and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. In 2023, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering with an emphasis on Cell & Tissue Engineering and a minor in Chemistry. His formative experiences in a dermatology clinic and biomedical research inspired him to pursue a career as a physician-scientist, dedicated to translating laboratory findings into meaningful clinical advancements. His undergraduate research in the Dr. Brendan Harley Lab at UIUC focused on the development of a granular hydrogel platform for hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell expansion. He further broadened his expertise in regenerative science through a summer undergraduate research fellowship in Dr. Quinn Peterson’s laboratory at Mayo Clinic, where he studied mitochondrial heteroplasmy and endocrine signaling in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cells. These experiences sparked his interest in cell signaling and disease modeling, ultimately leading him to enroll in the MD-PhD program at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2023. He joined the Department of Cancer Biology in 2025, with his PhD training supervised by Dr. Michael VanSaun. His current research investigates how mutations in TGF-beta signaling pathways influence pancreatic cancer phenotype, metastasis, and drug response. Through this work, Vincent has expanded his technical expertise in molecular biology, organoid systems, and mouse models of cancer. Outside of his studies, he enjoys biking, fishing, playing basketball, and 3D modeling to design interactive digital experiences. He also loves traveling to add to his food photography collection.

Dakota Okwuone, Cancer Biology graduate student, recently defended his PhD dissertation with honors (March 18th, 2026) and was awarded the Karen and Kelly Gregg Award for outstanding graduate student research in cancer. Mary Needham from KU Endowment presented him with the certificate and a box of Lamar's Donuts. Congratulations @dokwuone !

We are excited to have Dr. Costas Lyssiotis from the University of Michigan present at this week's Cancer Biology seminar. On Wednesday, March 25, he will give a talk titled "Targeting Lipid Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer".

February Spotlight: Jennifer Davis, PhD-Assistant Professor Jen was born and raised in a rural corner of Kern County, California. She and her sister are first-generation college graduates. Jen was initially inspired to attend college by a veterinarian she worked for just out of high-school who encouraged/strong-armed her into attending her first college course at the local junior college. After (eventually) transferring to California Baptist University, Jen earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. At Cal Baptist, a chemistry professor introduced Jen to the idea of graduate school and, critically, that additional education and training might be attainable without the need for more student loans. She applied and was accepted to the PhD program at University of California, Irvine, where she studied normal prostate biology as it relates to prostate cancer therapy. After earning her PhD under the supervision of Dr. John Krolewski, Jen moved to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for postdoctoral training in colorectal cancer. While at MD Anderson, Jen had the privilege of working with many amazing mentors, adding population science under the mentorship of Dr. Shine Chang to her bench-based training skills. During this time, she also had the privilege to work with Dr. Scott Kopetz, furthering her experience with models of colorectal cancer and generating datasets from some of Dr. Kopetz’s patient cohort data. Now at KUMC, Jen is establishing her research group, continuing to use mouse models of colorectal cancer and population data to answer questions about the influence of obesity and type 2 diabetes on colorectal cancer biology and disease outcome. Having benefitted tremendously from mentorship throughout her career, Jen is hoping to pass along some of these lessons to trainees through her faculty role. Outside of the lab, Jen is a diehard Dodger fan, and an avid crafter; often crocheting for calm or sewing for sanity. She also enjoys hanging out with her husband, serving in her church, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Nora’s Sparkle of Love donated a generous $35,000 to the University of Kansas Cancer Center to support the collaborative pediatric brain cancer research of Dr. Kalyani Pyaram and Dr. Vivekanand Yadav. These funds will be used to establish a dedicated immune-competent DIPG model unit at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, enabling the development and preclinical testing of novel immunotherapy approaches and innovative combination treatment strategies for pediatric gliomas. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG) are rare but highly aggressive brain cancers that primarily affect young children. Tragically, the average survival for children diagnosed with DIPG or DMG is less than one year. To help address this urgent need, this work will accelerate translational discoveries aimed at improving outcomes for children affected by these devastating cancers. To learn more about Nora’s story and see how you can make a difference, visit the Nora Sparkle of Love website: norassparkleofloveproject.co…

January Spotlight: Dakota Okwuone-Graduate Student Dakota is an MD-PhD student in the 4th year of his PhD (G4-P6). Born and raised in Olathe, KS, he is the child of Nigerian immigrants. He graduated from Southern Methodist University, earning degrees in Biological Sciences, Health and Society, and Political Science, while also competing in NCAA men's soccer. As an undergraduate in the lab of Dr. Pia Vogel, he explored ways of biochemically mitigating multidrug resistance in cancer. During his PhD in the lab of Dr. Greg Gan, Dakota has focused on uncovering novel mechanisms of head and neck cancer progression regulated by MK2, a protein that is part of an important inflammatory pathway. His goal is to understand how the protein controls both the movement of cancer cells and the immune environment of head and neck tumors. Long-term, he hopes to become a physician-scientist, treating patients in the clinic as a medical oncologist while also running a lab that aims to identify better therapeutic targets to prevent cancer progression and metastasis. He hopes to play a role in revolutionizing cancer care both locally and globally. Dakota has served as the President of the KUMC Cancer Biology Student Society, and he is currently a trainee representative on the KU Cancer Center Education and Training Steering Committee. Outside of the school, Dakota enjoys being out and about with friends, being physically active, traveling, listening to music, and binging TV shows. Despite the copious hours in the lab, he's proud of the balance he has been able to strike between schoolwork and a vibrant life outside of academics, whether it's playing semi-professional soccer or indulging in financially unwise social escapades.

December Spotlight: Michaella Rekowski, PhD Michaella joined KUMC in April of 2023 as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology and the Director of the Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core facility. Michaella earned her PhD from Texas A&M University and did a postdoctoral fellowship at the FDA in the Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis in St. Louis, MO where she also worked as a Staff Scientist. She then moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family and started a position in the Mass Spectrometry Core at the Stowers Institute. She has also worked at a local Contract Research Organization before landing at KUMC in her current position. Michaella’s scientific interests have always focused on using mass spectrometry to answer biological questions and she applies her vast knowledge of proteins and mass spectrometry to provide proteomics and mass spectrometry support to KUMC researchers. Outside of work, Michaella mostly chases after her two young children but previously enjoyed running, playing board and card games with her husband Kevin, and visiting local breweries. She and her family love spending time outside, with family, enjoying our city, and supporting our favorite sports teams.

November Spotlight: Kerri Dean-Executive Assistant Kerri recently celebrated her 6th year as Executive Assistant to the Chair of the Cancer Biology Department at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Her journey at KUMC began in the Medical Oncology Department, where she supported multiple oncologists prior to moving departments. Kerri lost both her mother and grandmother to cancer, so it makes perfect sense that cancer research would hold a deep personal significance. Originally from Philadelphia and raised in Cherry Hill, NJ, Kerri earned her degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts. She spent 11 years working behind the scenes in sports television before relocating to the Kansas City area in 2008. Outside of work, Kerri leads an active a life. She enjoys exercising, hiking, reading, listening to true crime podcasts, and cheering on her favorite sports teams-Go Chiefs! Much of her free time is spent traveling to watch her son play college baseball. At home, she shares her life with her husband Jason, their two adult sons, and two beloved fur babies. Fun Fact: Kerri’s father was a professional hockey player and is a member of the NHL Hall of Fame.

This week, Dr. Kalyani Pyaram, Assistant Professor in the Cancer Biology department at the University of Kansas Medical Center, hosted PIVOT members for a tour of her lab.  PIVOT stands for Patient and Investigator Voices Organizing Together.  It is a patient research advocacy initiative at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. PIVOT provides cancer survivors, co-survivors, and researchers with the opportunity to work together to design research that may lead to improved treatments and therapies. It is one of the few such cancer center patient research advocacy initiatives in the country. In addition to giving a tour of her lab, Dr. Pyaram gave a presentation about the research in her lab aimed at developing new strategies to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies for solid cancers. She explained about immunotherapies, particularly about T-cell–based immunotherapies, including CAR T cells, and how they work to fight cancers. Patients and survivors in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions, explore the research space, and gain a deeper understanding of the scientific research work happening behind the scenes to improve cancer care. More information on the PIVOT program can be found at [kucancercenter.org/research/… and you can learn more about Dr. Pyaram’s research at [kumc.edu/kpyaram.html]kumc.e…