Honors, Awards + Achievements
UF Health Cancer Center at ASCO GI 2022
The UF Health Cancer Center presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium that was held virtually and in-person in San Francisco, Calif., on Jan. 20-22, 2022.
Alexander Ishov, Ph.D.
Alexander Ishov, Ph.D., was awarded a Cancer Center Mechanisms of Oncogenesis Program research program pilot titled, “Function of histone variant H3.3 pathway in castration resistant prostate cancer.”
Biljana Horn, M.D.
Biljana Horn, M.D., was awarded a $899,897 grant from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative for a study titled, “Engineered Donor Graft for Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) Recipients with Hematologic Malignancies (HM)- Florida Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Consortium (FPBCC) First Prospective Multicenter Trial.”
Brian Law, Ph.D.
Brian Law, Ph.D., received a $98,940 grant from the James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program for a study titled, “Toward IND-Enabling Studies for Novel Cancer Therapeutics that Inhibit the Disulfide Isomerases ERp44, PDIA1, and AGR2.”
Deidre Pereira, Ph.D., ABPP
Deidre Pereira, Ph.D., ABPP, was appointed as a Fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D.
Jatinder Lamba, Ph.D., mentee, Richard Marrero, graduate student, presented at the FACCA retreat on Jan 18.
Additionally, she was appointed an endowed chair position (Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair) starting Jan 1.
Jianrong Lu, Ph.D.
Jianrong Lu, Ph.D., was awarded a Cancer Center Mechanisms of Oncogenesis research program pilot titled, “Explore ferroptosis sensitivity to target epithelial-mesenchymal transition.”
Jonathan Licht, M.D.
Jonathan Licht, M.D., received a $250,000 grant from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative for a study titled, “Elucidation and Targeting of Epigenetic Changes Resulting in Glucocorticoid Resistance in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.”
Additionally, he received a $573,000 grant from Bankhead Coley for a study titled, “Mitochondrial Modulators of Multiple Myeloma Growth and Therapy Resistance.”
Lakeshia Cousin, Ph.D., APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Lakeshia Cousin, Ph.D., APRN, AGPCNP-BC, was recently featured on a podcast with the Oncology Nursing Society titled, “How Social Determinants of Health Affect Cardio-Oncology Survivorship.”
Loic Deleyrolle, Ph.D.
Loic Deleyrolle, Ph.D., received a $250,000 grant from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative for a study titled, “Co-Opting TME Lactate Signal to Benefit T Cell Therapy.”
Michael G. Perri, Ph.D.
Michael G. Perri, Ph.D., presented service awards to faculty and staff at the PHHP Holiday Lunch & Awards Ceremony 2021.
Mingyi Xie, Ph.D.
Mingyi Xie, Ph.D., received a $792,000 American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award for a study titled, “MicroRNA Turnover Induced By Target RNAs in Colorectal Cancer.”
Olga Guryanova, M.D., Ph.D.
Olga Guryanova, M.D., Ph.D., was appointed by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to serve as the Chair of the Taskforce on Ph.D. Careers in Hematology for a one year term.
Paul Castillo Caro, M.D.
Paul Castillo Caro, M.D., received a $250,000 grant from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative for a study titled, “Unlocking CAR T Cell Efficacy Against Osteosarcoma Using Adjuvant RNA Vaccine.”
Additionally, he was appointed the Cancer Center CTHR research program Liaison for the Community Outreach & Engagement (COE) office.
Ramzi G. Salloum, Ph.D.
Ramzi G. Salloum, Ph.D., was selected as the Co-Chair of the Global Research Network at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT).
Rene Opavsky, Ph.D.
Rene Opavsky, Ph.D., was awarded a Cancer Center Mechanisms of Oncogenesis Program research program pilot titled, “Identification of lethal vulnerabilities in Peripheral T cell lymphomas.”
Sarah M. Szurek, Ph.D.
Sarah M. Szurek, Ph.D., was featured on the Alachua County Library Patrons and Partnerships podcast in an episode that provided info on the importance of prevention & early detection of cervical cancer.
Ramzi G. Salloum, Ph.D., and Erin Mobley, Ph.D.
Ramzi G. Salloum, Ph.D., and Erin Mobley, Ph.D., received a $100,104 grant from the Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative for a study titled, “Point-of-Care Intervention to Address Financial Toxicity in Families Facing Pediatric Cancer.”
Daiqing Liao, Ph.D., and Guangrong Zheng, Ph.D.
Daiqing Liao, Ph.D., and Guangrong Zheng, Ph.D., received a $583,200 Florida Department of Health grant for a study titled, “Development of First-in-Class HDAC3-Selective Degraders for Breast Cancer Therapy.”
Olga Guryanova, M.D., Ph.D., and Zeina Al-Mansour, M.D.
Olga Guryanova, M.D., Ph.D., and Zeina Al-Mansour, M.D., were awarded for a Mechanisms of Oncogenesis Program pilot titled, “DNMT3A status as a predictive biomarker of PARP inhibitor efficacy in
acute myeloid leukemia.”
Bently Doonan, M.D., and Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D.
Bently Doonan, M.D., and Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., received a $1,458,000 grant from the James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program for their study titled, “Novel RNA-Nanoparticle Vaccine For Treatment of Early Melanoma Recurrence Following Adjuvant Anti-PD-1 Antibody Therapy.”