Department of Cell and Cancer Biology

News & Announcements 

 

Congratulations to Dr. Caoqinglong 'Jackson' Huang

Photo of Dr. Caoqinglong 'Jackson' Huang
On February 14, 2024, Dr. Huang successfully defended his dissertation for his PhD degree. The dissertation was entitled "Development of Improved Survivin Dimerization Inhbitiors for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer". Dr. Huang has been mentored by Dr. Jian-Ting Zhang. Congratulations Jackson and best of luck in your future endeavors!



Dr. Dayanidhi Raman Honored by Ohio Cancer Research with 2023 Discover Award
Photo of Dr. Dayanidhi Raman
Congratulations to Dr. Dayanidhi Raman, Associate Professor, who was selected as the 2023 Ohio Cancer Research (OSR) Discover Awardee. This award recognizes OCR grantees who turn their pilot grant into major funding and successes in their research.

Dr. Raman received a $50,000 seed money grant from OCR in 2017 that generated nearly $3 million from other sources based on his success.

OCR has provided for $1.2 million in seed money to Toledo area researchers at the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University, generating more than $87 million from other sources to continue work based on initial success. 
Dean's Update, Monday, November 21, 2023

Congratulations to 2023 Outstanding Postdoc and Student Research Awardees   
                               2023 research awards

Congratulations to postdoc, Yibo Luo, Ph.D., and 5th year student, Deepti Gurung, on winning the 2023 Outstanding Postdoc and Student awards in Cell & Cancer Biology. Dr. Luo is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Yue Zou and Deepti is mentored by Dr. Jasmine Liu. They are pictured below with Dr. Ivana de la Serna, who chairs the award committee. 

 

 

2023 Larry Gentry Research Forum

The Biomedical Sciences Cell & Cancer Biology program held our annual research retreat, the Larry Gentry Research Forum, on Friday, October 27 at the Lancelot Thompson Student Union on the main campus of The University of Toledo.  The Department of Cell & Cancer Biology sponsors this event each year, which is named after the late Dr. Larry Gentry, Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. This event promotes scientific exchange among  our students, postdoc fellows, faculty and keynote speakers. Importantly, our students interact with the guest speaker to learn their approach to a successful academic career. Featured were presentations from 13 students and postdoctoral fellows. The keynote speaker for 2023 program was our 2005 alumni, Yatrik Shah, Ph.D., Horace W. Davenport Collegiate Professor of Physiology, Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Professor of Internal Medicine, at the University of Michigan Medical School. He gave an stimulating seminar on "Gasses, Bugs and Lipids in Colon Cancer".  

2023 Gentry speaker2023 Gentry group photo



Dr. Raman on being recognized by the University of Toledo with the
2023 Basic Science Research Excellence Award! 

Dr. Dayanidhi Raman, Associate Professor of Cell & Cancer Biology, recently recognized as the 2023  Basic Science Research ExcellencePhoto of Drs. de la Serna, Raman and Cooper Award. Dr. Raman was presented this award by Dr. Ivana de la Serna (nominator, left) and Dr. Christopher Cooper (right), Professor, Executive VP for Clinical Affairs and Dean, College of Medicine & Life Sciences. Dr. de la Serna wrote that he has 42 publications, and currently has four active grants. His research is at the forefront of breast cancer research, utilizes innovative approaches for improving therapeutics and touches upon important topics such as health disparities that are characteristic of this disease. His highly innovative and impactful research is recognized both nationally and internationally. Congratulations Dr. Raman on this well-deserved honor.

Dr. Shi-He Liu Awarded $2.5 million grant from NIH

Photograph of Dr. Shi-He LiuDr. Shi-He Liu, Assistant Professor of Cell & Cancer Biology, has received a five-year, $2.5 million R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute to advance his studies of targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer (PDAC).

His research focuses on engineering exosomes for pancreatic cancer-targeting therapies. Exosomes are emerging as promising nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery due to the unique properties of these naturally derived, nanoscale extracellular vesicles and their innate ability to shuttle proteins, lipids, and polynucleotides (DNA and RNA) between cells. However, substantial challenges in their application still exist, include their inability to target tumor cells and their rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) of the liver and spleen. To this end, Dr. Liu's research team has developed smart exosomes that enable active PDAC targeting while enhances evasion of the mononuclear phagocytotic system, thereby signficantly reducing the liver and spleen clearance and enhancing cytotoxic therapeutic effects on PDAC.

The current award will support his pre-clinical studies in mice to delineate the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and biodistribution profiles of the smart exosomes, to evalute their efficacy as advanced drug carriers for PDAC therapy in multiple mouse models. Furthermore, a smart exosome library, offering distinct exosome designs for personalized cancer treatment, will be constructed to advance precision PDAC-targeting therapies. Collectively, these activities, will broadly impact the field in developing innovative nanocarriers with optimized cargos and surfaces that holds great translational potential for precision PDAC treatments.

The studies will be pursued in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of UToledo faculty, including Drs. JianTing Zhang, JingYuan Liu, Yakov Lapitsky, Lauren Stanoszek, William Gunning and Andrea Kalinoski from Departments of Cell & Cancer Biology, Medicine, Chemical Engineering, Pathology and University of Toledo's Integrated Core Facilities, respectively.
Dean's Update: Monday, October 16, 2023


4th Year Cell & Cancer Biology Student, Christopher Figy, Publishes an Article in Toledo Blade    Photo of Chris Figy

Chris Figy, is a Ph.D. student in the Cell and Cancer Biology track of our Biomedical Science Program. He recently wrote a column in the Toledo Blade discussing his research on mitosis regulators in cancer cells. He is conducting his research in the laboratory of Dr. Kam Yeung.  

“My research is focused on a cellular protein that helps to regulate mitosis called RKIP. We now know that the process of mitosis in cancer cells is faster without RKIP expression. We have used a mouse model to compare the growth rate of breast cancer with and without RKIP expressed. Our research has shown that tumors without RKIP grow faster. Our research has also shown that cancer cells with RKIP expression eventually lose RKIP expression as they grow. Others have observed that less RKIP expression is associated with a more severe diagnosis in some cancers.”  Read the article
Dean's Update: Monday, October 2, 2023


Congratulations Dr. Zhang!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. J.T. Zhang, who has accepted the position of Interim Senior Associate Dean for Research.Photo of Dr. JianTing Zhang

Dr. Zhang completed his B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry from Nanjing University in China. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from State University of New York. He joined The University of Toledo in February 2019 after 21 years of service at Indiana University School of Medicine and is currently chair of our Department of Cell and Cancer Biology.

Dr. Zhang is a recipient of numerous awards, including being elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of his extraordinary research achievements. The fellowship is a lifetime honor accorded by the AAAS. This is one of the most prestigious awards among academic researchers worldwide.

Dr. Zhang has been continuously funded for the past 30 years and studies the mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy with an aim of identifying new targets and therapeutics for more effective cancer treatment. He also studies the genetics of tumor development with work focusing on investigating the potential benefits of drugs that have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cancer, either on their own or by circumventing resistance to standard treatments. His recent work in collaboration with other basic and physician scientists includes bioinformatics approaches to test hypothesis using large publicly available patient databases and clinical trials, with the goal of repurposing FDA approved drugs, and in-silico screening of library-sourced compounds in combination with medicinal chemistry for discovery of new cancer drugs. 
Dean's Update: Monday, August 14, 2023

Welcome 2023 Biomedical Science Graduate Program Cell and Cancer Biology Students          

Picture of four first year studentsWe would like to welcome the 2023 first year students in the Biomedical Sciences Cell & Cancer Biology track.  The annual Lab Coat Ceremony was held for our new Biomedical Science students on September 7, 2023, where they were presented fresh, white lab coats and were welcomed by Dr. Christopher Cooper and Dr. Kandace Williams (COMLS Deans),  Dr. Patricia Metting (COMLS Alumni Board and Professor Emerita), fellow students, faculty and staff.  Best wishes for a successful student career here at the University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences.
Pictured left to right: Rahul Verma, Ahmad Hegazi, Sushma Khatri, and Prisca Njoku

 

Photo of Dr. Daya Raman

 

 

Congratulations Dr. Raman on your promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure!

 

 

 

ASBMB Interview with Dr. Shang Su

ASBMB advertisement of Dr. Shang Su interview

 

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's interviewed Dr. Shang Su in June 2023 as part of their Amplifying API Voices Postdoc Member Interviews program.  Dr. Su is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Xiaohong Li and studying prostate cancer and tumor dormancy in cancer bone metastasis. You can watch the video interview here.
Great presentation Dr. Su!

 

Photo of Drs. Yeung, Fernando, Letson and Furuta

 

Congratulations to Cell & Cancer Biology 2023 Ph.D.'s

Congratulations to Dr. Veani Rosale Fernando and Dr. Joshua Letson on receiving their Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, Cell & Cancer Biology degrees. Their advisor, Dr. Saori Furuta, hooded her students and Dr.  Kam Yeung served as an academic advisor on the students' committees.

Pictured left to right: Dr. Kam Yeung, Dr. Veani Roshale Fernando, Dr. Joshua Letson, Dr. Saori Furuta

 

 

Congratulations to Dr. Kandace Williams on receiving the University Women's Commission 36th Annual Award

Dr. Kandace Williams receives Alice H. Skeens Outstanding Woman Award
Congratulations to Kandace Williams, Ph.D., Professor of Cell & Cancer Biology, Senior Associate Dean, College of Graduate Studies, who was recently honored with the Alice H. Skeens Outstanding Woman Award from the University Women's Commission (UWC). The UWC established its Outstanding Woman Award in 1987. Numerous women have been honored since its founding. Stephanie Pannell, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and Associate Chief Medical Officer also received the 2023 award.

In 2011, the UWC Outstanding Woman Award was re-named the Alice H. Skeens Outstanding Woman Award to honor the life of a prolific leader who served our university for nearly five decades as a professor, administrator and advisor. An advocate for students, employees and women, Dr. Skeens was actively involved in numerous campus committees and organizations ranging from student affairs and athletics to Faculty Senate. At the time of her passing, Dr. Skeens held the distinction of having the longest tenure at The University of Toledo and was serving as the Dean of the College of Language, Literature and Social Sciences, now the College of Arts and Letters. Dr. Skeens steadfastly supported the mission and vision of the UWC and was the Chair of the Scholarship Committee. The UWC continuously strives to continue her vision by promoting scholarships for women and recognizing outstanding service and leadership at The University of Toledo.  Congratulations Dr. Williams!

Dr. Raman Awarded $2 Million Grant to Study Aggressive Breast Cancer

UT News 2.14.23 pictureCongratulations to Dr. Dayanidhi Raman who was recently awarded a 5 year, $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, to study triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most lethal, aggressive forms of breast cancer.  This type of breast cancer is generally receptive to conventional chemotherapy, but the problem is that anti-cancer drugs often stop working which allow the cancer to return and spread. Dr. Raman reasons that chemotherapy cannot get to the small subset of cancer-stem-like cells deep in the tumor. Those cells, which have survived and grown immune to existing treatment, allow the cancer to reemerge and progress unchecked.  Read the story in the 2-14-23 issue of the UT News.

Congratulations to Veani Roshale Fernando for 1st place win!

photo of roshale fernando's award announcementUpdate: Roshale finished in the top 10 of 144 participants at the Chicago competition.  Outstanding Roshale!
On December 8, 2022, Ms. Veani Roshale Fernando was awarded first place for her talk at the University of Toledo  3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition presenting her talk "Fighting Breast Cancer Pain-Free."  She had good competition and placed first receiving a cash prize and all-expenses paid trip to participate in the next round of the competition in Chicago, IL, March 31, 2023.  The 3MT Competition is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008.  Since that time, the competition has grown to be held in over 600 institutions and 65 countries.  The goal of the 3MT is for research students from all departments and colleges to cultivate the ability to explain their research, including both breadth and significance, in a language appropriate to an audience containing both specialists and non-specialists within three minutes.

Image of Univ Toledo 3MT competitorsRoshale also competed in the Elevator Speech Contest at the 2022 ASCB Cell Biology meeting, finishing as Runner-Up.  The elevator speech is the same premise as the 3MT except participants only have one minute to sell their science.  Great job Roshale!!


 

 

 

 
Patent award
 
Congratulations to Dr. Eisenmann, Krista Pettee and Kathryn Becker   

Heartiest congratulations to Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann, Professor of Cell & Cancer Biology, Krista Pettee, Research  Assistant, and Kathryn Becker, MD/PhD student on the issue of their U.S. Patent in January entitled "Use of Formin Agonists in Overcoming Brain Tumor Radio- and Chemo-resistance by Targeting Tumor Microtubes".  
 

2022 Larry Gentry Research Forum

The Biomedical Sciences Cancer Biology track held our annual research retreat, Larry Gentry Research Forum, on Tuesday, October 11,  at the Lancelot Thompson Student Union on the main campus of The University of Toledo.  The Department of Cell & Cancer Biology sponsors this event each year, which is named after the late Dr. Larry Gentry, Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.  Featured were presentations from 13 students and postdoctoral fellows.  The 2022 program's keynote speaker and 1997 alumni was Jenny, Wang, Ph.D., Professor of Cancer Biology & Genetics, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center.  She gave a superb seminar on "Function of GRM3 in Colorectal Cancer".  This event promotes scientific exchange among  our students, postdoc fellows, faculty and keynote speakers. Importantly, our students interact with the guest speaker to learn their approach to a successful academic career.

2022 Gentry participantsJenny Wang presentation









        
Megan Dreier and Veani Roshale Fernando win 2022 Departmental Awards
At the conclusion of the 2022 Gentry Forum retreat, Dr. Megan Dreier (de la Serna lab) and Veani Roshale Fernando (Furuta lab) were awarded the 2022 Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow award and the 2022 Outstanding Student award.  Congratulations to you both on your hard work!
Megan Dreier
Megan Dreier, Ph.D.
2022 Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award
Roshale Fernando
Veani Roshale Fernando
2022 Outstanding Student Award

2022 Cell and Cancer Biology StudentsWelcome to the 2022 Biomedical Science Graduate Program Cell and Cancer Biology Students

Welcome to our new class of students in the Biomedical Sciences Cell & Cancer Biology track.  The annual Lab Coat Ceremony was held for our new Biomedical Science students on September 8, 2022, where they were presented fresh, white lab coats and were welcomed by Dr. Christopher Cooper and Dr. Kandace Williams (COMLS Deans),  Dr. Patricia Metting (COMLS Alumni Board and Professor Emerita), fellow students, faculty and staff.  Best wishes for a successful student career here at the University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences.
Pictured left to right: Azeezat Osikoya, Shubhra Kanti Dey, Rejina Shrestha, Augustine Kwabil


Dr. Kate Eisenmann Receives 2022 Gold Apple Award

picture of Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann
Congratulations to Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann for receiving the Robert T. Tidrick Golden Apple Award in 2022 for teaching excellence in basic sciences. This is the second year in a row that she has received this award.  Dr. E, Professor of Cell & Cancer Biology, is the Thread 1 Director in the Department of Medical Education and was selected for this honor by the 2022 medical student graduating class. Three other basic scientists and three clinicians also received a Golden Apple.  

 
 
Dr. Jian-Ting Zhang Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Congratulations to our chairman, Dr. Jian-Ting Zhang, on being elected as a  Dr. Zhang standing in his lab
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  
The AAAS Fellow Award is in recognition of his extraordinary research achievements. The fellowship is a life-time honor accorded by the AAAS to distinguish persons who are members of the association. Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for efforts on behalf of the advancement of science. This is one of the most prestigious awards among academic researchers worldwide.
Read the story in the 1-26-22 edition of UT News

 

Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann


     Congratulations Dr. Eisenmann on your promotion to Professor in July 2022!





Cell and Cancer Biology Students Place First and Second at the 2022 Graduate Research Forum

Roshale Fernando
 Roshale Fernando, current PhD candidate, placed first in the oral presentations at the Graduate Research Forum held  March 16-17, 2022.  Her talk was entitled "Sepiapterin Mediates Immunogenic Shift in Breast Cancer via Reprogramming of Tumor-Associated Macrophages."  Roshale is a 4th year student in Dr. Saori Furuta's lab.




Sayani Bhattacharjee
Sayani Bhattacharjee, current PhD candidate, placed second in the oral presentations at the Graduate Research Forum.  She spoke on "Targeting MCTs to overcome Enzalutamide Resistance in Prostate Cancer." Sayani is a 5th year student in Dr. Nagalakshmi Nadiminty's lab.




Cell and Cancer Biology Student Articles Published in the Toledo Blade

The Toledo Blade is publishing a  series of articles written by Biomedical Sciences students here at the University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences.  Following is the series by our Cell and Cancer Biology students:

Christopher Figy (10/2/23) - UT Research Examines Cancerous Fallout When Cell Division Goes Bad

Shreya Ganguly (4/3/23) - UT Research Investigates New Way to Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Deepti Gurung (10/3/22) - UT Researcher Studies Targeted Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Jackson Huang (6/6/22) - UT Researchers Target Cancer Cells

V. Roshale Fernando (6/7/21) - UT Research Explores How to Stop Good Immune Cells from Turning Bad

Yetunde Makinwa (1/4/21) - UT Researchers Explore How Dying Cells Ensure a Healthy Life

Justin Fortune Creeden (12/7/20) - UT Research Turns Supercomputers Toward Cancer Research

Sayani Bhattacharjee (10/5/20) - UT Research Throws a One-Two Punch at Prostate Cancer

Kathryn Becker (7/6/20) - The Crafty Nature of Glioblastoma

Joshua Letson (4/6/20) - UT Researchers Employ Nitric Oxide in the Breast Cancer Fight

Sangita Sridharan (3/2/20) - UT Research Targets Drug-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells

Yashna Walia (12/2/19) - UT Researchers Seek the Root Cause of Breast Cancer

Cory Howard (7/1/19) - Proteins may fuel life, but some also feed cancers

Augustus Tilley (10/1/18) - Toledo researcher works to disrupt metastatic breast cancer

Kaitlyn Dvorak (7/2/18) - Microenvironment play a role in cancer progression

Kalpana Gardiyawasam (03/05/18) - Researchers aim to block breast cancer metastasis

Zehui (Lesley) Li (12/31/17) - Cancer researchers focus on how cells communicate

Shengnan Du (9/2/16) - Chemical that disrupts cell division could help to treat cancer

Kari Lavik (4/4/16) - Zebrafish help in the fight against cancer

2020-2024 Thesis Defense

Photo of Caoqinglong'Jackson' Huang

 CONGRATULATIONS to Caoqinglong 'Jackson' Huang, Ph.D.

Dr. Huang successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Development of Improved Survivin Dimerization Inhibitors for Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer". Dr. Huang was mentored by Dr. JianTing Zhang.

Dr. Veani Roshale Fernando

CONGRATULATIONS to Veani Roshale Fernando, Ph.D.

Dr. Fernando successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Immunogenic Shift of Arginine Metabolism to Reprogram Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Breast Cancer" on Friday, June 9, 2023.  She has accepted a position as postdoctoral fellowship with Kristen Demoruelle, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Fernando will be working on the development of autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Fernando was mentored by Dr. Saori Furuta.

Photo of Dr. Joshua Letson

 CONGRATULATIONS to Joshua Letson, Ph.D.

Dr. Letson successfully defended his dissertation entitled "The Mechamism of Nitric Oxide Mediated Suppression of TGFß  and its Relevance in Breast Cancer Pathogenesis". Dr. Letson was mentored by Dr. Saori Furuta.

Sayani Bhattacharjee

CONGRATULATIONS to Sayani Bhattacharjee, Ph.D.

Dr. Bhattacharjee successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Targeting Metabolism to Overcome Enzalutamide Resistance in Prostate Cancer" on Thursday, November 3, 2022.  Dr. Bhattacharjee accepted a position as Field Application Scientist for Nanostrings Technology.  She was mentored by Dr. Nagalakshmi Nadiminty.

Kate Becker  CONGRATULATIONS to Kathryn Becker, Ph.D.
Dr. Becker successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Small-Molecule Mediated Activation of mDia Formins Disrupts Multiple Hallmark of Therapy Resistance in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells" on Friday, March 18, 2022.  Dr. Becker is in the MD/PhD program and will return to medical school to complete her requirements for her MD.  She has been mentored by Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann.
 Justin Creeden  CONGRATULATIONS to Justin Creeden, Ph.D.
Dr. Creeden successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Signaling Networks that Drive Deleterious Outcomes in the Pancreas and Liver" on Monday, March 14, 2022.  Dr. Creeden is in the MD/PhD program and will return to medical school to complete his requirements for his MD.  He has been mentored by Dr. Robert Smith.
Dr. Yetunde Makinwa

CONGRATULATIONS to Yetunde Makinwa, Ph.D.
Dr. Makinwa successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Exploring the Roles of Anti-Apoptotic Cytoplasmic ATR in Oncogenesis and Cancer Treatments" on Friday, December 3, 2021.  Dr. Makinwa will begin a postdoc in her mentor's lab, Dr. Yue Zou, to finish up a few ongoing projects.

Yashna Walia

CONGRATULATIONS to Yashna Walia, M.S. 
Yashna successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Effect of S-Nitrosylation on HER2 Expression and Activity" on July 29, 2021.  She has been mentored by Dr. Saori Furuta

Dr. Sangita Sridharan

CONGRATULATIONS to Sangita Sridharan, Ph.D.
Dr. Sridharan successfully defended her dissertation entitled "The Role of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4A1 in Breast Cancer Chemoresistance" on November 19, 2020.  She has been mentored by Dr. Dayanidhi Raman.  Dr. Sridharan has accepted a Cancer Research Scientist position at Nurix Therapeutics in San Francisco.

Dr. Augustus Tilley

CONGRATULATIONS to Augustus Tilley, Ph.D.
Dr. Tilley successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Discovery of the CXCR4-dependent LASP1-Ago2 Interaction and Its Role in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer" on September 30, 2020.  He has been mentored by Dr. Dayanidhi Raman.  Dr. Tilley has accepted a position with Computercraft at the NIH as a Whole Genome Shotgun Database Biologist where he will be curating new genomic submissions to the GenBank database.

Dr. Cory Howard

CONGRATULATIONS to Cory Howard, Ph.D.
Dr. Howard successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Characterization of the CXR4-LASP1-eIF4F Axis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer" on June 10, 2020.  He has been mentored by Dr. Dayanidhi Raman.  Dr. Howard will begin the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at Michigan State University in Fall 2020.

2006-2019 Cell and Cancer Biology graduates









 

Last Updated: 2/22/24