Honors, Awards + Achievements
Oluwadamilola Oladeru, M.D.
Oluwadamilola Oladeru, M.D., was recognized by NRG Oncology as a Health Equity New Investigator Underrepresented Minority Scholar.
Young-Rock Hong, Ph.D.
Young-Rock Hong, Ph.D., was recognized by the College of Public Health & Health Professions by Dean Michael Perri for his innovation & excellence in research with a Dean’s Citation Paper Award.
Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D.
Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D. will address Precision Immunotherapy Targeting Malignant Brain Tumors in a keynote address at the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Brain Cancer.
Daniel Indelicato, M.D.
Daniel Indelicato, M.D., has been awarded a $160,000 NIH/NCI grant for the US Pediatric Proton Therapy study. It is part of a broader effort by the Radiation Epidemiology Branch of the NCI.
Paul Castillo Caro, M.D.
Paul Castillo Caro, M.D., was awarded a $50,000 American Brain Tumor Association grant for his study titled, “Targeting Primary CNS B cell Lymphomas Unique Antigens Using Novel Immunotherapy.” The purpose of this study is the use of tumor specific B cell receptor clonotype mRNA-NPs via local administration to enhanced brain tumor rejection.
Recently, he was selected to become a member of the Scientific Review Committee with North American Pediatric Aplastic Anemia Consortium (NAPAAC).
Additionally, he was awarded a $109,165 per year Career Development Award for his study titled, “Novel CAR T cell therapy in refractory solid tumors.” The purpose of this study is the use of a novel CAR T platform to overcome resistance of refractory solid tumor models.
Lastly, he received a $35,000 Children’s Miracle Network grant for his study titled, “Novel T cell activation using RNA-electroporated APC.” The goal of this study is to evaluate a new and versatile platform, using RNA transfected antigen presenting cells from whole PBMCs, to activate T cells specific against TCRVB families of T lymphoid hematological malignancies.
Christian Jobin, Ph.D.
Christian Jobin, Ph.D., presented “Intestinal Bacteriome in Carcinogenesis and Treatment,” at the virtual Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center meeting.
He also presented “Obesity-associated bacteriome and development of colorectal cancer: How does it work?” at an Obesity, Microbiome and Cancer NCI Webinar.
Dejana Braithwaite, Ph.D.
Dejana Braithwaite, Ph.D., serves as a member of the Scientific Committee, International Conference for Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR). Dr. Braithwaite received recent media coverage regarding the paper on breast density and breast cancer risk from STAT News, ABC-News interview and KYW Interview.
Ryan M. Thomas, M.D.
Ryan M. Thomas, M.D., was elected to the UF Promotion and Tenure Committee, and appointed to the Editorial Board Journal of Surgical Surgery.
Zhongwu Guo, Ph.D., PDF, Pharm.D
Zhongwu Guo, Ph.D., PDF, Pharm.D, has received the ACS Carbohydrate Division 2022 Melville L. Wolfrom Award. This award recognizes one’s outstanding service and contributions to the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Dr. Guo’s research interest is focused on developing novel synthetic methods for carbohydrates, glycolipids, and other glycoconjugates, as well as their applications to biological studies and vaccine development.
Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D.
Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D. provided mastery-based simulation training for the incoming class of three UF Urology residents in transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy to more accurately sample the prostate for the purpose of detecting prostate cancer.
Sherise Rogers, M.D., Oluwadamilola Oladeru, M.D.
Sherise Rogers, M.D., and Oluwadamilola Oladeru, M.D., were each awarded the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Program award.
Juan Guan, Ph.D., Xin Tang, Ph.D.
Juan Guan, Ph.D. and Xin Tang, Ph.D., poster titled, “Investigating YAP Dynamics in Response to Mechanical Stimuli in Human Lung Cancer Cells,” was accepted at the 2021 BMES Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Xin Tang, Ph.D., Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D.
Xin Tang, Ph.D., and Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D., poster titled, “Human Colon Cancer Cells Show Mechanical-microenvironment-dependent Spontaneous Calcium Waves,” was accepted in the 2021 BMES Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Michael Gutter, Ph.D., Thomas George, M.D., Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D.
Michael Gutter, Ph.D., Thomas George, M.D. and Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., have the first jointly sponsored UFHCC/UF IFAS graduate intern in DC this fall. Maya Kedmi, MS Student in Family Youth and Community Sciences, Pre Med, will be working on telemedicine policy and other related issues.
Mei He Ph.D., Piyush Jain Ph.D., Brian Ramnaraign, M.D.
Mei He Ph.D., Piyush Jain Ph.D. and Brian Ramnaraign, M.D. received a UFHCC Pilot grant for their study title, “Urine- based early diagnosis of bladder cancer,” which aims to characterize bladder cancer patient urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs) for seeking important EV-based biomarkers in early detection of bladder cancer and develop a highly sensitive and rapid point-of-care CRISPR-based test for detecting different stages of bladder cancer.
Julie Bradley, M.D., Perry Johnson, Ph.D., Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D.
Julie Bradley, M.D., Perry Johnson, Ph.D. and Samsun Lampotang, Ph.D. received a $100,000 grant from the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to design a MixRGuided Radiotherapy application for a commercial off-the-shelf device costing less than $4,000.
Carma Bylund, Ph.D., Susan Bluck, Ph.D., Diana Wilkie, Ph.D., Yingwei Yao, Ph.D., Sheri Kittelson, M.D.
Carma Bylund, Ph.D., Susan Bluck, Ph.D., Diana Wilkie, Ph.D., Yingwei Yao, Ph.D. and Sheri Kittelson, M.D. received a $1,032,069 NCI grant for their study titled, “Dignity Therapy for Older Cancer Patients: Identifying Mechanisms and Moderators.”
Janice Krieger Ph.D., Stephen Anton Ph.D., Shu Wang Ph.D., Benjamin Lok Ph.D., Carolyn Tucker Ph.D.
Janice Krieger Ph.D., Stephen Anton Ph.D., Shu Wang Ph.D., Benjamin Lok Ph.D. and Carolyn Tucker Ph.D., received a $2,167,284 grant for their study titled, “Tailoring Recruitment Communication using Virtual Human Technology to Increase Participation of Older Minority Adults in Clinical Trials.”