The2025YaleCancerResearchSymposiumisapremiergatheringofscientists,clinicians,trainees,and community partners dedicated to accelerating progress against cancer through innovation and collaboration.HostedbyYaleCancerCenteraspartofYale’sASCEND AllianceforScholarship, Collaboration,Engagement,Networking,andDevelopment thesymposiumspotlightscutting-edge researchinbreast,prostate,lungcancers,andcancerhealthequity,whilecatalyzingpartnershipsthat translatediscoveryintoimpact.
Asignaturegoalofthisyear’ssymposiumistostrengthenresearchcollaborationsbetweenYale University and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Faculty from Hampton University,MeharryMedicalCollege,andTuskegeeUniversitywillpresentalongsideYaleinvestigators, fosteringcross-institutionalteamsthataddresscancer’smosturgentscientificandsocietalchallenges
AboutASCEND ASCENDisYale’splatformforbuildingdurable,equitableresearchpartnershipsthatbridgedisciplines andinstitutions.ThroughFacultyCollaborationGrants,ASCENDprovidescompetitivefundingto Yale–HBCUteamswhosework:
Transcendsinstitutionalboundariesandleveragescomplementaryexpertise; Encouragesinterdisciplinaryinquiryspanningbasic,clinical,population,andimplementation sciences; Advancesimpactinpatientoutcomes,communityhealth,andpolicy.
Projectscopeandscaleareflexible.Proposalsmaybe: Seedprojectsthatprototypeideasforlargerexternalfunding; Time-boundprojects(uptotwoyears)designedtodelivercompletefindings;or Effortsinbetween,dependingonaimsandteamcapacity.
ASCENDwelcomesacademic,applied,community-based,andpolicy-relevantprojectsacrossthearts andhumanities,socialsciences,sciences,andprofessionalschools includingtheirintersections. Byconveningleaders,mentoringtrainees,andresourcingcollaborativeteams,ASCENDandtheYale CancerResearchSymposiumtogethercreateanecosystemwherediscoveryflourishesandequityis integraltoexcellence.
Questionsaboutpartnerships,programs,ortheFacultyCollaborationGrants,pleaseemail: ASCEND@yale.edu.
Formoreinformationonfacultycollaborationgrants,pleasevisittheASCENDwebsite.
DearColleagues,
ItismydistinctpleasuretowelcomeyoutotheinauguralYaleCancer ResearchSymposium,co-hostedbytheYaleOfficeoftheProvost,Yale CancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth,and YaleSchoolofNursing,incollaborationwithouresteemedHistoricallyBlack CollegesandUniversities(HBCUs)partners:HamptonUniversity, MeharryMedicalCollege,andTuskegeeUniversity.Thisinaugural symposiumisafoundationalmilestoneinourASCENDinitiative,Yale’s ambitiousefforttofosterequitable,collaborativecancerresearchpartnerships withHBCUs,andtoamplifytheirvitalcontributionstooncologyscholarshipandtraining
Wegathernotonlytosharecutting-edgesciencebutalsotoforgeenduringalliancesrootedinmutual respect,sharedpurpose,andacommitmenttohealthequity.Cancerdoesnotaffectallcommunities equally.Historicallyunder-researchedpopulationsbearadisproportionateburdenfromprostate,lung, colon,liver,andbreastcancersaswellasmanyothercancers.
Attheheartofourworkistheprinciplethatscientificexcellenceandequityareinseparable.Addressing disparitiesincanceroutcomesdemandsbothinnovationandinclusion,fromensuringthatclinicaltrials reflectdiversepopulationstobuildingresearchcapacityacrossinstitutionsandtrainingthenext generationofresearchleaderswhocareaboutcollaborativeexcellence.
Iinviteyoutoimmerseyourselfinthesessions,makenewconnections,andtogether,envisionhowour collectiveeffortscanelevatecancerresearchandcare.
Thankyouforjoiningusonthiscriticaljourney.Ilookforwardtoourconversations,ourshared learning,andthediscoveriesthatwillemerge.
Warmly,
EricP.Winer,MD Director,YaleCancerCenter PresidentandPhysician-in-Chief,SmilowCancerHospital
DearColleagues,
OnbehalfoftheProvost’sOffice,itismygreathonortowelcomeyoutothe CancerResearchSymposiumevent.Thisgatheringbringstogetherfaculty, researchers,trainees,andstaffwhoshareacommonpurpose:advancing discoveryandinnovationinthefightagainstcancer oneofthemosturgent challengesofourtime.
WeareespeciallyprivilegedtowelcomeourcolleaguesfromHamptonUniversity, MeharryMedicalCollege,andTuskegeeUniversity.Theexpertiseand leadershipoftheseinstitutionsexemplifythehistoricandongoingcontributionsofHistoricallyBlack CollegesandUniversities(HBCUs)indrivingscientificprogressandpreparingthenextgenerationof researchers.Yourpresencehereunderscoresthevalueofcollaborationthatextendsacrossinstitutionsand communities.
TheCancerResearchSymposiumexemplifiesthegoalsoftheAllianceforScholarship,Collaboration, Engagement,Networking,andDevelopment(ASCEND)Initiative.ThroughASCEND,Yalehasbuilt enduringpartnershipswithtwelveHBCUstofosterresearchcollaborations,developnewopportunitiesfor facultyandstudents,andexpandtheexchangeofknowledgeacrossinstitutions.
Wearegratefultotheco-sponsorsofthissymposium:theYaleSchoolofMedicine,YaleCancerCenter,Yale School of Nursing, and Yale School of Public Health. Their collective expertise underscores the interdisciplinarynatureofcancerresearchandhighlightsYale’scommitmenttobringingtogetherscholars acrossfieldstoacceleratediscovery
Asweconveneforthisimportantevent,Iencourageeachofyoutotakefulladvantageoftheopportunityto shareyourknowledge,forgenewcollaborations,andcontributetothevitalworkofadvancingcancer research Maythepartnershipsandinsightsthatemergeoverthenextseveraldaysleadtomeaningful progressagainstcanceranddemonstratethepowerofacademiccollaborationtoadvancehumanhealth.
ThankyouforjoiningusfortheCancerResearchSymposium,andforyourongoingdedicationtoresearch, innovation,andthepursuitofknowledgethatchangeslives.
Warmestregards,
GaryV.Désir ViceProvostforFacultyDevelopment PaulBBeesonProfessorofMedicine
AGENDA Monday,September29,2025
7:30am
8:00am
8:30am
Registration/Check-inandContinentalBreakfastServed
WelcomeandIntroductoryRemarks
NancyBrown,MD,JeanandDavidW.WallaceDeanofYaleSchoolofMedicineand
C.N.H.LongProfessorofInternalMedicine
GaryDésir,MD,ViceProvostforFacultyDevelopment;PaulB.BeesonProfessorofMedicine
EricWiner,MD,Director,YaleCancerCenter;PresidentandPhysician-in-Chief,Smilow CancerHospital
IntroductionofKeynoteSpeaker
EricWiner,MD
KeynoteAddress
LisaNewman,MD,MPH,FACS,FASCO,Chief,DivisionofBreastSurgery;Director, InterdisciplinaryBreastProgram
NewYork-Presbyterian/WeillCornellMedicalCenter
9:30am
ResearchTalksSession1:UnravelingProstateCancer:Diagnosis,DiscoveryandCare
DanielPetrylak,MD,ProfessorofMedicine(MedicalOncology)andofUrology
YaleSchoolofMedicine
“AdvancesinMetastaticProstateCancer”
StacyLloyd,MPH,PhD,AssistantProfessorofPathobiology
TuskegeeUniversity
“CanRe-thinkingourApproachtoCancerProvideGreaterInsightintoCancer Disparities”
MichaelLeapman,MD,MHS,AssociateProfessorofUrology
YaleSchoolofMedicine
“PrecisionToolsforProstateCancerCare:AreWeMeetingtheMark?”
10:30am
Break
AGENDA Monday,September29,2025
10:45am 12:30pm 1:30pm 1:40pm
ResearchTalksSession2:BreakthroughsinBreastCancerResearch:FromBenchto Bedside
MeganKing,PhD,ProfessorofCellBiologyandofMolecular,CellularandDevelopmental Biology;AssociateDirectorforBasicResearch
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine
“Theroleofthecellcycleintheanti-tumorresponsetoPARPinhibitors”
BalasubramanyanKaranam,PhD,AssociateProfessorandDirectorofGenomicsLab TuskegeeUniversity
“ADRM1InhibitorUp284asaPromisingTherapeutic:InducesReplicationStressand SuppressesTumorCellProliferationinTNBC”
AmadouGaye,PhD,Chair,DepartmentofIntegrativeGenomicsandEpidemiologyand AssociateProfessor,SchoolofGraduateStudies
MeharryMedicalCollege
“IntegrativeOmicsAnalysisofGWASDataRevealsAfricanAncestry-SpecificFunctional VariantsAssociatedwithTriple-NegativeBreastCancer”
MichaelaDinan,PhD,ProfessorofEpidemiologyChronicDisease;AssociateCancerCenter Director,CancerResearchEducation&Training
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
“LeveragingNovelDataLinkages:UnderstandingDifferencesinBreastCancer Outcomes”
MaryamLustberg,MD,MPH,ProfessorofInternalMedicine(MedicalOncology),Director, CenterforBreastCancer;Chief,BreastMedicalOncology
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine
“OpportunitiesforCollaboration:YaleBreastHighlights”
BreakforLunchLunchoptionsareavailableatthefoodcartsonCedarStreet(cashandcard accepted)oratrestaurantsonCollegeStreet(3-blockwalk)
Remarks
TatianaSadak,PhD,PMHNP,RN,FAAN,DeputyDeanofYaleSchoolofNursingand Professor
ResearchTalksSession3:ProspectivesinLungCancerfromMoleculestoMedicine
HerminePoghosyan,PhD,MPH,FAAN,AssociateProfessor YaleSchoolofNursing
“NavigatingUncertainty:UnderstandingDecisionalConflictinLungCancerScreening Uptake”
JuanYakisich,MD,PhD,AssistantProfessorofPharmaceuticalSciences
HamptonUniversity
“Stemnessandplasticityofcancercells:rolesinchemoresistance,dormancyandtumor relapse”
AGENDA 3:00pm 3:15pm
5:15pm
Monday,September29,2025
KaterinaPoliti,PhD,JosephA.andLucilleK.MadriProfessorofPathologyandMedicine (MedicalOncology);ScientificDirector,CenterforThoracicCancers
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine
“NewInsightsintoLungCancerBiologyandDrugResistance”
JeffreyTownsend,PhD,ElihuProfessorofBiostatisticsandProfessorofEcologyand EvolutionaryBiology
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
“PrecisionBioinformaticsforLungCancer:ModelingEvolutionfromGenomicsto PatientCare”
Break ResearchTalksSession4:GastrointestinalCancers:ChallengesandAdvances
XuehongZhang,MBBS,MSc,ScD,FlorenceWardProfessorofNursingandAssociate DeanforResearch,ProfessorofEpidemiology
YaleSchoolofNursing
“FosteringMultidisciplinaryCollaborationstoImproveLiverHealthandAddress HealthDisparity”
SunilaMahavadi,PhD,AssociateProfessorofBiology
TuskegeeUniversity
“GPERandGastricCancer:EmergingInsights”
MengistuShukare,PhD,AssistantProfessorofChemistryandBiochemistry
HamptonUniversity
“Fibroblast-InducedMitochondrialReprogramminginPancreaticCancer”
TemesgenSamuel,DVM,PhD,ProfessorofPathobiology
TuskegeeUniversity
“ImmunomodulatoryResponsestoColonCancerChemotherapeutics”
XiaomeiMa,PhD,InterimDepartmentChairandProfessorofEpidemiology(Chronic Diseases);Co-Leader,CancerPreventionandControl
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
“RecentTrendsinColorectalCancerScreening”
MichaelCecchini,MD,AssociateProfessorofMedicine(MedicalOncology);Co-Director, ColorectalProgramintheCenterforGastrointestinalCancers
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine
“PrecisionMedicineforAdvancedGastrointestinalCancers”
SessionWrap-Up
AGENDA 7:30am
8:00am
8:15am
9:15am
Tuesday,September30,2025
RegistrationOpensandContinentalBreakfastServed
IntroductoryRemarks
MeganL.Ranney,MD,MPH,DeanofYaleSchoolofPublicHealthandC.E.A.Winslow ProfessorofPublicHealthandProfessorofEmergencyMedicine
ResearchTalksSession1:StrategiesTacklingDrugResistantandMetastatic Cancers
DonNguyen,PhD,AssociateProfessorofPathologyandMedicalOncology;Co-Leader, CancerSignalingNetwork
YaleCancerCenter,YaleSchoolofMedicine
“MechanismsofCNSMetastasisandDrugResistanceinLungCancer”
HongheWang,PhD,ProfessorandAssistantDepartmentChairofBiology
TuskegeeUniversity
“Tumormetastasissuppressorasmultifunctionalmediatoroftumor microenvironment,chemo-resistanceandmetastasis”
SusanGueble,MD,PhD,AssistantProfessorofTherapeuticRadiology
YaleSchoolofMedicine
“OvercomingTemozolomideResistanceinMGMT-DeficientCancerswithaNovel DNAInterstrandCrosslinkingAgent”
ResearchTalksSession2:EnvironmentalDeterminantsofCancerRisk
ShaneetaJohnson,MD,MBA,FACS,FICS,FASMBS,AssociateDeanandVice PresidentofGlobalHealthPartnershipsandEngagements;ProfessorofGlobalHealth; ChairofSurgery,DepartmentofSurgery
MeharryMedicalCollege
“EnvironmentalDeterminantsandCancerSurgery:Challenges,Impacts,and StrategiesforResilientCare”
NicoleDeziel,PhD,MHS,AssociateProfessorofEpidemiology(EnvironmentalHealth Sciences),Co-Director,YaleCenterforPerinatal,PediatricandEnvironmental Epidemiology
YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
“EnvironmentalExposuresandPediatricCancerRisk”
AGENDA Tuesday,September30,2025
10:00am
10:15am
12:00pm Break
ResearchTalksSession3:CancerHealthOutcomes
IsraElhussin,MD,MSc,PhD,Benjamin-CarverFIRSTScholar,AssistantProfessorof Biology
TuskegeeUniversity
“DecodingCancerDisparities:SpatialMulti-OmicsInsightsinAfricanAncestry Patients”
CarolineH.Johnson,PhD,AssociateProfessorofEpidemiology
YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
“HarnessingtheMetabolometoImproveCancerPatientOutcomes”
FazalKhan,MD,JD,Chair,DepartmentofPoliticalDeterminantsofHealthandProfessor ofHealthLaw,PolicyandManagement
MeharryMedicalCollege
“AssuringEquityinAIforCancerResearch:LessonsfromHistory,Imperativesfor theFuture”
MichaelCaldwell,MD,MPH,AssociateVPforVaccineResearchandEducation,Professor ofBiomedicalSciences,SchoolofGraduateStudiesandProfessorofPopulationHealth, SchoolofGlobalHealth
MeharryMedicalCollege
“Music,MessagingandMunicipalPower:AdvancingCancerPreventionThrough Community-DrivenSmokefreePolicyinTennessee”
ClosingRemarks
GaryDésir,MD,ViceProvostforFacultyDevelopment;PaulB.BeesonProfessorof Medicine
BIOGRAPHY LisaA.Newman,MD,MPH,FACS,FASCO Chief,DivisionofBreastSurgery Director,InterdisciplinaryBreastProgram NewYork-Presbyterian/WeillCornellMedicalCenter
Dr.Newmanisasurgicaloncologistwithapracticededicatedtobreast cancermanagement.Sheisrecognizedasaleaderinclinicalcare,research, andleadershipnationallyandinternationally.Sheoverseesthebreastprogram fortheWeillCornellMedicine-NewYorkPresbyterianHospitalNetwork. SheisalsotheFoundingMedicalDirectorfortheInternationalCenterfortheStudyofBreastCancer Subtypes.ShepreviouslydirectedthebreastprogramfortheHenryFordHealthSystemcovering hospitalsthroughoutMichigan,andtheBreastCareCenterandFellowshipProgramfortheUniversity ofMichiganinAnnArbor.
Dr.Newman’sprimaryresearchfocusesontheevaluationandmanagementofhigh-riskpatients, variationinriskandoutcomerelatedtoraceorethnicity,neoadjuvantchemotherapy,andspecial surgicaltechniquessuchastheskin-sparingmastectomyandsentinellymphnodebiopsy.
ShehasservedonadvisorycommitteesfortheCDCandNIH,andinleadershiprolesforAmerican CollegeofSurgeons,AmericanCancerSociety,andmanymore.Sheischiefmedicaladvisortoa nationalorganizationforAfricanAmericanbreastcancersurvivors,andoverseesaresearchandtraining programwithpartnersaroundtheworld,focusedonthestudyoftriplenegativebreastcancerinwomen withAfricanancestry
Dr.Newmanhaspublishedresearchandservedontheeditorialboardsofnumeroushigh-impact journals,shehasbeenfeaturedinaCNNdocumentary,andonNBC’sTodayShowandtheCBS EveningNews.Hernumerousaccoladesincludethe“Oprah’sAngels”list,“PhysicianoftheYear”for NewYork-Presbyterian,andelectionintotheNationalAcademyofMedicineinOctober2023.
Dr.NewmanearnedherBAandMPHfromHarvardUniversity,followedbymedicalschooland residencyatSUNYDownstateMedicalCenterinBrooklyn,andafellowshipinsurgicaloncologyatMD AndersonCancerCenter.
ABSTRACTS Session1:UnravelingProstateCancer:Diagnosis,DiscoveryandCare
AdvancesinMetastaticProstateCancer
Presenter:DanielPetrylak,MD YaleSchoolofMedicine
Thetreatmentofmetastaticprostatecancerhasevolvedoverthepast20years,fromnothavingany agentsthatimprovesurvivaltotargetedtherapieswhichnotonlyextendsurvivalbutimprovequalityof life.Inthepast,oncemenprogressedonandrogendeprivationtherapy,themediansurvivalwas12 months,withnodrugorcombinationtherapydemonstratinganimprovementinsurvival.In2025,the survivaloftheseadvancedprostatecancerpatientshasbeenextendedto3years Thishasbeen accomplishedthroughtheidentificationofnewagentswhichtargetProstateSpecificMembrane Antigen(PSMA),theandrogenreceptor(targetoftestosterone),BRCA1/2aswellasothernovel targets.Thesurvivalbenefithasbeenenhancedbymovingsomeoftheseagentstothecastration sensitivestate.Thefirstchemotherapythatdemonstratedasurvivalbenefitinthecastrationresistant state,docetaxel,isnowusedearlierinthecourseofmetastaticdisease,aswellasotheragentswhich targetedPSMA,BRCAandtheandrogenreceptor
Thetreatmentofadvancedprostatecancerisnowfocusedonmovingtheseagentsearlierinthecourse ofdisease,aswellasidentifyingnovelcombinations.Yalehasledthewayinthedevelopmentofthese agents.PROTACSaredrugswhichdegradeproteinsandcanaffectcellularfunction.ARV-766, developedinthelaboratoryofCraigCrewsisadrugwithsignificantactivityinmenwithcastration resistantprostatecancerItalsosignificantlyupregulatesPSMA,therebyenhanicingitastargetAphase ItrialofthecombinationofLu-177PSMA,aPSMAtargetedradiotherapeutic,andARV-766isabout toenrollpatientsatYale.
Canre-thinkingourapproachtocancerprovidegreaterinsightintocancerdisparities?
Presenter:StacyM.Lloyd,MPH,PhD TuskegeeUniversity
In1986,famedpathologist,HaroldDvorak,hypothesizedthat,“canceristhewoundthatneverheals.” Fordecades,theAfricanAmericancommunityhaveenduredtheburdenofaggressivecancers,and elevatedmortalityrates,withlittletonoreprieve.Likewise,thissamepopulationismoresusceptibleto thedevelopmentofkeloidscars,benign,dermalgrowthsthatoccuraftertissueinjuryinsusceptible skin.ThisaberrantwoundrepairresponseismostprevalentinpersonsofAfricanandAsiandescent; keloidsundergoepithelial-mesenchymaltransition(EMT),diminishedexpressionofE-cadherin,while overexpressingvimentinandthetranscriptionfactorsnail,acommonfeatureobservedinAfrican American(AA)tumors.Whatifthereexistedaphysicalbiomarkerthatsuggeststhepresenceofa susceptiblemicroenvironment,priortoacancerdiagnosis?Wehypothesizethattheseseemingly analogousoutcomesareduetoanimmunosuppressivemicroenvironment,permittingthegrowthof keloidsandaggressivesolidtumors.Weknowthatcancersarisefromthesequentialaccrualof mutationsthatgrantaselectiveadvantagetothecellsharboringthem Thevastmajorityofsomatic mutationsidentifiedinsolidtumorsare“passenger”mutations,alterationsthatdonotincreaseselective growthadvantage,contrarytocancerdrivers.Theoretically,asubsetofthesepassengermutationscould occurbeforetheonsetofaneoplasiaorthefirstoccurrenceofadrivermutation.
Session2:BreakthroughsinBreastCancerResearch:FromBenchtoBedside Theroleofthecellcycleontheanti-tumorresponsetoPARPinhibitors
Presenter:MeganKing,PhD
YaleSchoolofMedicine
PARPinhibitors(PARPi)selectivelykillcellswithdefectsinDNArepair,particularlythosewith mutationsinthetumorsuppressorsBRCA1andBRCA2(BRCAm).AcquiredresistancetoPARPi remainsaclinicalchallengewhilethepotentialforbroaderutilityorPARPitotreatnon-BRCAmtumors hasnotbeenfullyexplored.Toinformtheseefforts,ourgrouphasbeeninvestigatingthemolecular mechanismsofBRCAmtumorcellkillinginresponsetoPARPiandpathwaysthatlimittheir effectiveness.Ourrecentworkdemonstratesthattransitthroughmitosis,andparticularlymitoticerrors arising from chromosome segregation failure, contribute to PARPi-induced cell death including throughatumorcell-intrinsicinterferon(IFN)-stimulatedgene(ISG)mechanism.Tumorcellscan persistbyevadingthisresponseincludingbyup-regulatinganalternate,mutagenicDNArepair pathwaycalledPoltheta(PolQ)-mediatedend-joiningorbyavoidingmitoticentry.Werecently uncoveredamechanismthatlicensesPolQaftermitoticcommitmentbutbeforemitoticentryInour ongoingwork,wearefollowinguponnewcandidatesarisingfromanunbiasedCRISPRscreento identifynovelmodulatorsofthePARPiresponseinBRCA1-deficientovariancancercells.
ADRM1InhibitorUp284asaPromisingTherapeutic:InducesReplicationStressandSuppresses TumorCellProliferationinTNBC
Presenter:Balasubramanyan(Balu)Karanam,PhD
TuskegeeUniversity
Triple-negativebreastcancer(TNBC)isthemostaggressiveandlethalsubtypeofbreastcancer, characterizedbypoorprognosisandlimitedtherapeuticoptions.Thisisprimarilyduetotheabsenceof keyreceptors estrogenreceptor(ER),progesteronereceptor(PR),andhumanepidermalgrowth factorreceptor2(HER2) whicharecommonlytargetedinotherbreastcancertreatments.Thecurrent relianceonchemotherapyaloneincreasesthelikelihoodofdrugresistanceanddiseaserecurrence, making TNBC particularly difficult to treat. This underscores the urgent need for novel drug compoundsandeffectivecombinationtherapies.Adhesion-regulatingmolecule1(ADRM1/RPN13),a ubiquitinreceptorwithinthe26Sproteasome,playsacriticalroleinrecognizingpolyubiquitinated substrates and facilitating their deubiquitination and degradation via the unique deubiquitinase UCH37/UCHL5.InhibitionofADRM1leadstothetoxicaccumulationofhighmolecularweight (HMW)polyubiquitinatedproteinaggregates,disruptingproteostasisInresponse,cancercellsactivate stressresponsesbyhaltingthecellcycleandtriggeringreplicationstress.Thisstresssubsequently activatestheDNAdamagerepair(DDR)pathwayasasurvivalmechanism.AnalysisofTheCancer GenomeAtlas(TCGA)andGeneExpressionOmnibus(GEO)datasetsrevealsthatADRM1is significantlyoverexpressedacrossallbreastcancersubtypes,includingTNBC,withhigherexpressionin tumorcellscomparedtonormaltissue supportingitspotentialasatherapeutictarget.Tovalidatethis, weperformedinvitrostudiesusingTNBCcelllinesMDA-MB-453andMDA-MB-231 DoseresponseassayswiththeADRM1inhibitorUp284showedactivationofCHK1-mediatedDDRandthe formationofγH2AXfoci,indicatingdouble-strandedDNAbreaks.Clonogenicassaysdemonstrateda dose-dependentsuppressionofcellproliferationandcolonyformationinbothBRCA-wild-typeand BRCA-mutantcelllines.Furthermore,Up284treatmentresultedincellcyclearrestattheG2/Mphase. Collectively,thesefindingsidentifyADRM1asacompellingtherapeutictargetinTNBCandhighlight thepotentialofUp284asacandidateforclinicaldevelopment Thisstudyprovidesnovelmechanistic insightsandlaysthegroundworkforfurtherpreclinicalinvestigationofADRM1-targetedcombination therapiesinTNBC.
IntegrativeOmicsAnalysisofGWASDataRevealsAfricanAncestry-SpecificFunctionalVariants AssociatedwithTriple-NegativeBreastCancer
Presenter:AmadouGaye,PhD MeharryMedicalCollege
Background:Triple-negativebreastcancer(TNBC)isaparticularlyaggressivesubtypeofbreastcancer with limited targeted treatment options. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncoveredlociassociatedwithTNBCrisk,manyvariantswithpotentialbiologicalrelevancemaybe overlookedduetostrictrelianceonconventionalgenome-widesignificancethresholds.Inthisstudy,we tookamorefunctionally-drivenapproach,recognizingthatvariantsfallingjustbelowthesethresholds canstillexertmeaningfuleffectsongeneexpressionandproteinlevels.Thisstudyaimedtobridgethis gapbyintegratingGWASsummarystatisticswithtranscriptomicandproteomicdatatofunctionally characterizegeneticvariantsassociatedwithTNBC.
Methods:Weanalyzed2,643TNBC-associatedvariants(p ≤ 0.0001)derivedfromtheGWAS summarystatisticsofastudyofwomenofAfricanancestryUsingwhole-genomesequencing(WGS), mRNA(eQTL),andprotein(pQTL)datafrom242AfricanAmericansplitequallyintodiscoveryand validationsets.Associationswereadjustedforage,sex,andancestry(PC1–PC6),andstatistical validationrequiredconsistentdirectionality,FDR-adjustedp ≤ 0.05inthediscoveryset,andnominal p ≤ 0.05inthevalidationset.
Results:Weidentified40replicatedcis-eQTLsassociatedwith15mRNAtranscriptsand4replicated pQTLsinvolvingoneprotein,haemoglobinsubunitzeta(HBZ).Notably,aclusteroffourSNPsand oneINDEL,previouslyunreportedinthecontextofTNBCandAfricanancestry-specific(MAF>0 onlyinAfricanoradmixedAfricangroups),werefoundtoinfluencebothmRNAandproteinlevelsof HBZ.
Conclusion: This integrative omics approach uncovered African ancestry-specific variants that functionallyregulateHBZ,anunderstudiedgeneinTNBCbiology.Ourfindingsunderscorethe importanceofincludingdiversepopulationsingenomicstudiesandrevealancestry-informedmolecular signalswithpotentialclinicalrelevance.OngoingworkincludestheexperimentalvalidationofHBZ expressionatthemRNAandproteinlevelsinTNBCepithelialtumorcelllinesofAfricanAmerican origin,aswellasinprimarytumorsamplesandtissueblocksfromTNBCandnon-TNBCcases,to furtherdelineateitsroleintumorbiologyanditspotentialasabiomarkerortherapeutictarget
Session3:ProspectivesinLungCancerfromMoleculestoMedicine NavigatingUncertainty:UnderstandingDecisionalConflictinLungCancerScreeningUptake
Presenter:HerminePoghosyan,PhD,MPH,FAA
YaleSchoolofNursing
Introduction:Decisionalconflictreferstouncertaintywhenfacedwithachallenginghealthdecision.The decisiontoundergolungcancerscreening(LCS)iscomplexandhighlypersonalandmayelicitfeelingsof decisionalconflict.ThisstudyexaminedtherelationshipbetweendecisionalconflictandLCSuseamong screening-eligibleadults.
Methods:Across-sectionalonlinesurveywasconductedtorecruitLCS-eligibleindividuals.Surveyassessed participantsocio-demographics,LCSuse,knowledge,intention,anddecisionalconflictregardingLCS.Data wereanalyzedusingdescriptivestatisticsandmultinomialmultivariablelogisticregression.
Results:Atotalof863adultswereenrolled.Mostparticipantswerefemale(58%),White(79%),insured(93%) withameanageof61.5(SD7.5)years.Themeancigarette-packyearssmokedwas39.3(SD17.4)andranged from20to122smoking-packyearshistoryAbout32%reporteddecisionalconflictAmongparticipants,604% hadheardaboutLCS,184%receivedLCSinthepast12months,212%hadLCSmorethanayearagoand 604%neverhadLCS Afteradjustingforallcovariates,participantswhoreporteddecisionalconflicthad68% loweroddsofundergoingLCSinthepast12monthscomparedtothosewhodidnotreportdecisionalconflict (OR=032,95%CI=020-052)
Conclusions:ManyLCS-eligibleindividualsarestillnotgettingrecommendedLCS,andLCSuptakeisespecially low among those experiencing decisional conflict. Resolving decisional conflict through effective, shared decision-makingmaysupportthebroaderuseofLCS.
Stemnessandplasticityofcancercells:rolesinchemoresistance,dormancyandtumorrelapse
Presenter:JuanSebastianYakisich,MD,PhD
HamptonUniversity
Incancercellstheirstemnessproperty,definedastheabilitytoself-renewanddifferentiateintovarious cellphenotypes,leadtotheunidirectionalcancerstemcell(CSC)model.Thismodelwassupportedby theisolationofputativeCSCsinavarietyofsolidtumors.Ourresearch,basedonanewparadigm,The StemnessPhenotypeModel(SPM),contributedtoshiftingtherigidityoftheCSCmodelintoa bidirectionalplasticitymodel.Asaresult,itisnowwidelyacceptedthatcancercellsarealsoextremely plasticduetotheirabilitytoswitchphenotypesdependingonmicroenvironmentalconditions This newparadigmpartiallyexplainsseveralpropertiesofindividualcancercellsandtumorssuchascellular heterogeneity,chemoresistance,dormancyandtumorrelapses.Inthistalkwewillpresentexperimental datausinganinterconversioninvitromodelto1)expandourknowledgeonbasicaspectsofcancer biologysuchastheroleofsenescenceontumorresistanceandtumorrelapse,2)explorenovel experimentaldrugcombinationstotargethighlyresistantcancercellsandtackletumorheterogeneity and3)identifynoveldrugstreatmentwithabetterchancetosucceedinclinicsbyreducingthe translationalgapbarrierresponsibleforthefailureofmostphaseII/IIIclinicaltrials.
Session4:GastrointestinalCancers:ChallengesandAdvances
FosteringMultidisciplinaryCollaborationstoImproveLiverHealthandAddressHealthDisparity
Presenter:Xuehong(Hong)ZhangMBBS,MSc,ScD
YaleSchoolofNursing,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
LivercancerincidenceintheUnitedStateshasmorethantripledsincetheearly1980s,markingitas oneofthemostrapidlyincreasingcancersinthecountry.Whileestablishedriskfactorssuchaschronic hepatitisBandCinfections,heavyalcoholdrinking,tobaccouse,obesityanddiabetes,aswellas environmentalexposureslikeaflatoxinaccountforasignificantportionofcases,approximately30%of livercancerdiagnosesremainunexplainedbytheseknowncontributors Additionally,livercancer disproportionallyaffectscertainpopulations.Thisgapinknowledgeunderscoresanurgentneedto uncoveradditionaletiologicfactorsandaddressitshealthdisparity.Inthistalk,Dr.Zhangwillpresent findingsfromhisteam’songoingresearchaimedatidentifyingnovelriskfactors includingdiet, lifestylebehaviors,bacterialinfections,andexposuretoemergingenvironmentaltoxinssuchasper-and polyfluoroalkylsubstances(PFAS).Theseinvestigationsarecriticaltorefiningourunderstandingof livercancerpathogenesis,withdirectimplicationsforpreventionandearlyinterventionstrategies,as wellasaddressinghealthdisparity.Inaddition,therisingincidenceoflivercancerisparalleledbyits grimprognosis,withamediansurvivaloflessthanoneyear.Toaddressthis,Dr.Zhang’steamisalso engagedinthediscoveryandvalidationofnovelproteinbiomarkersthatthatofferpromisein elucidatingnewdiseasepathways.Theseeffortsholdpromisefortransformingearlydetectionstrategies and translating biomarker discoveries from bench to bedside and ultimately enhancing patient outcomesinhepatologyandoncologypractice
ABSTRACTS GPERandGastricCancer:EmergingInsights
Presenter:SunilaMahavadi,PhD
TuskegeeUniversity
Gastriccancer(GC)isthefifthmostcommonmalignancyworldwideandthethirdleadingcauseof cancer-relatedmortality,witha5-yearsurvivalratebelow33%.Helicobacterpyloriinfectioninitiated progressionfromchronicgastritistogastricintestinalmetaplasia(GIM)toGCIncompleteintestinal metaplasia(IIM)isconsideredaprecancerouslesion;however,themechanismsthatdifferentiateIIM fromcompleteintestinalmetaplasia(CIM)remainunclear Notably,menhavenearlytwicethe incidenceofGCaswomen,implicatingaroleforestrogensignaling.TheGprotein-coupledestrogen receptor(GPER),knownforregulatingmetabolism,hasanundefinedroleinGIMandGCThus,we Aimtodeterminetheexpression,regulation,andfunctionalroleofGPERingastricintestinal metaplasiaandgastriccancerMethods:GPERexpressionwasassessedbybulkRNA-seqofnormaland GCsamplescollectedfromtheUniversityofAlabamaatBirmingham(UAB)andbyanalyzingsinglecellRNA-seqdatasets(GSE134520;DNADiscovery,Stanford).GPERproteinexpressioninUAB gastrictissueswasassessedbyWesternblot.TCGAdatawereanalyzedforGPERmRNAexpression, DNAmethylation,andmiR-424levelsinrelationtoprognosis(Kaplan–Meier)usingtheUALCAN webtool.FunctionalstudiesinHs746TGCcellsevaluatedproliferation(MTassays)andmigration (wound-healingmigrationassays)followingtreatmentwithGPERagonists(G1and17-βestradiol). Results:GPERexpressionwassignificantlyreducedinbothGIMandGCcomparedwithnormaltissue, confirmedattheproteinlevelinUABsamples.GPERdownregulationwasassociatedwithincreased DNAmethylation,elevatedmiR-424,poorpatientprognosis,andhigherexpressionofintestinal metaplasia markers (MUC2, CDX1/2, E-cadherin). GPER activation inhibited proliferation in Hs746Tcellswithoutaffectingmigration.Conclusion:GPERdownregulation,mediatedbyDNA methylationandmiR-424,maycontributetogastriccarcinogenesis.ThesefindingssuggestthatGPER isapotentialbiomarkerandtherapeutictargetingastriccancer.
Fibroblast-InducedMitochondrialReprogramminginPancreaticCancer Presenter:MengistuLemechaShukare,PhD
HamptonUniversity
Pancreaticductaladenocarcinoma(PDAC)isamongthemostaggressivecancersandisprojectedto becomethesecondleadingcauseofcancer-relateddeathsby2030.AlthoughPDACcellsdependlargely onglycolysis,mitochondriaalsoplayanimportantroleintumorsurvivalandadaptability The influenceoffibroblasts,amajorstromalcomponent,onmitochondrialremodelinginPDACcells remainsunclear WeexaminedmitochondrialchangesinPanc1pancreaticcancercellsexposedto fibroblasts.Directco-culturewithfibroblastsincreasedmitochondrialmassincancercells.Levelsofthe fattyacidoxidationenzymeACADSandtheoxidativephosphorylationmarkerMTCO1werealso elevated,indicatingthatPanc1cellsenhancefattyacidoxidationandmitochondrialrespirationin responsetofibroblastinteraction Thesepreliminaryresultssuggestthatfibroblastinteractionsdrive mitochondrialremodelinginPDACcells,enhancingmitochondrialmassandmetabolicflexibility. Understandingthiscross-talkmayprovidenewinsightintopancreaticcancerprogression.Weplanto furtherinvestigatefattyacidoxidationmechanisminpancreaticcancercells.
ImmunomodulatoryResponsestoColonCancerChemotherapeutics
Presenter:TemesgenSamuel,DVM,PhD TuskegeeUniversity
Cancertherapyfacespersistentchallengesacrosspatientselection,durabilityofoutcomes,methodsfor responseassessment,frequentresistance,andrecurrence.Immunotherapyhasrevolutionizedoutcomes inspecificcancers,eitherindependentlyorinconjunctionwithothermodalities.Nevertheless,a significantproportionofpatientsfailtoderivebenefit,andtheunderlyingreasonsremainunknown. Themajorityofsolidtissuecancers,includingcolorectalcancer,havelimitedimmunotherapyoptions forvariousreasonsOurmainresearchobjectivesare:1)elucidatingtheimmune-modulatoryresponses oftumorstostandardtherapies;2)identifyingpivotalmolecularandimmunologicalcharacteristics distinguishingresponders,non-responders,andrecurrentcases;and3)exploringstrategiestosensitize tumorstoimmunotherapy.Inthispresentation,asummaryofourlaboratoryresearchwithcoloncancer modelsinthecontextofexistingandemergingknowledgewillbepresented.TheroleofNF-kB, cytokineandantigenpresentationmechanismsduringchemotherapy,anddirectionsforfuturework willbediscussed
Tuesday,September30-ResearchTalksSession1
Session1:StrategiesTacklingDrugResistantandMetastaticCancers
Tumormetastasissuppressorasmultifunctionalmediatoroftumormicroenvironment,chemoresistanceandmetastasis
Presenter:HongheWang,PhD TuskegeeUniversity
Metastasisreferstotheprocessofcancercellsmovefromaprimarysiteandgrowinnearbyordistant locations.Metastasistootherorgansisasignificantcontributortocancermorbidityandmortality.The studyofmetastasissuppressorsdemonstratedthatatboththecellularandmolecularlevelsmetastasis formationisadynamicprocessandmetastasissuppressorscanbeinvolvedinavarietyofstepsinthe metastaticcascade.KISS1,aknownmetastasissuppressor,playsacriticalroleininhibitingcancercell spreadinvariousmalignanciessuchasmelanoma,bladder,ovarian,andprostatecancers.However,its functioniscontext-dependent,particularlyinbreastcancer,whereitsimpactvariesaccordingtothe hormonereceptorstatus.
WhileKISS1generallysuppressesmetastasis,itscontradictoryroleindifferentcancersremains complexandrequiresfurtherinvestigationtofullyelucidateitsfunctions.HereweexploreKISS1its receptorKISS1R’sroleinregulatingtherapeuticresponse,tumormicroenvironmentinteractions,and metastasis.UnderstandinghowKISS1anditsreceptorinfluencetheseprocessescouldprovidea rationaletodesigntherapeuticinterventionstospecificallycontrolmetastasisformationindifferent cancers. ABSTRACTS
Session2:EnvironmentalDeterminantsofCancerRisk
EnvironmentalDeterminantsandCancerSurgery:Challenges,Impacts,andStrategiesforResilient Care
Presenter:ShaneetaJohnson,MD,MBA,FACS,FICS,FASMBS
MeharryMedicalCollege
Eachyear,cancercausesapproximately10milliondeathsglobally.Thismortalityrateisexacerbatedby theevolvingthreatofclimatechangeonhealthcaresystemsandpatientcare.Itisestimatedthat70%to 90%ofthemostcommoncancersinhumansarelinkedtoextrinsicfactors,suchasenvironmental pollutants
Environmentalimpacts likeoutdoorandindoorairpollution,extremeheat,andsevereweatherevents includingflooding,wildfires,tornadoes,andhurricanes significantlyaffecthealthoutcomes.Air pollutionaloneisresponsibleforaboutsevenmillionprematuredeathsannually,oftenduetothe disruptionofhealthservices.TheWorldHealthOrganizationidentifiesclimatechangeasthemost significantthreattohealth,yettheimpactofenvironmentalfactorsonphysical,economic,mental,and socialhealthisfrequentlyoverlooked.
Extremeweatherevents,worseningairpollution,extremeheat,sealevelrise,flooding,andchangesin waterandfoodqualityandsupplyallimpactthehealthofcancerpatients.Extremeweathereventsand worseningairqualityposesignificantchallengesforhealthcareproviders,affectinginfrastructure,access tomedications,andcancercaredeliveryForinstance,HurricanesHeleneandMiltonin2024caused widespreaddamagetohealthcareservicesintheUnitedStates,impactingcancertreatment.
Theseclimate-relatedfactorscontributetodelaysindiagnosisanddecreasedaccesstocare,resultingin poorerpatientoutcomes.Surgicalinterventioniscrucialformanycancerpatients,buttherelationship betweenclimatechangeandcancersurgicalcareremainsunderexplored,evenasclimatedisruptions threatensafeandtimelycaredeliveryWeexaminetheharmfulimpactsattheintersectionofclimate changeandcancersurgery,exploringhowairpollutionandextremeweatherdisruptsurgicalcareand affectpatientoutcomes.Lastly,weproposemitigationandadaptationstrategiestoreducethefuture impactofclimatechangeoncancersurgicalcare.
EnvironmentalExposuresandPediatricCancerRisk Presenter:NicoleDeziel,PhD YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
Incidenceofseveralchildhoodandearly-onsetcancershasbeenrising,yetenvironmentalriskfactors remainlargelyunidentified.Thispresentationwillhighlightongoingresearchexaminingtheroleof environmentalexposures,includingendocrine-disruptingchemicalsandpollutantsassociatedwithoil andgasdevelopment,inrelationtopediatriccancerrisk.Usingarangeofexposureassessment methods,includinggeospatialmodelingandbiologicalmonitoring,andlarge,registry-basedstudies, thesefindingsaimtoadvanceunderstandingofmodifiableenvironmentalcontributorstopediatric cancerandinformstrategiesforpublichealthaction.
ABSTRACTS Session3:CancerCareOutcomes
DecodingCancerDisparities:SpatialMulti-OmicsInsightsinAfricanAncestryPatients
Presenter:IsraElhussin,MD,MSc,PhD
TuskegeeUniversity
Prostatecancer(PCa)isamolecularlyheterogeneousdiseasemarkedbypronouncedracialdisparities, withmenofAfricanancestryfacingdisproportionatelyhigherratesofaggressivediseaseandmortality. Oneclinicallyrelevantmolecularsubtype,definedbymutationsinthespeckle-typepoxvirusandzinc fingerprotein(SPOP),ispresentinapproximately15%ofprostatecancer(PCa)casesandismore prevalentinpopulationsofAfricanancestryThesemutationsimpairubiquitin-mediateddegradation pathways,includingthosethatregulateimmunecheckpointssuchasPD-L1,potentiallyrendering tumorsmoresusceptibletoimmunotherapy.Yet,immunecheckpointinhibitorshaveshownlimited efficacyinunselectedPCacohorts,underscoringtheneedtoconsidertumormicroenvironment(TME) andancestry-specificbiology.SpatialtranscriptomicanalysesrevealthatSPOP-mutanttumorsin patients of African ancestry exhibit a profoundly reprogrammed immune microenvironment, characterized by enhanced PD-1 signaling, elevated interferon activity, and the accumulation of immunosuppressiveCD14⁺/CD163⁺myeloid-derivedsuppressorcells(MDSCs),especiallywithinthe tumor-adjacentstroma.ThesefeaturessuggestamechanismofimmuneexclusionandTcellexhaustion drivenbyancestry-specificstromalremodeling.Byintegratingspatialtranscriptomicsandproteomics withcomputationalmodelingandpatient-derivedxenograftsfromindividualsofAfricanancestry,this studyuncoverskeystromal–immunesignalingnetworks,includingIL-6,TGF-β,andCXCL12,that drive immune suppression and resistance to therapy Ultimately, these findings advance our understandingofthespatialandmoleculardeterminantsofimmuneevasioninSPOP-mutantprostate cancer(PCa)andofferapathforwardforprecisionimmunotherapystrategiesaimedatreducing disparitiesandimprovingoutcomesinAfricanancestrypopulations.
ABSTRACTS AssuringEquityinAIforCancerResearch:LessonsfromHistory,ImperativesfortheFuture Presenter:FazalKhan,MD,JD MeharryMedicalCollege
Artificialintelligence(AI)holdstransformativepotentialforcancerresearch,yetwithoutdeliberate equitysafeguardsitrisksperpetuatingtheverydisparitiesthathavelongshadowedmedicalinnovation. ThispresentationsituatescurrentAIbioethicalchallengeswithinahistoricalcontinuumofbiomedical abuses includingtheHavasupaiTribegeneticdatamisuse,HenriettaLacks'snon-consensualcell harvesting, and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study that created lasting mistrust within minority communitiesandoffercriticallessonsforAIdeploymenttoday
Contemporary AI in oncology often reflects structural inequities through biased training data, underrepresentationinclinicaltrials,anddiagnosticinaccuraciesforminoritizedpopulations.HighprofilefailuressuchastheOptumriskalgorithm,Epic'ssepsismodel,andIBMWatsonforOncology demonstratehowinadequatevalidationandnon-inclusivedesigncanperpetuateinequitablehealthcare outcomes
ThistalkconnectshistoricalmedicalethicsviolationstocontemporaryAIchallenges,proposing actionableframeworkstoensureequitableinnovation.Keysolutionsincludediversity-centeredtraining datasets,comprehensivereal-worldvalidationprotocols,andequity-focusedcertificationprocesses.The presentation proposes establishing HBCU AI Assurance Labs as authentic partnerships between historicallyBlackcollegesanduniversitiesandmajoracademicmedicalcenters,emphasizingmutual capacitybuildingandsharedgovernancethatmovesbeyondtraditionaltransactionalrelationships towardtruecollaboration.Byintegratingtransparency,communityengagement,andcollaborative oversightintoAIoncologydevelopment,healthcareinstitutionscanharnessAI'srevolutionarypotential whilehonoringtheprinciplethattechnologicalprogressmustserveallpatientsequitably,leavingno communitybehindinthefightagainstcancer.
Music,MessagingandMunicipalPower:AdvancingCancerPreventionThroughCommunity-Driven SmokefreePolicyinTennessee
Presenter:MichaelCaldwell,MD,MPH
MeharryMedicalCollege
Cancerpreventioneffortsincreasinglydemandinnovative,community-centeredstrategies especially inregionshistoricallyresistanttopublichealthregulation.InTennessee,apioneeringcoalitionknown as“MusiciansforaSmokefreeNashville&Tennessee”successfullyledamovementtorepeallongstandingstate-levelpreemptionthathadprohibitedlocalsmokefreelegislationfornearlythreedecades. Thiscasestudyshowcaseshowunconventionalmessengers localmusiciansandculturalinfluencers mobilizedpublicsupport,educatedlawmakers,andredefinedadvocacynarrativestoachievealandmark policychange.
InpartnershipwithMeharryMedicalCollegeandtheAmericansNonsmokers’RightsFoundation,the coalitionreframedindoorairqualityandsecondhandsmokeexposurenotjustasoccupationalhazards, butasurgentcancer-preventionissuesaffectingperformers,patrons,andhospitalityworkersalike By groundingtheeffortinMusicCity'suniqueculturalidentity,advocatesbuiltabroad,bipartisanbaseof supportthatculminatedinthe2022passageofSB2219,restoringlocalauthoritytoadoptsmokefree ordinances.Subsequently,in2023,Nashvilleenactedcomprehensivesmokefreelegislationcovering over50barsandvenues.
This public health success highlights the power of grassroots innovation, strategic community engagement,andtargetedculturalmessagingtoshiftpolicylandscapesinconservativeenvironments. GiventhatTennessee’sadultsmokingrateremainsdoublethenationalaverageandsecondhandsmoke isaknowncarcinogen,thisinitiativeoffersascalable,prevention-focusedmodelforreducingcancer burdenthroughstructuralchange.
Theprojectunderscoreshowempoweringnontraditionalvoices andrestoringlocallegislativecontrol canacceleratecancerpreventionandfostersustainablecommunityhealth.Futurecancerresearchand advocacyshouldintegratesuchcommunity-rooted,policy-drivenapproachestomaximizeimpact, equity,andpublicengagement.
YaleCancerCenter,OfficeofCollaborativeExcellence
FayeA.Rogers,PhD ProfessorofTherapeuticRadiology
AssociateCancerCenterDirector,CollaborativeExcellence AssociateDirector,YaleMD-PhDProgram Director,YaleBioMedAmgenScholarsProgram faye.rogers@yale.edu
KarenDSouza,PhD ProgramManager karen.dsouza@yale.edu
YaleSchoolofMedicine,OfficeofCollaborativeExcellence
DarinA.Latimore,MD
DeputyDeanofCollaborativeExcellence AssociateProfessor,GeneralInternalMedicine darin.latimore@yale.edu
MicheleCarpenter,MBA SeniorProgramManager michele.carpenter@yale.edu
YaleSchoolofNursing XiaomeiS.Cong,PhD,RN,FAAN
AssociateDeanofResearchandBeatriceRenfieldProfessorofNursing DeputyDirector(Nursing),YaleCenterforClinicalInvestigation(YCCI) xiaomei.cong@yale.edu
YaleSchoolofPublicHealth MelindaIrwin,PhD,MPH
AssociateDeanofResearchandSusanDwightBlissProfessorof Epidemiology
DeputyDirector,YaleCenterforClinicalInvestigation DeputyDirector,YaleCancerCenter melinda.irwin@yale.edu
YaleUniversity,OfficeoftheProvost LakiaScott,PhD
AssistantProvostforFacultyDevelopment lakia.scott@yale.edu
TracyEdwards
SeniorExecutiveAssistant tracy.edwards@yale.edu
HamptonUniversity NeelamAzad,PhD
VicePresidentforResearchatHamptonUniversity UniversityEndowedProfessorofPharmacy neelam.azad@hamptonu.edu
DamienBevelle,JD
AssistantProfessor&DirectorofHamptonUniversityPre-LawInstitute InstitutionalLiaisonforHampton-YalePartnership damien.bevelle@hamptonu.edu
AnandIyer,PhD,MS,MBA
ProfessorandDean,SchoolofPharmacy AssistantDeanofAcademicandStudentAffairs anand.iyer@hamptonu.edu
MengistuShukare,PhD
AssistantProfessorofBiochemistry DepartmentofChemistryandBiochemistry mengistu.shukare@hamptonu.edu
ChristopherSinesi,MD
MedicalDirector,Oncologist HamptonUniversityProtonCancerInstitute
JuanSebastianYakisich,MD,PhD
AssistantProfessor
DepartmentofPharmaceuticalSciences,SchoolofPharmacy juan.yakisich@hamptonu.edu
MeharryMedicalCollege WhitneyBarnett,PhD,MPH
AssistantProfessor
DepartmentofPublicHealth,SchoolofGlobalHealth whitney.barnett@mmc.edu
MichaelC.Caldwell,MD,MPH
AssociateVP,VaccineResearch&Education OfficeforResearchandInnovation ProfessorBiomedicalSciences,SchoolofGraduateStudies
ProfessorPopulationHealth,SchoolofGlobalHealth mccaldwell@mmc.edu
DanielDawes,JD
FoundingDean,SchoolofGlobalHealth SeniorVicePresident,GlobalHealth ddawes@mmc.edu
NelsonDunlap,JD
ViceDean,SchoolofGlobalHealth VP,PublicPolicy&ExternalAffairs ndunlap@mmc.edu
AmadouGaye,PhD
Chair,DepartmentofIntegrativeGenomicsandEpidemiology AssociateProfessor,SchoolofGraduateStudies amadou.gaye@mmc.edu
MeharryMedicalCollege ShaneetaJohnson,MD,MBA,FACS,FICS,FASMBS
AssociateDeanandVicePresidentofGlobalHealthPartnershipsand Engagement
ProfessorofGlobalHealth,MeharrySchoolofGlobalHealth ChairandProfessorofSurgery,DepartmentofSurgery shaneeta.johnson@mmc.edu
FazalKhan,MD,JD
Chair,DepartmentofPoliticalDeterminantsofHealth ProfessorofHealthLaw,Policy&Management fazal.khan@mmc.edu
LynnC.Todman,PhD,MCP
VicePresident,HealthImpact&Strategy,CorewellHealth Cell:269-208-2254
ExecutiveAssistant:Cathy.McNeil@Corewellhealth.org
TuskegeeUniversity EhsanAbdalla,PhD,MSc,DVM
AssociateProfessorofPublicHealth
DirectorofAnalytics,DepartmentofGraduatePublicHealth eabdalla@tuskegee.edu
DeepaBedi,MD,PhD
DirectoroftheCenterforBiomedicalResearch
Professor,DepartmentofBiomedicalSciences dbedi@tuskegee.edu
VivianCarter,PhD
ProfessorandChair
DepartmentofPsychologyandSociology vcarter@tuskegee.edu
IsraEthussin,MD,MSc,PhD
Benjamin-CarverFIRSTScholar(UAB/TUPartnership)
AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofBiology CenterforBiomedicalResearch(CBR) ielhussin@tuskegee.edu
TyvetteS.Hilliard,PhD
AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofBiology CenterforBiomedicalResearch thilliard@tuskegee.edu
JuanitaHixon,PhD
PostdoctoralFellow
DepartmentofBiology-CenterforBiomedicalResearch jhixon@tuskegee.edu
TuskegeeUniversity FengyuanHuang,PhD
DataScientist,CenterforBiomedicalResearch fhuang@tuskegee.edu
Balasubramanyan(Balu)Karanam,PhD AssociateProfessorandDirectorofGenomicsLab bkaranam@tuskegee.edu
NitishKunte,PhD PostdoctoralFellow nkunte@tuskegee.edu
StacyLloyd,MPH,PhD AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofPathobiology CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine slloyd@tuskegee.edu
SunilaMahavadi,MPH,PhD AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofBiology mahavadi@tuskegee.edu
MuhammadG.KhodaryOmar,DVM,MSc,PhD Post-docResearchFellow,DepartmentofBiomedicalSciences momar8848@tuskegee.edu
TuskegeeUniversity TemesgenSamuel,DVM,PhD
Professor,DepartmentofPathobiology CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine tsamuel@tuskegee.edu
TimothyTurner,PhD
AssociateVPforResearch,CenterforBiomedicalResearch tturner2@tuskegee.edu
HongheWang,PhD
ProfessorandAssistantDepartmentChair DepartmentofBiology hwang@tuskegee.edu
YaleUniversity MichaelCecchini,MD
AssociateProfessorofMedicine(MedicalOncology) Co-Director,ColorectalProgramintheCenterforGastrointestinal Cancers;YaleCancerCenter michael.cecchini@yale.edu
SusanGueble,MD,PhD
AssistantProfessorofTherapeuticRadiology susan.gueble@yale.edu
MeganKing,PhD
AssociateDirectorforBasicResearch,YaleCancerCenter ProfessorofCellBiologyandofMolecular,CellularandDevelopmentBiology Co-Leader,DNADamageandGenomeIntegrity,YaleCancerCenter AssociateCancerCenterDirector,BasicScience megan.king@yale.edu
MaryamLustberg,MD,MPH Director,CenterforBreastCancer;Chief,BreastMedicalOncology ProfessorofMedicine(MedicalOncologyandHematology) maryam.lustberg@yale.edu
XiaomeiMa,PhD
InterimDepartmentChairandProfessorofEpidemiology(ChronicDiseases) Co-Leader,CancerPreventionandControl,YaleCancerCenter xiaomei.ma@yale.edu
DonNguyen,PhD
AssociateProfessorofPathologyandMedicalOncology Co-Leader,CancerSignalingNetworks,YaleCancerCenter don.nguyen@yale.edu
DanielP.Petrylak,MD
ProfessorofMedicine(MedicalOncology)andofUrology daniel.petrylak@yale.edu
KaterinaPoliti,PhD
JosephA.andLucilleK.MadriProfessorofPathologyandMedicine (MedicalOncology)
ScientificDirector,CenterforThoracicCancers Co-Leader,CancerSignalingNetworksResearchProgram katerina.politi@yale.edu
YaleSchoolofNursing
HerminePoghosyan,PhD,MPH,FAAN
AssociateProfessor YaleSchoolofNursing hermine.poghosyan@yale.edu
Xuehong(Hong)Zhang,MBBS,MSc,ScD
FlorenceWardProfessorofNursingandAssociateDeanforResearch ProfessorofEpidemiology,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth xuehong.zhang@yale.edu
YaleSchoolofPublicHealth
NicoleDeziel,PhD,MHS
AssociateProfessorofEpidemiology(EnvironmentalHealthSciences) Co-Director,YaleCenterforPerinatal,PediatricandEnvironmental Epidemiology(CPPEE) nicole.deziel@yale.edu
MichaelaA.Dinan,PhD
Professor,DepartmentofEpidemiologyChronicDisease,YSPH AssociateCancerCenterDirector,CancerResearchEducation&Training Co-Leader,CancerPreventionandControlProgram,YaleCancerCenter Co-Director,CancerOutcomes,PublicPolicy&EffectivenessResearch (COPPER)Center,YaleSchoolofMedicine michaela.dinan@yale.edu
CarolineH.Johnson,PhD
AssociateProfessorofEpidemiology(EnvironmentalHealthSciences) caroline.johnson@yale.edu
MichaelLeapman,MD,MHS
AssociateProfessorofUrology ClinicalProgramLeader,Prostate&UrologicCancersProgram YaleCancerCenter
AssistantProfessor,ChronicDiseaseEpidemiology michael.leapman@yale.edu
JeffreyTownsend,PhD
ElihuProfessorofBiostatisticsandProfessorofEcologyandEvolutionary Biology,YaleSchoolofPublicHealth Co-Leader,Genomics,Genetics,&EpigeneticsResearchProgram YaleCancerCenter jeffrey.townsend@yale.edu
