The TICaRT concept of team-based cancer research is largely modeled on the highly-successful Clinical and Translational Science Institute TL1 Predoctoral Training Program, led by Dr. Wayne McCormack. Examples of cancer-focused TL1 teams, as well as a Ph.D. student–postdoctoral fellow team focused on cancer research, are described briefly below.
“I had the opportunity to work with an engineering team and learn how mechanical engineers contribute to translational science. Through our project specifically, I learned about obtaining patents and understanding how, when and in what direction you push projects forward for translational science.”
– Henrietta Fasanya, M.D., Ph.D. student
Current Teams
Team Project: Integrating Molecular Biological and Epidemiological Approaches in Assessing Differences in Treatment and Survival of Advanced-Stage Laryngeal Cancer by Race
Chayil Lattimore, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Kristianna Fredenburg, M.D., Ph.D.
Caretia Washington, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Dejana Braithwaite, Ph.D., MSc
Team Project: Combinatorial Utility of Novel Immunotherapeutic and Nanoparticle Imaging Platforms in Pre-clinical Brain Cancer Models
John (Jack) Figg, M.D.-Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Catherine Flores, Ph.D.
Matthew Frain, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Frank Bova, Ph.D.
Past Teams
2020-21
Team Project: Integrating Mathematical and Biological Models to Target Myeloid-Derived Immune Cells in GBM
Gregory Takacs, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Jeffrey Harrison, Ph.D., Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Dissertation Project: Investigating Mechanisms of Monocytic-MDSC Immune Suppression in Glioblastoma
Hannah Anderson, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Libin Rong, Ph.D., Mathematics
Dissertation Project: Mathematical Model of Glioblastoma-Immune Dynamics: Applications to Immunotherapy
2018-19
Team Project: Tailored Web-based Intervention to Increase Florida Smokers’ Enrollment in a Research Registry
Rachel Damiani, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Janice Krieger, Ph.D., Advertising
Dissertation Project: Exploring the Perceived Communication Challenges and Strategies of Scientists when Interacting with Nonexperts
Nioud Gebru, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Robert Leeman, Ph.D., Health Education & Behavior
Dissertation Project: A Behavioral Economic Examination of Sexual Behaviors in the Era of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Examination
2018-19
Team Project: Detection of Metastases in Osteosarcoma Patients Using Microfluidic Devices
Henrietta Fasanya, M.D., Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Dietmar Siemann, PhD, Radiation Oncology
Dissertation Project: The Role of Cathepsin Inhibition in Osteosarcoma Metastasis
Pablo Dopico, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Z. Hugh Fan, Ph.D., Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dissertation Project: Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells Using Microfluidics and the Analysis of Tumor DNA during Cancer Therapy
2017-18
Team Project: Cancer Cell to Dendritic Cell Conversion
Matthew Sebastian, M.D., Ph.D. Student
Mentor: David Tran, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosurgery
Dissertation Project: Pglyrp3, a Novel Critical Regulator of Breast Cancer Development and Metastasis
Sarah (Tori) Ellison, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Thomas E. Angelini, Ph.D., Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dissertation Project: Pglyrp3, a Novel Critical Regulator of Breast Cancer Development and Metastasis
Team Project: A Novel Tumor Microenvironment Model that Combines Bioprinting and Tissue Culture to Investigate Cancer Cell and Microvascular Interactions
Samantha Dykes, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate
Mentor: Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D., Radiation Oncology
Research Project: Role of cathepsin L in the macrophage-mediated metastatic phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer
Ariana Suarez-Martinez, Ph.D. Student
Mentor: Walter L. Murfee, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Project: Development of an Ex Vivo Mouse Tissue Culture Model for Investigating Cell Dynamics during Microvascular Remodeling
UF Health Cancer Center Predoctoral Awardees:
- John (Jack) Figg: 2024 Predoctoral Awardee
- Gregory Takacs: 2022 Predoctoral Awardee
- Henrietta Fasanya: 2018 Predoctoral Awardee
Alumni Outcomes
| tRAINEE | fACulty mentor | Degree(s)/Training | Publications | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samantha Dykes, Ph.D. | Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D. | Postdoc 2019 | 5 | Senior scientist, GenCure |
| Henrietta Maku (Fasanya), M.D., Ph.D. | Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D. | Ph.D. 2020 | 6 | Pathology resident, Houston Methodist Hospital |
| Matthew Sebastian, M.D., Ph.D. | David Tran, M.D., Ph.D. | Ph.D. 2020 | 4 | Internal medicine resident, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Ariana Suarez-Martinez, Ph.D. | Walter L. Murfee, Ph.D. | Ph.D. 2020 | 7 | Associate Medical Director, BluPrint Oncology, Jacksonville, FL |
| Pablo Dopico, Ph.D. | Z. Hugh Fan, Ph.D. | Ph.D. 2021 | 4 | Process testing scientist, Resilience |
| Rachel Damiani, Ph.D. | Janice Krieger, Ph.D. | Ph.D. 2021 | 5 | Science writer, Hillsborough, NC |
Team Publications
- Suarez-Martinez AD, Sole-Gras M, Dykes SS, Wakefield ZR, Bauer K, Majbour D, Bundy A, Pampo C, Burow ME, Siemann DW, Huang Y, Murfee WL. Bioprinting on Live Tissue for Investigating Cancer Cell Dynamics. Tissue Eng Part A. 2020 Nov 18. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2020.0190. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33059528.
- Morley CD, Ellison ST, Bhattacharjee T, O’Bryan CS, Zhang Y, Smith KF, Kabb CP, Sebastian M, Moore GL, Schulze KD, Niemi S, Sawyer WG, Tran DD, Mitchell DA, Sumerlin BS, Flores CT, Angelini TE. Quantitative characterization of 3D bioprinted structural elements under cell generated forces. Nat Commun. 2019 Jul 10;10(1):3029. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10919-1. PMID: 31292444; PMCID: PMC6620298.
- Fasanya HO, Dopico PJ, Yeager Z, Fan HZ, Siemann DW. Using a combination of gangliosides and cell surface vimentin as surface biomarkers for isolating osteosarcoma cells in microfluidic devices. Journal of Bone Oncology, accepted 2021.
- Flood-Grady E, Hough D, Damiani RE, Gebru NM, Fedele DA, Leeman RF, Krieger JL. Communication strategies for designing Facebook advertising campaigns to recruit rural participants to develop healthcare delivery interventions. J Clin Transl Sci. 2020 Jan 16;4(5):398-407. doi: 10.1017/cts.2020.5. PMID: 33244428; PMCID: PMC7681130.
