Eleanore Hansen | hans6999@umn.edu

Poster Location: 9

Mentor: Irina Stepanov, PhD

Bio: Eleanore Hansen is a 3rd year PhD student in Irina Stepanov's laboratory where she researches the relationship between sugars in cigarette tobacco and toxicity of the smoke. Eleanore also serves as a graduate assistant for MCC's Institute for Global Cancer Prevention Research.

Tobacco Industry Research on the Contribution of Sugars to Smoke Toxicity

Authors: Hansen, EG and Stepanov, I

Link to Abstract

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Asad Khan | khan0826@umn.edu

Poster Location: 13

Mentor: Tianshun Zhang, PhD

Bio: A young, motivated researcher with a recent Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and substantial research experience and publications in the areas of Cancer Biology / Cancer Genetics & Gene toxicology.

The mechanistic role of TOPK in solar UV-induced skin damage and carcinogenesis

Authors: Asad U. Khan1*, Qiushi Wang1*, Eunmiri Roh2, Sally E. Dickinson3, Georg T. Wondrak4, Clara N. Curiel3,5,6, Ann M. Bode1+, Tianshun Zhang1+

Link to Abstract

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Michael Sausen | sause023@umn.edu

Poster Location: 14

Mentor: Silvia Balbo, PhD

Chemical characterization of DNA damage in oral cells of Fanconi Anemia patients

Authors: Sausen MC, Stornetta A, Maertens LA, Villalta PW, MacMillan ML, Balbo S

Link to Abstract

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Abdur Rahim | rahim032@umn.edu

Poster Location: 20

Mentor: Natalia Tretyakova, PhD

Bio: Postdoc, Department of Medicinal Chemistry

TET1 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in the lung through antitumor immunity

Authors: Rahim A, Ruis B, Rajczewski A, Tretyakova NY.

Link to Abstract

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Seema Yadav | yadav172@umn.edu

Poster Location: 31

Mentor: Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD

Maternal obesity increases mammary tumorigenesis and reduce SCFA receptors level in female offspring

Authors: Yadav S, Ozgul-Onal M, Jolejole TKB, Andrade FO, Verma V, Hilakivi-Clarke L

Link to Abstract

Courtney Baar | baarx012@umn.edu

Poster Location: 3

Mentor: Deepali Sachdev, PhD

IGF1R targeted NK cell engager kills proliferating and quiescent hormone receptor+ breast cancers

Authors: Baar CS, Chiu E, Johnson IR, Soignier Y, Miller JS, Felices M, Sachdev D

Link to Abstract

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Zhijun Guo | guox0035@umn.edu

Poster Location: 8

Mentor: David A. Potter, MD PhD

Fulvestrant, palbociclib, and letrozole resistant MCF-7 AC1 cells upregulate CYP3A4 and (±)14,15-EET

Authors: Guo ZJ, Lei JX, Makovec A, Jayaraman, S, Hawse, J, Lange C, Ambrose E, Georg G, D'Assoro, T, Goetz, MP, and Potter, DA

Link to Abstract

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Breanna Hetchler | hetch020@umn.edu

Poster Location: 10

Mentor: Andrew Skildum, PhD

Targeting the Warburg Effect Blocks Metastatic Potential in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Authors: Hetchler BR, Perrotti SS, Hemp DW, Baumhauer NM, Mujteba SM, Skildum AJ

Link to Abstract

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Kelsey Holdaway | skluz032@umn.edu

Poster Location: 11

Mentor: Gunda Georg, PhD

Bio: I am a Medicinal Chemistry PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Gunda Georg. My research focuses on the development of selective, covalent inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 as a therapeutic treatment for certain types of cancer such as breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.

Development of Covalent, Allosteric Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2

Authors: Holdaway KA, Wang N, Faber EB, Georg GI

Link to Abstract

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Ali Mohammad | moha1722@umn.edu

Poster Location: 16

Mentor: David J. Odde, PhD

Bio: I'm Ali Mohammad, a second-year Ph.D. student at the University of Minnesota. My admission is from the mechanical engineering dept. but I'm working in Dave Odde's lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. currently working on the topic of T cell migration modeling.

Developing a biophysical hybrid model for simulating different modes of migration in T-cells

Authors: Ali Mohammad

Link to Abstract

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Maryam Nazari | nazar095@umn.edu

Poster Location: 18

Mentor: Gunda Georg, PhD

Development of Bivalent Inhibitors of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 2  for Cancer and Male Contraception

Authors: Nazari M, Holdaway KA, Georg GI

Link to Abstract

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Joel Pardo | Pardo034@umn.edu

Poster Location: 19

Mentor: Douglas Yee, MD

Examining APOBEC3B in TCGA and ICGC Breast Cancer Datasets Reveals Increased Immune  Infiltration

Authors: Pardo J, Temiz NA, Yee D

Link to Abstract

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Bhumika Rajoria | bhumi003@umn.edu

Poster Location: 22

Mentor: Douglas Yee, MD; Deepali Sachdev, PhD

IGF and Insulin System in Regulating Hallmarks of Cancer

Authors: Bhumika R, Douglas Y

Link to Abstract

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Shilpi Singh | sing1066@umn.edu

Poster Location: 26

Mentor: Gatikrushna Singh, PhD

Molecular mechanism of miRNA-603 release induced radiation resistance in glioblastoma

Authors: Singh Shilpi,  Chen Clark C., Singh Gatikrushna

Link to Abstract

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Jennifer Tuokkola | tuokk002@umn.edu

**Top 10 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 29

Mentor: Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD

FGFR signaling alters cholesterol metabolism to promote the progression and metastasis of TNBC

Authors: Tuokkola JE, Schwertfeger KL

Link to Abstract

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Chinasa Ufondu | ufond002@umn.edu

Poster Location: 30

Mentor: Julie Ostrander, PhD

Bio: Chinasa is a 3rd year PhD student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPAT) department. Her research in the Ostrander lab focuses on how interactions between E-cadherin loss and estrogen receptor could drive tumorigenesis in invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. She loves to sing and read self-help books.

Crosstalk between E-cadherin loss and estrogen receptor drives tumorigenesis in lobular carcinoma.

Authors: Ufondu CA, Musick M, Sikora MJ, Ostrander JH

Link to Abstract

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Tingyuan Yang | yang6906@umn.edu

Poster Location: 32

Mentor: Ameeta Kelekar, PhD

Human Bcl-2 protein Noxa: Mediator of both Metabolic Reprogramming and Apoptosis in CD8+T Cells

Authors: Yang T, Sharma H, Pennell C, and Kelekar A

Link to Abstract

Elisabet Ampudia Mesias | ampud001@umn.edu

Poster Location: 2

Mentor: Okay Saydam, PhD

The OTX2 gene triggers leptomeningeal metastasis by regulating the mTORC2 signaling  in MB Group 3.

Authors: Elisabet Ampudia Mesias, Charles S. Cameron, Eunjae Yoo, Marcus Kelly, Sarah M. Anderson, Juan E. Abrahante Lloréns, Christopher L. Moertel, Hyungshin Yim, David J. Odde, Nurten Saydam and Okay Saydam

Link to Abstract

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Daniel Chang | chang682@umn.edu

Poster Location: 5

Mentor: Zohar Sachs, MD/PhD

Bayesian networks modeling identifies a reliance of TP53 mutant AML on NF kappa B signaling

Authors: Chang D, Noble-Orcutt K, Lue Antony M, Lee Y, He F, Sachs K, Myers CL, Sachs Z

Link to Abstract

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Zhiyan (Silvia) Liu | liu01466@umn.edu

Poster Location: 7

PARPi selectively kills spliceosome mutant leukemias through R-loop-associated genomic instability

Authors: Liu ZS, Sinha S, Bannister M, Song A, Arriaga-Gomez E, McKeeken AJ, Bonner EA, Hanson BK, Sarchi M, Takashima K, Zong D, Corral VM, Nguyen E, Yoo J, Chiraphapphaiboon W, Leibson C, McMahon MC, Rai S, Swisher EM, Sachs Z, Chatla S, Stirewalt DL, Deeg HJ, S

Link to Abstract

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Rick Jansen 

Poster Location: 12

Mentor: Rick Jansen, PhD

Bio: Dr. Jansen is a biostatistician with expertise in genomic epidemiology and epidemiologic methodology development. He has a independent research program focused on using genomic data to understand development and progression of pancreatic cancer.

Common mutations guided integrative multi-omics analysis of Pancreatic ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Authors: Adeleke D, Gomes R, Jansen RJ

Link to Abstract

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Yoonkyu Lee | leex5085@umn.edu

**Top 3 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 15

Mentor: Chad Myers, PhD and Zohar Sachs, MD, PhD

Identifying self-renewing subpopulation of human leukemia stem cells using scRNAseq analysis

Authors: Lee Y, Wang W, Starr TK, Noble-Orcutt KE, Myers CL, Sachs Z

Link to Abstract

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Andrew Rajczewski | rajcz001@umn.edu

Poster Location: 21

Mentor: Tim Griffin, PhD

Bio: I am a New York transplant who completed a PhD in the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics department at the University of Minnesota, after which I stayed on as a postdoc at the Center for Metabolomics and Proteomics.

Metaproteomic changes in the lung proteome in response to cigarette smoke exposure.

Authors: Rajczewski AT, Mehta S, Jagtap PD, Griffin TJ

Link to Abstract

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Margarita Romanenko | roman470@umn.edu

Poster Location: 24

Mentor: Julia Davydova, MD, PhD

Bio: I earned my PhD in Siberia, at Novosibirsk State University, and worked for a biotechnology company called SibEnzyme, where I developed new restriction modification enzymes. Trained as a virologist at the famous Virology Center “Vector”, I moved to the University of Minnesota (UMN) in 2020 to join Julia Davydova’s lab. Since then, I’ve been focusing on oncolytic adenoviruses, developing preclinical models for their more effective testing.

Characterization of Preclinical Models for Oncolytic Adenoviruses

Authors: Romanenko M, Schappa Faustich J, Robert S, Inoko K, Graham M, Carney JP, Davydova J

Link to Abstract

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Madilyn Stahl | stahl154@umn.edu

Poster Location: 27

Mentor: David Largaespada, PhD

Bio: Madilyn Stahl is a 2nd year PhD candidate in the MCDBG program in David Largaespada's lab studying Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors. She graduated from UMN with a BS in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development while she worked in Deborah Ferrington's lab studying Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Investigating the Loss of H3K27me3 via PRC2 as a Cause of Genome Instability in MPNST

Authors: Stahl MR, Draper GM, Williams KB, Larsson AT, Sokolowski M, Clarke DJ, Largaespada DA

Link to Abstract

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Christopher Stehn | stehn007@umn.edu

**Top 10 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 28

Mentor: David Largaespada, PhD

Bio: Chris Stehn is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the MCDB&G PhD program in David Largaespada's lab. He graduated with a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah, where he worked on mechanisms of melanoma metastasis in the lab of Sheri Holmen at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

The PRC2-Dependent and -Independent Surface Proteome of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Authors: Stehn CM, Wang L, Larsson AT, Seeman Z,  Largaespada DA

Link to Abstract

Khadar Abdi | abdik@umn.edu

Poster Location: 1

Mentor: Brandon Burbach, PhD

Bio: Khadar Abdi is from Minneapolis,MN and obtained a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Vermont in 2017. Over the past three years as a research technician in the Shimizu lab, Khadar has focused on investigating ways to improve the activation of CD8+ T cells for use in anti-tumor immunotherapy. In his free time, Khadar enjoys supporting the University of Minnesota as an emergency medical technician.

Recent TCR engagement promotes optimal resident memory formation during CD8+ adoptive T cell therapy

Authors: Abdi K, Shimizu Y, Burbach B

Link to Abstract

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Seyedehsahar Mortazavifarsani | morta022@umn.edu

**Top 10 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 17

Mentor: Vivek Verma. PhD

Enhancing CD8 T Cell Anti-Tumor Activity Through Mitochondrial Rewiring

Authors: Mortazavi Farsani SS, Soni J, Jin L, Kumar Yadav A, Hilakivi-Clarke L, Clarke R, Youngblood B, Verma V

Link to Abstract

Lorna Bittencourt | bitte052@umn.edu

Poster Location: 4

Mentor: Dana Carroll, PhD

Bio: Lorna is an enthusiastic Environmental and Health Sciences PhD student at the University of Minnesota. Originally from Brazil, she holds a psychology degree and a master's in medicine and health. Currently, her research is dedicated to developing and implementing community-based interventions on tobacco cessation in minority groups such as rural communities, as well as tobacco control policies related to menthol and filter ventilation.

Menthol and filter ventilation in cigarettes: Prevalence, harm perception, and smoking exposure

Authors: Bittencourt L, Carroll D, Tessier K, Stepanov I, Hatsukami D

Link to Abstract

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Mary Raphel Daniel | dani0947@umn.edu

Poster Location: 6

Mentor: Beshay N.Zordoky, PhD

Psychosocial stress exacerbates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicty in male mice.

Authors: Daniel MR, Grant MK, Razzolo M, Bartolomucci A, Zordoky BN

Link to Abstract

Madison Shackelford | shack061@umn.edu

Poster Location: 25

Mentor: Nicholas Zorko, MD PhD

Bio: I am a researcher who focuses on NK cell-based immunotherapies in prostate cancer under the guidance of Dr. Nicholas Zorko. My interests include exploring the impacts on hormone signaling and pathways on both the NK cell and tumor function, as well as autoimmunity, which I hope to pursue further in graduate programs. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, baking, and being surrounded by nature with my friends and dog.

B7-H3 Tri-specific Killer Engager Elicts Robust Prostate Cancer Patient NK Cell Activity in vitro

Authors: Shackelford M, Zorko N, Bozicevich A, Walker J, Rugloski J, Hinderlie P, Khaw M, Phung G, Russell A, Soigner Y, Kotz L, Bendzick L, Hwang J, Antonarakis ES, Felices M, Miller JS

Link to Abstract

Julia Meyer | meye2607@umn.edu

Poster Location: Online Only

Mentor: Shernan Holtan, MD

Bio: I am Julia Meyer, a current second year medical student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities who is interested in pursuing internal medicine. I worked alongside my faculty mentor, Dr. Shernan Holtan MD, adjunct research faculty member at the U of M, and new chief of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Sirolimus and Azole Drug Interaction Impact in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation 

Authors: Meyer J, Holtan S 

Link to Abstract

Natasha Roman Ortiz | roman449@umn.edu

Poster Location: 23

Mentor: Julie Ostrander, PhD

Bio: My name is Natasha Ivelisse Roman Ortiz, I am a fourth year graduate student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) program and I conduct my thesis research in the Ostrander lab. I am from Puerto Rico and I am passionate about reading, music, education and helping others.

Targeting breast cancer stem-like cells with oncolytic reovirus

Authors: Roman Ortiz N., Davydova J., Danthi P., Ostrander J.

Link to Abstract

Erik Moran | moran598@umn.edu

Poster Location: 19

Mentor: Natalia Tretyakova, PhD

Bio: I am a 4th year chemistry graduate student working in Natalia Tretyakova's lab. My research is focused on developing assays to measure biomarkers of exposure to tobacco smoke and other harmful species to predict disease risk. My special talents include mass spectrometry, chromatographic separations, bicycle repair, and top-tier racquetball.

Quantitative Analysis of Hemoglobin Adducts in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Authors: Moran EJ, Hurben A, Gann J, O'donnell A, Boysen G, Tretyakova N

Link to Abstract

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Itorobong Uwatt | uwatt001@umn.edu

Poster Location: 27

Mentor: Irina Stepanov

Bio: Itorobong Etebom Uwatt is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Environmental Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota and is currently working as a Research Assistant in the Stepanov Research Lab, Masonic Cancer Center. She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical biochemistry. Her research interest focuses on carcinogenic constituents of/and secondhand smoke exposure to hookah tobacco and other tobacco products.

Variation of harmful constituents in flavored hookah tobacco

Authors: Uwatt IE, Stepanov I

Link to Abstract

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Beverly Wuertz | knier003@umn.edu

Poster Location: 32

Mentor: Frank Ondrey MD PhD

Bio: I am a research scientist in the laboratory of Dr. Frank Ondrey in the department of Otolaryngology. I manage the basic science laboratory, teach laboratory science to rotation students and am the project manager for our prevention clinical trials.

Investigating Host, Variant & Microbial Peptides in Oral Carcinogenesis using Advanced Multi-omics

Authors: Wuertz BR, Kruk M, Shrestha R, Vaca Jacome AS, Mehta S, Willets M, Griffin T, Ondrey F,  Jagtap P

Link to Abstract

Madison Cocker | cocke026@umn.edu

Poster Location: 1

Mentor: Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD

Bio: Madison Cocker is a junior undergraduate student studying biochemistry and a member of the Schwertfeger Lab. She is a UROP recipient and LSSURP student.

Steps toward understanding the role of sLYVE-1 in breast cancer cell proliferation.

Authors: Cocker MC, Elfstrum AK, Schwertfeger KL

Link to Abstract

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Richard Ede | ede00002@umn.edu

Poster Location: 2

Mentor: William Pomerantz, PhD

Bio: Obtained a B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Jos, Nigeria. Currently a 3rd year Chemistry graduate student in the Pomerantz lab. Outside of lab, I enjoy visiting art museums, bouldering, and going to games.

Development of Covalent Inhibitors For PCAF As a Possible Therapeutic For Brain Cancer and HIV

Authors: Richard E, William P.

Link to Abstract

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Alexis Elfstrum | elfst022@umn.edu

Poster Location: 3

Mentor: Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD

Bio: Alexis is a 5th year PhD student in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology graduate program. She studies macrophage biology in the lab of Dr. Kaylee Schwertfeger.

LYVE-1+ macrophages modulate the extracellular matrix and contribute to mammary tumor growth

Authors: Elfstrum AK, Rumahorbo AH, Reese LE, Nelson EV, Schwertfeger KL

Link to Abstract

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Noelle Gillis | gilli431@umn.edu

Poster Location: 6

Mentor: Carol Lange, PhD

Bio: I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Lange lab. I have expertise in studying nuclear receptor biology and endocrine-related cancers using applied genomics.

Context Matters: Genomic profiling of PR isoform-specific actions in ER+ breast cancer

Authors: Gillis NE, Truong TH, Lange CA

Link to Abstract

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Olivia Kuckhahn | kanna131@umn.edu

Poster Location: 9

Mentor: Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD

Bio: Olivia graduated from Drake University with a B.S. in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology (BCMB) and Chemistry in 2021. She is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics program and joined Kaylee Schwertfeger’s lab in 2023. Olivia’s research interests include tumor cell-macrophage interactions in the breast tumor microenvironment, STAT5 signaling in macrophages, and antibody engineering to better understand and treat breast cancer.

‘MacroTools’: Enhancing the Anti-Tumor Potential of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Breast Cancer

Authors: Kuckhahn OK, Muretta JM, Schwertfeger KL

Link to Abstract

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Gabrianne Larson | lars5893@umn.edu

Poster Location: 10

Mentor: Justin Drake, PhD

Bio: Gabrianne Larson is a Researcher 1 in the Drake lab who has been performing research focusing on Androgen Receptor Splice Variants since 2019. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 2022 and will be entering an MD/PhD program in the fall.

Androgen Receptor Splice Variant Protein Quantification in Prostate Cancer Cell Models

Authors: Larson G, Sychev ZE, Plymate SR, Corey E, Balk SP, Dehm SM, Drake JM

Link to Abstract

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Su-Jeong (Crystal) Lee | lee04343@umn.edu

Poster Location: 11

Mentor: Thu Truong, PhD

Bio: Su-Jeong (Crystal) Lee is a Ph.D. student in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics at the University of Minnesota, conducting research in Truong's lab focused on therapy resistance in ER+ breast cancer. She is particularly intrigued by signaling pathways in therapy-resistant ER+ breast cancer, with a special interest in cancer stem cells. Currently, Crystal is spearheading a project aimed at identifying clonal population dynamics to develop targeted strategies for overcoming resistance in ER+ breast cancer.

Understanding Therapy Resistant Clonal Populations in ER+ Breast Cancer

Authors: Lee SJ, Temiz NA, Ostrander JH, Truong TH

Link to Abstract

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Megan Ludwig | mlludwig@umn.edu

Poster Location: 16

Mentor: Justin Drake, PhD

Proteomes of extracellular vesicles stratify by prostate cancer subtype

Authors: Ludwig ML, Arafa A, Day A, Bergom HE, Sychev Z, Horrmann A, Antonarakis E, Hwang J, Drake JM

Link to Abstract

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Jaron Magstadt | jmagstad@umn.edu

Poster Location: 17

Mentor: Kelly Makielski, DVM

Bio: Jaron Magstadt is the lab manager of and a research technician in Makielski Lab. Jaron graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2023 with a B.S. in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. Jaron's research focuses on exosome-based liquid biopsy in osteosarcoma.

Flow cytometric characterization of exosomal tetraspanins in canine osteosarcoma

Authors: Magstadt JM, Schulte AJ, Labé CH, Wojtysiak MM, Burt LE, Cook AM, Winter AL, Modiano JF, Makielski KM

Link to Abstract

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Conor Miller | mill9139@umn.edu

Poster Location: 18

Mentor: Scott M Dehm, PhD

AR mRNA Alternative Polyadenylation in Prostate Cancer

Authors: Miller CR, Tietz KT, Dehm SM

Link to Abstract

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Alexandra Quinn O'Brien | obri0768@umn.edu

Poster Location: 20

Mentor: Darko Bosnakovski, DVM PHD

Bio: Kendall and Quinn have been undergraduate research assistants in Darko Bosnakovski's Lab for the past two years. They focus primarily on cell culturing with p300/CBP inhibitors and their application towards treating Ewing and CIC-DUX4 sarcomas. Quinn will be graduating this spring with a B.S. in Biology and Kendall will be graduating this summer with a B.A. in Human Physiology.

p300/CBP Inhibitors Attenuate Oncogenesis and Induce Senescence in Ewing Sarcoma

Authors: Porter KE, O'Brien, AQ, Wei E, Bosnakovski D

Link to Abstract

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Sachi Tengse | tengs006@umn.edu

**Top 3 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 24

Mentor: Justin M Drake, PhD

Bio: Sachi is a Master's student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program. She received her B.Tech in Biotechnology from Manipal Institute of Technology, India in 2021. She is currently working on the RET kinase-ASCL1 axis in neuroendocrine prostate cancer in the Drake Lab.

ASCL1-mediated Transcriptional Regulation of RET in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer

Authors: Tengse SB, Bae SY, VanDeusen HR, Dinh QC, Bergom HE, Day A, Boytim E, Baca SC, Xie Y, Long HW, Lee JK, Ellis L, Hwang JH, Drake JM

Link to Abstract

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Chun-Ju Tsou | tsou0006@umn.edu

Poster Location: 26

Mentor: William C.K. Pomerantz, PhD

Bio: Chun-Ju is currently a graduate student in the Ph.D. program in chemistry. Her work mainly focuses on the design of bromodomain inhibitors and degraders using structural activity relationships.

Structure-based design of BPTF bromodomain inhibitors as a novel approach for anti-cancer therapy

Authors: Tsou C, Das S, Babu K, Nithianantham S, Stachowski T, Alaidi O, Fischer M, Shelat A, Pomerantz WCK

Link to Abstract

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José Valentín López | valen489@umn.edu

Poster Location: 28

Mentor: Scott Dehm, PhD

Bio: I am a fifth year M.D./Ph.D. student in the lab of Dr. Dehm at the University of Minnesota, where we study the role of the androgen receptor (AR) and alterations in AR signaling in prostate cancer development and progression. Before joining the University of Minnesota, I received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. My research interests focus on prostate cancer progression to a castration-resistant state and identifying new therapeutic targets in the advanced form of the disease.

Elucidating the Role of Exogenous Fatty Acids in Ferroptosis in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

Authors: José C Valentín López, Yeung Ho, Scott Dehm

Link to Abstract

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Erdong Wei | ewei@umn.edu

Poster Location: 31

Mentor: Darko Bosnakovski, PhD, Professor

Bio: As a postdoctoral researcher in their first year, I am currently focused on advancing the understanding and treatment of Ewing Sarcoma. My work is driven by a profound commitment to human medicine, with a special emphasis on cancer therapy. This dedication reflects my broader goal of contributing meaningful insights into combating one of the most challenging diseases affecting people today.

Inhibiting the EWS/FLI1/P300/CBP Axis as a Targeted Strategy for Ewing Sarcoma

Authors: Erdong W, Ana M, Quin O, Kendell P, MacKenzie, Haseeb A, Usuk J, Ajay V, Lauren M, Darko B

Link to Abstract

Heather Hanson | hans4784@umn.edu

Poster Location: 7

Mentor: Louis Mansky, PhD

Actin cytoskeleton dynamics regulates human retrovirus replication

Authors: Hanson HM, Baxter G, Mansky LM

Link to Abstract

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Amy Treeful | tree0002@umn.edu

Poster Location: 25

Mentor: Jaime Modiano, VMD, PhD

Bio: My research focuses on canine lymphoma, with special interests in developing early detection tools, understanding the immune response in the tumor microenvironment, and investigating the relationship between the microbiome and the response to immunotherapy. I hope to identify biomarkers and risk factors that will create opportunities to employ effective early interventions that will reduce and ultimately prevent cancer in companion animals. Furthermore, this research will serve as a comparative translational model for similar innovations in human cancer.

Intercepting canine lymphoma: Identifying cancer-permissive environments for targeted interventions

Authors: Treeful, AE, Sarver, AF, Modiano, JF

Link to Abstract

Gwen Phung | phung036@umn.edu

**Top 10 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 22

Mentor: Jeffrey Miller, PhD

Bio: Gwen Phung is a 5th year PhD student co-advised by Jeffrey Miller,MD and Martin Felices, PhD. She is interested in translational cancer immunnotherapy research and understanding the interactions between tumor infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Overcoming NK cell dysfunction in prostate cancer with a Tri-specific Killer Engager

Authors: Phung SK, Zorko N, Soignier Y, Waller R, Shackelford M, Walker J , Nelson T, Selleck C, Bendzick L, Kotz L, Kile Q, Bozicevich A, Miller S, Khaw M, Luo X, Antonarakis E, Kennedy PR, Miller JS, Felices M

Link to Abstract

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Marieke van Breukelen | mvanbreu@umn.edu

Poster Location: 29

Mentor: Martin Felices, PhD

Bio: Marieke van Breukelen is a visiting master’s student in the Biomedical Sciences program from the Radboud University located in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She is performing her final master internship at the Masonic Cancer Center under supervision of Melissa Khaw and Dr. Martin Felices. She is passionate about translational research and the prospects of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

Overcoming ADAM-17 mediated CD16 shedding from cryopreserved natural killer cellular products

Authors: van Breukelen M, Khaw M, Soignier Y, Walker J, Eungard E, Kennedy P, Miller JS, Martin Felices

Link to Abstract

Mina Y. George | georgem@umn.edu

Poster Location: 5

Mentor: Beshay Zordoky, PhD

Empagliflozin Use in Multiple Myeloma; Two Birds with One Stone

Authors: George MY, Dabour MS, Zordoky BN

Link to Abstract

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Xuan Li | li003429@umn.edu

**Top 10 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 12

Mentor: Rachel Vogel, PhD

Does cytomegalovirus infection play a role in patient-reported symptoms in ovarian cancer survivors?

Authors: Li X, Brown K, Honeyfield K, Hunter-Schlichting D, Gruner M, Teoh D, Geller M, Nelson H, Vogel RI

Link to Abstract

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Shuo Wang | wang8310@umn.edu

Poster Location: 30

Mentor: Anna Prizment, PhD and Anne Blaes, MD

Bio: I am a post-doc at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. My research focuses on using biomarkers of aging to understand the aging process before and after cancer.

Aging measures and cancer in the Health and Retirement Study

Authors: Wang S, Prizment A, Moshele P, Vivek S, Blaes AH, Nelson HH, Thyagarajan B

Link to Abstract

Caryn Libbert | wolte186@umn.edu

Poster Location: 13

Mentor: Shernan Holtan, MD

Bio: Caryn is a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota. She received her undergraduate degree in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development from the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. She is interested in research involving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Activity and sleep in patients with frailty undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Authors: Libbert CR, He F, El Jurdi N, Fagrelius H, Juckett M, Maakaron J, Juckett W, Evanoff N, Dengel DR, Holtan SG

Link to Abstract

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John Roy Lozada | lozad026@umn.edu

Poster Location: 15

Mentor: Frank Cichocki, PhD

Bio: John is currently a 3rd year student in the MD/PhD program, advised by Drs. Cichocki, Miller, and Hwang. His thesis research focuses on applying state-of-the-art multi-omics technologies to understand and enhance NK cell functions against cancer.

A Comparative Survey of Intra-Tumoral and Circulating Natural Killer Cell Subsets Across Cancer

Authors: Lozada JR, Ali A, Boytim E, Day A, Luo C, Kennedy P, Khaw M, Phung SK, Myers JA, Bergom H, Zorko N, Felices M, Miller JS, Hwang JH, & Cichocki F

Link to Abstract

Josh Fry | fryxx094@umn.edu

**Top 3 Selected Abstract

Poster Location: 4

Mentor: Rendong Yang, PhD

Bio: I am currently a BICB PhD student under the supervision of Rendong Yang. My research focuses on cancer genomics and how post-transcriptional regulation of RNA contributes to the hallmarks of cancer.

Novel super-enhancer-associated lncRNA regulates MYC enhancers and promotes cancer progression

Authors: Yang Y*, Wang TY*, Li Y*, Fry J*, Ren Y, Meng Q, Guo Q, Hoeppner LH, Weiner AB, Lotan TL, Yee D, Schaeffer EM, Dehm SM, Cao Q, Yang R

Link to Abstract

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Brooke Hirsch | hirsc367@umn.edu

Poster Location: 8

Mentor: Anne Melzer, MD, MS

Implementation of Centralized Support for Community Care Lung Cancer Screening

Authors: Hirsch BH, Baldomero AK, Schaefer JR, Melzer AC

Link to Abstract

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Eduardo Osegueda | Osegu008@umn.edu

Poster Location: 21

Mentor: Dori Cross, PhD

Bio: I am a second-year PhD student at the School of Public Health. As an implementation scientist I am passionate about finding ways to translate research into clinical practice. More specifically I am interested in helping better integrate social care within healthcare to improve the lives of patients.

Opportunities in using a novel referral platform to connect cancer survivors to community resources

Authors: Osegueda ER, Haynes D, Newcomer K, Sarkin C, Trempe E, Karaca-Mandic P, Parsons H, Iwan A, Begnaud A, Cross D

Link to Abstract