Molly Nealon
Undergraduate Institution: DePaul University
Research: In my work under Dr. Elizabeth LeClair and Dr. Jacek Topczewski, I helped
to create a zebrafish model of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) by
using the microinjection technique to complete CRISPR-Cas9 gene modification. I also
worked on a project using zebrafish to model a missense mutation in the protein L-plastin
which was suspected to cause neutropenia in a 5-year old patient.
Elisabeth DeMarco
Undergraduate Institution: Purdue University
Research: While working with Dr. Estuardo Robles, my undergraduate research characterized
the normal development of dendritic spines in vivo using a transgenic zebrafish line
and explored the use of this tool to model spine development in mutant models.
Reagan McGuffee
Undergraduate Institution: Millsaps College
Research: My undergraduate research was conducted in the lab of Dr. Wolfgang Kramer.
The goal of the research was to synthesize photoactivatable N-alkoxy-substituted heteroaromatic
compounds which could serve as both novel DNA-cleaving reagents and as photodynamic
therapy (PDT) drug candidates to combat cancer. I am planning for a rotation in Dr.
David Ford's lab this summer in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
at SLU.
Lindsay (Lou) Vinarcsik
Undergraduate Institution: Cornell University
Research: My research began in a biomedical engineering lab studying Alzheimer's disease
and transformed into an interdisciplinary project of conceptualizing care in and around
biomedicine. Using the lenses of feminist and queer theory, science and technology
studies, disability studies, and local medical anthropology, I explore the forces
that create contradictions which embed themselves in the institution of modern medicine.
Stella Hoft
Undergraduate Institution: Pitzer College
Graduate Department: Molecular, Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Dr. Richard DiPaolo, Ph.D.
Research: Before matriculating into SLU’s M.D./Ph.D. program I completed a post-baccalaureate
fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease under Dr. Daniel
Barber, where we worked toward understanding the pulmonary CD4 T cell response to
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mouse, non-human primate, and human models. My Ph.D.
work at SLU will be with Dr. Richard DiPaolo under the department of Molecular Microbiology
and Immunology. I will be using single cell gene analysis to qualify the immune response
against gastric Helicobacter pylori infection to better understand how this instigates
metaplastic change in the gastric mucosa.
Robert Kousnetsov
Undergraduate Institution: Santa Clara University
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Daniel Hawiger, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: I will be joining the Hawiger lab in the fall, where I plan to conduct research
focused on the functions of dendritic cells and T cells in the regulation of immune
responses.
Alexander Piening
Undergraduate University: Rockhurst University
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Ryan Teague, Ph.D.
Research: One of the most recent developments in the field of cancer treatment has
been the development of immunotherapies, biologic molecules that prime the immune
system to specifically combat tumor cells. While checkpoint blockade immunotherapy
has revolutionized cancer treatment, some patients still show no clinical response,
and the mechanisms dictating therapeutic success remain largely unknown. My research
in Dr. Teague’s lab broadly focuses on identifying various factors that influence
responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. More specifically, we are interested
in understanding how obesity and high fructose diet impact responses to anti-PD-1/CTLA-4/LAG-3
combination therapy using a B16 mouse melanoma model.
Monica Goodland
Undergraduate Institution: Missouri State University in Springfield
Graduate Department: Pharmacology and Physiology
Research Mentor: Susan Farr, Ph.D.
Research Interests: In our lab, we use the SAMP8 mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease to study the effects
of various drugs on behavior and cognition with hopes to identify novel therapies
for the debilitating disease. We also study traumatic brain injuries, chemotherapy
induced cognitive impairment, and fronto-temporal lobar dementias in collaboration
with other labs.
Research: Our lab studies many conditions that cause cognitive impairment including traumatic
brain injury, depression, chemotherapy, diabetes, Frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's
disease. We use disease models to investigate the underlying causes of cognitive impairment
and test potential drug compounds. I am interested in exploring the molecular links
between traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease, as many epidemiological studies
have revealed TBI as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's later in life. Understanding
these disease processes and their similarities will be critical in developing effective
targeted therapies for the millions of people affected.
Di (Andy) Wu
Undergraduate Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Rajeev Aurora, Ph.D.
Research: My work in Dr. Rajeev Aurora’s lab focuses on osteoimmunology, which is the interplay
between the skeletal and immune system. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice is a well characterized
mice model for post-menopausal osteoporosis. Previous work in the lab has shown that
osteoclasts (OC) can induced CD8+ regulatory T-cells (Tcreg), which has a bone anabolic
effect in OVX mice. I am interested in how inflammation affects osteoblasts (OB) and
how this contributes to bone loss in OVX mice. The goal is to identify cellular pathways
that can be potential targets for new therapeutics.
Emily Cybulla
Undergraduate Institution: Loyola University Chicago
Research Mentor: Alessandro Vindigni, Ph.D.
Graduate Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research: Mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer an increased
lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Clinically, BRCA-mutated cancers are
susceptible to PolyADP-Ribose Polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) and platinum-based agents,
but emerging PARPi resistance has become a critical challenge for treating these tumors.
The Vindigni Lab is focused on characterizing DNA replication stress response and
repair pathways that are activated by cancer cells upon treatment with DNA-damaging
agents, with the ultimate goal of targeting these responses to improve chemotherapeutic
efficacy. Our lab is also generally interested in topics encompassed by the fields
of DNA replication and repair, genome stability, cancer biology, and precision cancer
medicine. My specific work centers on elucidating the replication stress response
mechanisms utilized by BRCA1-deficient breast and ovarian cancers. Moreover, I aim
to determine whether targeting these pathways can improve chemoresponse in BRCA1-mutated
cancers.
Zachary Grese
Undergraduate Institution: Marquette University
Graduate Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: Yuna Ayala, PhD.
Research Interests: Our research is focused on the RNA-binding protein TDP-43. TDP-43 forms cellular
aggregates in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and FTD. Using both
in vitro and cellular models, I am investigating the role that RNA plays in maintaining
the solubility of TDP-43. We hope to use insights from what we learn to help develop
therapeutics for currently-incurable neurological disorders.
Jessica Bourque
Undergraduate Institution: Stevens Institute of Technology
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Daniel Hawiger, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: My research in the Hawiger lab focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by
which various dendritic cell (DC) subsets influence T cell responses. Previous work
in our lab has shown how a particular subset of tolerogenic DCs promotes the differentiation
of peripheral regulatory T (pTreg) cells that are protective against autoimmunity.
I am interested in identifying and characterizing additional pathways utilized by
specific populations of DCs and T cells that may potentially be targeted for the development
of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and infection.
Valerio Rasi
Undergraduate Institution: University of Florida
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Dan Hoft, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: After taking a graduate level course in Immunology, I developed an interest in this
subject. When I joined the M.D./Ph.D. program at Saint Louis University, I decided
to look for a mentor in Immunology, who also had clinical expertise in this field.
For my summer rotation, I have worked in Dr. Daniel Hoft's laboratory. Dr. Hoft conducts
research on gamma delta T cells and their immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Dr. Hoft has previously shown that Granzyme A induces this immunity. My rotation's
project was to purify this protein first, and then inspect the pathway in which Granzyme
A induces macrophage activation and Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance.
Meghan Murray
Undergraduate Institution: Saint Louis University
Department: Pharmacology and Physiology
Mentor: Tom Burris, Ph.D.
Research: The Burris lab is focused on using chemical biology approaches to characterize
the physiological roles of nuclear receptors. The lab also develops drugs targeting
nuclear receptors for the treatment of diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
cancer, liver diseases, muscular dystrophy, autism, Alzheimer's disease, and more.
One particular area of concentration is identifying the ligands for a group of these
nuclear receptors known as orphans. The “hormones” that bind to these orphan receptors
have yet to be discovered.
Michelle Bach, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Agnes Scott College
Graduate Department: Health Care Ethics
Mentor: Jeffery Bishop, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: My work focuses on using insights from philosophy of science, feminist bioethics,
and theology to explore topics in psychiatric ethics such as personality disorders
and violence.
Kevin Bockerstett, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Spring Hill College
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Research Mentor: Rich DiPaolo, Ph.D.
Research: Gastric cancer is the 5 th most common cancer and 3 rd leading cause of
cancer-related death in the world. While chronic inflammation is strongly associated
with the development of gastric cancer, the mechanism of this relationship is poorly
understood. My goal is to define how cytokines produced by the immune system during
the inflammatory response, such as interferon gamma and interleukin 17A, influence
carcinogenesis. To date, I have found that the gastric epithelium expresses the receptors
for certain immune cytokines that these cytokines are critical for cancer development
in vivo, suggesting an unexplored direct effect of the immune system on the gastric
epithelium that potentiates cancer development. It is my hope that a better understanding
of this interaction between the immune system and the stomach will provide new insight
into gastric cancer development and create new areas of investigation for diagnosis
and therapies.
Stephen Grote, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Purdue University
Graduate Department: Pharmacology and Physiology
Research Mentor: Gina Yosten, Ph.D.
Research: I am investigating the role of C-peptide in the health and metabolism of the retinal
pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE is integral to the retina and its pathology may
be important to the development of diabetic retinopathy. C-peptide is cleaved from
the proinsulin molecule and released with insulin from the β cell, but its biological
function is poorly understood. With the identification of a putative C-peptide receptor
GPR146) in our lab, I am also looking to determine the interactions and function C-peptide
has with its responsive tissues, in particular RPE cells.
Daniel Pike, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Saint Louis University
Graduate Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: David Ford, Ph.D.
Research: I just finished up my graduate student years in Dr. Ford's lab, and I successfully
defended my dissertation research in April 2020. My work was focused on developing
a rat model of sepsis to further study the production, metabolism, and bioactivity
of neutrophil-derived chlorinated lipids. I had a great and fruitful experience in
the lab, but I'm excited to get back to the clinical rotations in MS3!
Nickolas Steinauer, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Saint Louis University
Graduate Department: Pharmacology and Physiology
Research Mentor: Jinsong Zhang, Ph.D.
Research: Our lab is interested in the mechanisms by which leukemia fusion proteins alter the
transcriptome of hematopoietic cells to induce a leukemic state. Of particular interest
to us is the t(8;21) translocation and the aberrant transcription factor produced
by this translocation, AML1-ETO. By studying the transcriptional corepressors, coactivators,
and epigenetic modulators that bind to AML1-ETO and allow it to both activate and
repress specific genes, we hope to uncover potential interactions for targeted therapy.
Catherine Cai, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
Graduate Department: Molecular Microbiology & Immunology
Research Mentor: Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: My research seeks to understand the factors that drive protective immunity versus
immunopathology during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Chronic T. cruzi infection results
in Chagas disease, a major infectious cause of heart failure. We recently discovered
that CD4+ Th17 cells are highly protective against T. cruzi infection and characterized
the mechanisms of protection. Ongoing work involves studying the role of Th17 cells
in T. cruzi-related cardiac pathology. Broadly speaking, my research interests lie
in immunology, infectious diseases, global public health and vaccine development.
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