Internship Internship description area(s) category€¦ · significance in preclinical animal...

2016 Internship Directory: Summer Research Experience Program in Cancer Science (21 pages)

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Mentor Research area(s)

Internship category

Internship description

Andrei Bakin, PhD Dept. of Cancer Genetics www.roswellpark.edu/ andrei-bakin

Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology

Scientific Research

Novel Mediators of Cancer progression and Metastasis in Tumor Microenvironment Tumor microenvironment facilitates cancer recurrence and metastasis, and can reduce the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) play important roles in disease progression and treatment. We identified novel factors that can control tumor interaction with immune cells and TAFs. This project will assess their functional significance in preclinical animal models using novel CRISPR/Cas technology and the levels in human cancers.


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Internship category


Dhyan Chandra, PhD Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics www.roswellpark.edu/ dhyan-chandra

Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Radiation Oncology

Scientific Research

Role of Mitochondria in Cancer Prevention and Therapy The main focus of our research is to understand the molecular basis of therapy resistance in multiple cancer types including in prostate, breast, and colon cancers. To accomplish our goals, we are investigating two different, but complementary projects. The first project delineates how mitochondria-mediated cell death signaling is defective in cancer cells and cancer stem cells. The second project defines the role of heat-shock proteins in cancer cell survival and death. We are also characterizing the role of mitochondria in health disparities among prostate and breast cancer patients. Our research suggests that protein complexes are important regulators of cancer cell death and survival. We use multiple biochemical, genetic, cellular, and molecular approaches to identify and characterize protein complexes in subcellular compartments including in the mitochondrion. Detailed understanding of protein complexes will lay a foundation for targeting cell death and survival machinery for cancer therapy. Our model system includes both laboratory cell culture and mouse model of cancer to examine cellular signaling in response to anticancer agents as well as phytochemicals. Our ultimate goal is to target mitochondria and cell death for prevention and therapy of multiple types of cancer.


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Internship category


Gokul Das, PhD Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics www.roswellpark.edu/ gokul-das

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics

Scientific Research Clinical Research

Mechanisms by which Hormone Receptors and Tumor Suppressors Impact Cancer The research in Das lab focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer, especially breast ,lung, and ovarian cancers. For example, we are analyzing the role of hormone receptors (such as the estrogen receptor) and tumor suppressors (such as the p53 protein) in cancer onset and progression using cell culture and mouse genetic models. Summer projects will involve modern cellular and molecular biological techniques. Analyzing Hormone Receptor and Tumor Suppressor Signaling in Patient Cancer Tissues The research Das lab focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of breast, lung, and ovarian cancers. Based on a discovery made in our laboratory, a prospective clinical trial in breast cancer patients is ongoing at present. Summer projects will involve cellular and molecular biological investigation of hormone receptor and tumor suppressor signaling in patient tissues and analyzing the clinical data in a vibrant and friendly laboratory environment.


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Internship category


John Ebos, PhD Dept. of Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ john-ebos

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer biostatistics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Tumor immunology & immunotherapy Medical Oncology

Scientific Research

Resistance and metastasis following tumor microenvironment inhibition Use of clinically relevant models of spontaneous metastatic disease resistant to antiangiogenic (VEGF pathway) and immunecheckpoint (PD-1 pathway) inhibitors.

Irwin Gelman, PhD Dept. of Cancer Genetics www.roswellpark.edu/ irwin-gelman

Cancer molecular and cellular biology

Scientific Research

The role of nuclear SSeCKS/AKAP12 in PKC and Src signaling control The intern will help analyze the cells and growth conditions that foster the nuclear location and signaling of the SSeCKS/AKAP12 kinase scaffolding protein. This will involve cell culture, transfection, protein staining, fluorescence microscopy and signaling analysis (e.g.- immunoblots).

Maciej Goniewicz, PharmD, PhD Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ maciej-goniewicz

Cancer prevention and epidemiology

Scientific Research

Safety of electronic cigarettes Research projects are focused on new nicotine-containing products and alternative forms of tobacco. We examine safety and efficacy of electronic nicotine delivery devices, commonly called e-cigarettes. These studies include the laboratory evaluation of the products, pharmacological and toxicological assessment, surveys among their users, and their potential application in harm reduction, cancer prevention and smoking cessation.


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Internship category


Katerina Gurova, MD, PhD Dept. of Cell Stress Biology www.roswellpark.edu/ katerina-gurova

Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics

Scientific Research

Targeting of chromatin remodeling factors for the treatment of cancer Our current scientific interest is exploring difference in chromatin structure as a source of potential targets for cancer treatment. Difference in chromatin structure between normal and tumor cells is one of the first noticed by pathologists long time ago; however absence of knowledge of mechanisms responsible for this difference and tools to investigate this did not allow utilizing this phenomenon for anything else except diagnostic marker. With accumulation of knowledge about chromatin structure in general and in cancer cells specifically, differences in DNA and histone post-translational modifications were noticed what eventually led to the development of drugs, inhibiting enzymes responsible for these modifications (DNMT and HDAC inhibitors). But this is just the very first layer of chromatin organization and many other layers and factors responsible for their support are still unexplored. Our lab pioneered in the research assessing the role of one of histone chaperones, FACT, in cancer. Current data accumulated in the lab suggest that this complex may be ideal target for the treatment of some types of cancer. Thus we are evaluating perspective, mechanisms and consequences of FACT inhibition in several types of cancer. We also explore the role of other histone chaperones in cancer and their requirement viability of cancer and normal cells.


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Internship category


Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ rodney-haring


Scientific Research

Intervention Dissemination in the Native American Landscape and Beyond Native American males experience greater health disparities compared to all other U.S. racial and ethnic groups. For example, Native men have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of type 2 diabetes among U.S. men, while non-Hispanic White men have the lowest. In recent decades, Natives have seen a disproportionate increase in diabetes-related complications and mortality compared to all other groups, such that age-adjusted diabetes death rates in Native men are now almost twice those in White men. Several large studies in non-Natives confirm that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by interventions that promote healthy lifestyles, but little data exist on interventions to prevent diabetes in Native men. Many explanations have been suggested for the low participation rates among men of all races in lifestyle interventions. Recruiting Native men in clinic-based programs is difficult because they tend to seek clinical care less often than women. Therefore, an urgent need exists for risk reduction programs tailored to the unique values and habits of Native men. The project’s specific aims are to refine an intervention program called Strong Men, Strong Communities with feedback from focus groups in a tribal community; compare change in diabetes risk score and modifiable diabetes and health risk factors in the intervention; and to evaluate the ability of the intervention to retain Native American male participants in health disparities research conducted in collaboration with a comprehensive cancer center.


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Internship category


Francisco Hernandez-Ilizaliturri, MD Dept. of Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ francisco-hernandez-ilizaliturri

Medical Oncology Tumor immunology & immunotherapy

Clinical Research Scientific Research

Understanding the mechanisms of resistance to rituximab and chemotherapy agents in aggressive lymphomas Our laboratory work focuses in defining cellular pathways associated with rituximab-chemotherapy resistance in B-cell lymphoma and to develop therapeutic strategies to overcome it. To this end, in the last year we had accomplished the following: a) Based on pre-clinical findings demonstrating the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) influences the apoptotic threshold to chemotherapy drugs in refractory B-cell lymphoma, we are successfully conducting a phase I/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of carfilzomib in combination with standard second line chemotherapy in transplant eligible diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A total of six patients had been enrolled and significant anti-tumor activity has been observed. Moreover, no dose-limiting toxicities had been observed. b) Demonstrated that entinostat, a selective deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors increase CD20 gene/protein expression and enhanced the anti-tumor activity of rituximab in vivo, supporting the clinical development of this agent in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies in B-cell malignancies. c) Identified Hexokinase II (HKII) as a biomarker of chemotherapy resistance in B-cell lymphoma. Using pre-clinical models, we demonstrated that HKII was up regulated in rituximab-chemotherapy cell lines and that pharmacological inhibition or transient gene silencing of HII reversed chemotherapy resistance. To further assess the contribution of HKII to rituximab/chemotherapy resistance in a more clinically relevant setting, we analyzed gene expression profiling data from 401 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with standard systemic chemotherapy (CHOP) or Rituximab and chemotherapy (R+CHOP) as front-line therapy. High levels of HKII correlated with a poor prognosis in DLBCL patients. Our data suggest that over-expression of HKII contribute to the acquirement of resistance to rituximab and chemotherapy agents in DLBCL B-cell lymphoma.

Management of B-cell lymphoma In the past, we have our summer students spent one day a week in the clinic in between their laboratory projects. This is with then intention to introduce our students to the challenging field of lymphoma management and for them to understand how we take what we learn in the laboratory and apply it into the clinics.


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Internship category


Eugene Kandel, PhD Dept. of Cell Stress Biology www.roswellpark.edu/ eugene-kandel

Cancer biophysics Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics

Scientific Research

Cell stress response pathways as new therapeutic targets. We study cell stress responses in order to improve protection of normal cells and uncover vulnerabilities in cancers. We use culture, genetic engineering, pharmacological and biophysical treatment of mammalian cells, as well as biochemical analysis of cell functions and individual gene expression.


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Internship category


Anm Nazmul Khan, MBBS, PhD Dept. of Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ anm-nazmul-khan

Tumor immunology & immunotherapy

Scientific Research

Role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in ovarian tumor progression Cellular necrosis is associated with release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that activate innate immune responses. It has been shown that circulating DAMPs, specifically mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), released following traumatic injury activate innate immune cells such as neutrophils, and elicit neutrophil-mediated inflammation. Our lab found that advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is associated with accumulation of neutrophils and immature myeloid cells in the local tumor environment. We also observed that mtDNA accumulate in the cell-free ascites of patients with advanced EOC; however, their role in shaping innate immune responses and ovarian tumor growth is unknown. Furthermore, we have also shown that purified mtDNA and cell-free ascites from EOC stimulate ex vivo generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs promote metastasis in tumor-bearing mice and presence of NETs was observed in resected human EOC, however the role of NETs in tumor progression in human cancer is unknown. The goal of this project is to evaluate that mtDNA in cell-free ascites of EOC induce NET generation and NETs can augment tumor growth and metastasis. To achieve this aim in vitro cellular assay and flowcytometry will be used involving human ovarian tumor cell lines.

Xiang Ling, PhD Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics www.roswellpark.edu/ xiang-ling


Scientific Research

Anticancer drug evaluation and mechanism study Our current research focuses on: the molecular mechanisms of action of FL118, the DMPK profile and potential side effects induced by FL118 treatment. In addition, survivin isoforms perform different functions in distinct subcellular compartments. Type of work involved: cell culture, cell viability assay, western blot, qPCR and animal experiment.


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Internship category


Song Liu, PhD Dept. of Bioinformatics/ Biostatistics www.roswellpark.org/ song-liu

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer biostatistics Cancer experimental diagnostics Cancer genetics Cancer molecular epidemiology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Cancer prevention and epidemiology Clinical genetics Tumor immunology & immunotherapy


Decipher the genetic and epigenetic landscape of cancer Developing statistically sound and computationally effective methods for analyzing data from modern biology and medicine is the long-term research interest of my group. For the last 6 years, my research group has been working very closely with cancer genomics researchers, and has accumulated extensive experience in statistical and bioinformatics method development and application of high-throughput genomics studies including various platforms of next-generation sequencings (NGS), high-density microarrays, and their integration. Understanding the genetic and epigenetic alternation of haematological and solid tumor genome is currently a main focus of our research, and an ongoing effort is to develop computational approaches that integrate whole-genome, whole-exome sequencing data with epigenome and transcriptome profiling. A number of research opportunities will be provided along this line.


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Internship category


Asoke K. Mal, PhD Dept. of Cell Stress Biology www.roswellpark.edu/ asoke-mal

Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Pediatrics

Identification of therapeutic targets in the molecular signaling of childhood muscle cancer alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma The research in our laboratory focuses on rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma which primarily affects children and adolescents. The prognosis of RMS has improved in the past several decades due to multidisciplinary care. However, the prognosis of patients with metastatic or refractory has not been substantially improved, with a 5-year overall survival rate being 20-30%. Furthermore, current aggressive treatments involve traditional chemotherapy cocktails which are associated with significant lifelong side effects in young patients, including organ toxicity and secondary cancers. Thus, there is a clear need to develop new RMS-specific therapeutic strategies to both improve long term survival and minimize treatment-related morbidity. The goal of our laboratory is to better understand the molecular pathways that are relevant to the pathogenesis of RMS in order to identify novel targeted therapeutic strategies. We take approaches, spanning both basic and translational research, which include molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and other disciplines to address clinically relevant questions to RMS biology. Our efforts also include drug discovery approaches, wherein we leverage our current understanding of RMS to screen for and identify novel compounds which may have activity against this tumor. Collectively, we hope that the efforts in our laboratory contribute tangible and substantial benefit to pediatric patients suffering from RMS in the future.

Susan McCann, PhD Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ susan-mccann


Scientific Research

Diet and Cancer nutritional epidemiology and cancer prevention; mostly computer work, some data entry, data analysis


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Internship category


June Mikkelson, MS Dept. of Clinical Genetics www.roswellpark.org/patients/treatment-services/specialized-services/clinical-genetics-service

Clinical genetics Clinical Research

Exploring issues related to genetic counseling/testing for hereditary cancer risk This internship is directed toward students pursuing a graduate degree in genetic counseling. Students will complete clinical observations (a requirement when applying to graduate programs in genetic counseling) as well as gain valuable clinical research experience. Past projects have included data review of past Clinical Genetics Service patients to demonstrate the importance of periodic follow up and patient decision making when pursuing testing through a multi-gene panel. Additional opportunities include construction of genetic pedigrees through the Progeny program, composing patient literature, and possibly limited direct patient interactions.

Hans Minderman, PhD Dept. of Flow and Image Cytometry www.roswellpark.edu/ hans-minderman

Cancer experimental diagnostics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Tumor immunology & immunotherapy Medical Oncology

Scientific Research

Effects of a somatostatin analog on the immune system Background: Somatuline is a somatostatin analog that is being clinically evaluated in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Little is know about the effects of somatuline on the immune system. This project will involve characterization of the expression profile of somatostatin receptors on immune cells and determining the consequences of their expression on the immune response. Methods: cell culture, immunophenotyping, flow cytometry and imagestream cytometry. Highly translational study close to the relatively new clinical application of this drug.


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Internship category


Daryl Nazareth, PhD Dept. of Radiation Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ daryl-nazareth

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer biophysics Radiation Oncology

Scientific Research

Applying computational methods to medical physics The internship will involve developing new computational techniques for improving radiation dose calculation and treatment delivery parameters. This will include algorithm design, computer programming, data analysis, and loving every minute of it. You will join a team of excited and motivated students and one very hip medical physicist. The party won't stop until you've applied a technique called monte carlo modeling to a problem called VMAT plan optimization. If you have mad love for physics, mathematics, or computer science, along with an insatiable desire to learn about a fascinating field, there is no cooler way to spend your summer.

Michael Nemeth, PhD Dept. of Immunology www.roswellpark.edu/ michael-nemeth

Tumor immunology & immunotherapy Hematology

Scientific Research

Determining mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance The overall goal of this project is to elucidate aspects of the mechanisms that underlay the development of resistance to chemotherapy agents in myeloid leukemia. This project will involve the use of mouse leukemia models to test hypotheses on how leukemia stem cells evade and develop resistance to the chemotherapy agent decitabine.

Richard O'Connor, PhD Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ richard-oconnor


Scientific Research

Consumer responses to alternative tobacco products Students will have the opportunity to assist with data processing from two studies examining consumer response to smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes. In the first, participants completed a five week trial of their choice of products, and we will be examining extent of substitution of alternatives to cigarettes. In the second, participants complete a battery of consumer perception metrics, including sensory measures. Summer interns would assist in the analysis of these data.


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Internship category


Toru Ouchi, PhD Dept. of Cancer Genetics www.roswellpark.edu/ toru-ouchi


Scientific Research

Study Mechanism of Human Carcinogenesis Goal: (1) Detail the molecular pathways involved in cancer development (2) Investigate the mechanism of cancer metastasis Types of Work: (1) Biochemistry and cell culture-based studies, including DNA/RNA/Protein analysis, q-PCR/RT-PCR, immunoblot, immunocytochemistry. (2) Computer based studies for systems biology. (3) Animal model of human carcinogenesis. We will provide one (or, two) projects during the period on internship, which could be achieved in the fixed term. Progress should be discussed on the daily basis.


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Internship category


Santosh Patnaik, MD, PhD Dept. of Surgical Oncology www.roswellpark.edu/ santosh-patnaik

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer biostatistics Cancer experimental diagnostics Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Cancer molecular epidemiology Cancer pharmacology and therapeutics Cancer prevention and epidemiology Clinical genetics Tumor immunology & immunotherapy Medical Oncology Radiation Oncology Surgical Oncology

Scientific Research

Experimental and computational examination of genes in cancer and immunology We are interested in genetics (gene mutations, gene expression, etc.) and epigenetics (microRNAs, RNA editing, etc.) as it pertains to cancer and the human body's immunological response to it. This is a very broad area, and allows for a visiting student to contribute their ideas to develop an exciting yet feasible project to carry out during their stay. The work will involve one or more of the following: (1) Cell biology: cell culture, genetic engineering of cells, etc. (2) Molecular biology: various DNA, RNA and protein assays, including their development, etc. (3) Animal biology: growing foreign tissue/cells in the mouse, analysis of DNA/RNA/proteins of mouse, etc. (4) Computation: large-scale data analysis, data visualization, bioinformatics, software programming, etc. As a mentor, my goal will be to help the visiting student attain the following: (1) Experience these aspects of scientific research -- the collation of facts from published knowledge and knowledgeable individuals; hypothesization; design, preparation for, and execution of experiments; data collection, analysis, and presentation; and the setting forth of future directions. (2) Learn some common biomedical research techniques. (3) Bring to completion during the student's stay an independent short project that the student helps with the design, execution and analysis of.


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Internship category


Beth Pflug, PhD Dept. of Urology www.roswellpark.edu/ beth-pflug


Scientific Research

Targeting Dysregulated Energy Sensing Pathways in Prostate Cancer Changes in energy sensing pathways and cellular metabolism are associated with the ability of prostate tumor cells to escape growth regulation and reliance on the prostate microenvironment. Folic acid also known as folate (the form naturally occurring in the body), is an essential vitamin that is important for cell division and growth through DNA and RNA synthesis, and maintaining the integrity of the DNA. In addition, folate is needed for single carbon transfer reactions for methylation that helps silence or activate DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. The folate pathway is considered a major energy sensing pathway as cell growth and DNA synthesis is regulated by availability of the vitamin. Folate during development and in normal cells promotes energy pathway stability, however, folate induces dysregulated growth in tumor cells. We have found that folate is also a major regulator of the lipid synthesizing enzyme, fatty acid synthase (FASN). Our hypothesis is that increased folate availability promotes prostate tumor progression via modulation of fatty acid synthase. The FASN lipid synthesis pathway in normal cells is not an active pathway due to dietary fat intake. However in prostate cancer, it is highly upregulated and the mechanisms of normal pathway control are lost. In this study, we have two research aims for the summer program. Our first aim will be to identify the mechanism(s) by which folate regulates FASN expression and pathway activity. We hypothesize that the major energy sensing pathway of AMPK is the direct link that connects he expression and lipid synthesizing activity of FASN with control by dietary folate. The FASN protein has regions that are similar to methyltrasferase enzymes (transfer methyl groups to DNA, RNA proteins or lipids) and therefore may have an additional function of methyl group transfer. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that nuclear FASN has a role in methylation reactions. We will determine the role of nuclear FASN and identify the target(s) of its potential methyltransferase activity. Laboratory methods will include cell culture, gene knockdown, growth assays, real-time PCR, western blot, enzyme bioassays.


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Internship category


Matthew Podgorsak, PhD Dept. of Radiation Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ matthew-podgorsak

Radiation Oncology Medical Physics

Clinical Research

Medical Physics applications A student intern will study clinical aspects of medical physics. Medical physics is the branch of physics that combines physics with medical applications. Our group is primarily involved in the treatment of cancer patients with radiation, so a student intern would learn basic clinical approaches to the application of radiation in the treatment of cancer.

Steven Pruitt, PhD Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology www.roswellpark.edu/ steven-pruitt

Cancer bioinformatics Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology

Scientific Research

Stem/progenitor cell replication in cancer and aging Work under this internship will be directed at understanding how normal and abnormal DNA replication and cell proliferation of stem and progenitor cells contribute to tissue maintenance and genome stability in cancers and during aging. Depending on the specific project, the work may include molecular cloning, molecular biological techniques (e.g. gel electrophoresis, western blot analyses, PCR), cell culture (including transduction/transfection and FACS), generation of and/or histological/molecular characterization of transgenic mice, and whole genome bioinformatic analyses.

Brahm Segal, MD Dept. of Medicine www.roswellpark.edu/ brahm-segal

Tumor immunology & immunotherapy

Scientific Research

Innate Immune Responses in Ovarian Cancer The intern will work under the supervision of a senior scientist or PhD student to evaluate immune responses in patients with ovarian cancer. Work may also involve mouse models of ovarian cancer.


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Internship category


Mark Travers, PhD Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ mark-travers

Tobacco products and exposure science

Scientific Research

Examining exposure to tobacco smoke pollution and new and emerging tobacco products Air pollution is a leading cause of cancer, whether from the tip of a burning cigarette, the exhaust of a truck on the road, a coal-fired power plant, or biomass burned for cooking in developing countries. Reducing exposure to airborne carcinogens can be achieved through public policies and changing health behaviors. Accurate, easy to communicate, empirical data on exposures is necessary to justify the interventions and to evaluate their effectiveness. This internship will provide provide participants the opportunity to conduct original research into exposures to harmful pollutants in the environment around us, in particular exposure to tobacco smoke and emissions from new and emerging products such as waterpipe (hookah) and electronic cigarettes. This research is used to inform public policies to protect public health. Work can involve any combination of laboratory research, field data collection, and secondary data analysis.


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Internship category


Jianmin Wang, PhD Dept. of Bioinformatics/ Biostatistics www.roswellpark.edu/ Jianmin-Wang



Integrative analysis of large-scale, multi-dimensional genomic data. The primary interests of my group are focused on the analysis of large-scale -omics data from cutting-edge biotechnologies using computational and statistical methods. My research interests include i) sensitive identification of structure variation from next-generation sequencing data; ii) statistical inference and computation variants (isoforms, SNV, SV) identification of RNASeq data; iii) integrated study of genomic, epigenetic and proteomic data. A number of methods and tools have been developed or are in development for computational analysis of next-generation data using statistical inference. Also, we have applied those methods into cancer genetics studies that revealed many novel findings. A number of research opportunities will be provided along this line.

Xinjiang Wang, PhD Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics www.roswellpark.edu/ xinjiang-wang


Scientific Research

Development of Novel Targeted Therapies for Leukemia Treatment The goal of this study is to evaluate the antitumor effect of newly identified small molecule inhibitors for Mdm2-MdmX E3 in leukemia cells. Single or combination treatment will be tested. Cell proliferation and cell death will be analyzed. Cell culture, cell growth assay, Western blotting analysis of target proteins and biochemical events of apoptosis will be performed.


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Internship category


Anna Woloszynska-Read, PhD Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics www.roswellpark.edu/ anna-woloszynska-read

Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Urology Cancer epigenetics

Scientific Research

Epigenetics of bladder cancer The goal of the internship in my laboratory is to learn about cancer epigenetics specifically DNA methylation and histone modifications in cancer biology. We have utilized RNA sequencing and DNA methylation arrays to determine the role of low concentrations of DNA de-methylating agents on the transcriptome and methylome, respectively, in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We have identified several targets that require laboratory validation by quantitative RT-PCR and DNA methylation pyrosequencing. The summer intern will learn molecular biology techniques and will also be exposed to bioinformatics approaches used in analysis of data from high-throughput genomic assays.

Y. Eugene Yu, PhD Dept. of Cancer Genetics www.roswellpark.edu/ y-eugene-yu

Cancer genetics Cancer molecular and cellular biology Genetic modeling and analysis of human diseases

Scientific Research

Genetic modeling and analysis of human diseases Evolutionary conservation exists between humans and model organisms. Using genetic approaches, human diseases, such as Down syndrome, are modeled at the cellular and organismal levels in our laboratory. Students will have opportunities to pursue the projects to enhance our understanding of human diseases, which in turn may facilitate development of novel treatment strategies.

Yuesheng Zhang, MD, PhD Dept. of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences www.roswellpark.edu/ yuesheng-zhang


Scientific Research

Targeting ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases in cancer Cell membrane-bound ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly ErbB1 and ErbB2, are major oncogenic drivers and cancer therapeutic targets. We have recently found that recombinant human prolidase targets both ErbB1 and ErbB2 and are doing research to better understand the antitumor activity of prolidase.

http://www.roswellpark.edu/


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Internship category


Jianmin Zhang, PhD Dept. of Cancer Genetics www.roswellpark.edu/ jianmin-zhang


Scientific Research

Dysregulation of Hippo pathway signaling in breast cancer Using molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches as well as the 3-D cell culture system and mouse models, we are intensively investigating the roles of EMT and the Hippo signaling pathway in the initiation and progression of solid carcinomas, e.g., breast cancer.

Qianqian Zhu, PhD Dept. of Bioinformatics/ Biostatistics www.roswellpark.edu/ Qianqian-Zhu



Dissecting the contribution of genetic factors to complex diseases Many common human diseases are known to have a major genetic component. Understanding the genetic basis of these diseases will enable effective disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. My group has developed a number of novel computational methods to elucidate the genetic factors of complex human diseases and traits through integrating high-throughput genomics and genetics data. In addition to method development, my group has conducted multiples genome-wide association studies (GWAS) including steatosis and related phenotype in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection, and tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients. We are currently conducting a number of cutting-edge studies in dissecting genetic contributors to human diseases including pemphigus vulgaris, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, unrelated donor blood or marrow transplant (BMT)-related mortality, and familial ovarian cancer.

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