Department of Cell and Cancer Biology

David Adegoke, B.S.
MS Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: Ivana de la Serna, Ph.D.
Home: Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.S. Biology - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
E-mail: david.adegoke@rockets.utoledo.edu

Bennett Allison, B.S. 
PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Targeting solute carrier transporters in enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer
Advisor: Nagalakshmi Nadiminty, Ph.D.
Home: Honeoye Falls, New York
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.S. Biochemistry - Denison University, Granville, OH
E-mail: bennett.allison@rockets.utoledo.edu 

Anil Basnyat, B.Sc., M.S. 
PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Role of cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase inhibitor beta (PKIB) in breast cancer metastasis
Advisor: Yong (Kevin) Jiang, Ph.D.
Home: Kathmandu, Nepal
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.Sc. Medical Biochemistry - Medical Biochemistry, Pokhara University, Nobel College, Kathmandu, Nepal; M.S. Biotechnology - Biotechnology, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
E-mail: anil.basnyat@rockets.utoledo.edu

Andrew Boring, B.S. 
MD/PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: How p53 mutated bronchial epithelial cells colonize the airways and interact with the immune system
Advisor: James Willey, Ph.D.
Home: Perrysburg, Ohio
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.S. Biology - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
E-mail: andrew.boring@rockets.utoledo.edu

Obadele (Obi) Casel, B.S., M.S. 
PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: Jasmine JianYuan Liu, Ph.D.
Home: Silver Spring, MD and Boston, MA
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.S. Molecular Biology - Frostburg State Univ. , Frostburg, MD; M.S. Bioinformatics - Univ of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi, MD
E-mail: obadele.casel@rockets.utoledo.edu

Shubhra Kanti Dey, B.Pharm.
PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Influence of the bone microenvironment on drug resistance of prostate cancer bone metastasis
Advisor: Xiaohong Li, Ph.D.
Home:  Barishal, Bangladesh
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities:  B.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences - Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
E-mail: shubhrakanti.dey@rockets.utoledo.edu

Kimberly Heath-Borrero, B.S. 
MD/PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: Jianmin Zhang, Ph.D.
Home: Ponce, Puerto Rico, USA
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Liberal Arts & Sciences - University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
E-mail: kimberly.heath@rockets.utoledo.edu

Ahmad Hegazi, B.S. 
MD/PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Role of heat shock factor 1 in nab-paclitaxel response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Advisor: Kuo-Hui Su, Ph.D.
Home: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Molecular Genetics - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
E-mail:  ahmad.hegazi@rockets.utoledo.edu

Farhana Akter Joty, B.Pharm., M.Pharm.
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.Pharm. - Bangladesh University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.Pharm. - Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail:  Farhanaakter.Joty@rockets.utoledo.edu

Lasini Kaluarachchige. B.S.
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Biology - Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
E-mail: Lasini.Kaluarachchige@rockets.utoledo.edu

Sushma Khatri, B.Pharm.
PhD Candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Unraveling the mechanism of targeted survivin degradation by small molecule inhibitors
Advisor: Jasmine JingYuan Liu, Ph.D.
Home: Kathmandu, Nepal
Undergraduate/Graduate University:  B.Pharm. - Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: sushma.khatri@rockets.utoledo.edu

Augustine Kwabil, B.Sc. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Role of tumor microenvironment in dormancy and relapse in prostate cancer
Advisor:  Xiaohong Li, Ph.D.
Home: Tongo, Ghana
Undergraduate/Graduate University:  B.Sc. Biomedical Sciences - University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
E-Mail:  augustine.kwabil@rockets.utoledo.edu

Prisca C. Njoku, B.Sc., M.Sc. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Mechanism of osteoblast induced prostate cancer cell dormancy
Advisor: Xiaohong Li, Ph.D.
Home: Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.Sc. Biochemistry - Madonna University Nigeria; M.Sc. Biochemistry - University of Lagos Nigeria (M.Sc.)
E-Mail: prisca.njoku@rockets.utoledo.edu

Azeezat Osikoya, B.S. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Role of helicase activity in eIF4A1 in breast cancer stemness
Advisor: Dayanidhi Raman, Ph.D.
Home:  Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology - Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
E-Mail: azeezat.osikoya@utoledo.edu

Deep Patel, B.S., M.S. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor:  tbd
Home: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Pharmacy - Nirma University, Gujarat, India; M.S. Pharmacology & Toxicology, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
E-mail: deep.patel5@rockets.utoledo.edu

Genevieve Schwarz, B.S. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor:  Yong (Kevin) Jiang, Ph.D.
Home: Oak Ridge, TN
Undergraduate/Graduate University: B.S. Biology & Health Sciences - East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
E-mail: genevieve.schwarz@rockets.utoledo.edu

Shreya Shreshtha, B.S., M.S., M.Res. 
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.S. Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics - Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bangalore, India; M.S. Molecular Biology - JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysore, India; M.Res. Cancer Biology - Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, England
E-Mail: sshresh@rockets.utoledo.edu

Rejina Shrestha, B.S., M.S. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Role of heat shock factor 1 in tumor programmed cell death
Advisor: Kuo-Hui Su, Ph.D.
Home: Bhaktapur, Nepal
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities:  B.S. Microbiology - Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal; M.S.  Medical Science - The University of Tokyo,  Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
E-mail: rejina.shrestha@rockets.utoledo.edu

Barrick Silverman, B.S. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Clarksville, Maryland, USA
Graduate/Undergraduate University: B.S. Biomedical Engineering - West Virginia University, Morganstown, WV
E-mail: barrick.silverman@rockets.utoledo.edu

Rahul Verma, B.Sc., M.Sc. 
PhD candidate, Cell and Cancer Biology Biomedical Sciences Program
Project: Mechanisms of PZ39-induced ABCG2 degradation
Advisor: Jian-Ting Zhang, Ph.D.
Home: Delhi, India
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: B.Sc. Zoology - Swami Shraddhanand College, Delhi, India; M.Sc.  Biomedical Science - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, India
E-Mail: rahul.verma@rockets.utoledo.edu

Wenchang Xu, B.S. 
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Shandong, China
Undergraduate/Graduate University:  B.S. Biotechnology - Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
E-mail: wenchang.xu@rockets.utoledo.edu

Ziqi (Jochi) Zhao, M.D. 
Project: tbd
Advisor: tbd
Home: Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
Undergraduate/Graduate Universities: M.D. Clinical Medicine - Dalian Medical University, Liaoning, China
E-mail: ziqi.zhao@rockets.utoledo.edu