News & Announcements
Congratulations 2023 Graduates
Congratulations to Jennifer Lynch and Justin Do, 2023 graduates of the Cancer Biology program. Jennifer completed her MS thesis in the lab of Dr. Alessandro Fatatis and Justin in the lab of Dr. Christian Sell.
Congratulations 2022 Graduates
Congratulations to Dalal Hassan, Pritika Shahani and Samuel Evans, 2022 graduates of the Cancer Biology program. Dalal completed her non-thesis MS in the lab of Dr. Alfonso Bellacosa, Pritika completed her MS thesis in the lab of Dr. Michael Bouchard and Samuel in the lab of Dr. Sri Somarowthu.
Alumni Publication in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
MS Cancer Biology graduate Fatimah Alfaran (2020) is co-author on a recent publication entitled "Copper Modulates the Catalytic Activity of Protein Kinase CK2” in the June 2022 issue of Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. Fatimah performed her MS thesis research in lab of Dr. Todd Strochlic.
Congratulations to Pritika Shahani, MS candidate in our Cancer Biology program working in lab of Dr. Michael Bouchard, who will be starting a PhD program in at Medical University of South Carolina in Fall 2022.
Congratulations to Samuel Evans, MS candidate in our Cancer Biology program working in lab of Dr. Sri Somarowthu, who will be attending the PhD program in Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University in Fall 2022.
Alumni Publication in Oncogene
MS Cancer Biology graduates Jing Ju (2019) and Rebecca Moeller (2020) are co-authors on a recent publication entitled "O-GlcNAc transferase regulates glioblastoma acetate metabolism via regulation of CDK5-dependent ACSS2 phosphorylation" in the February 2022 issue of Oncogene. Jing and Rebecca performed their MS thesis research in lab of Dr. Mauricio Reginato.
Congratulations 2021 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2021 graduates of the Cancer Biology program: Marwah Al-Aloosi and Melissa Sutton-Navaro!
Student Publication in JoVE
Rebecca Moeller is a co-author on a recent publication entitled "An Ex Vivo Brain Slice Model to Study and Target Breast Cancer Brain Metastatic Tumor Growth" in the September 2021 issue of the Journal of Visual Experimentation (JoVE). Rebecca performed her MS thesis research in lab of Dr. Mauricio Reginato.
Student Publication in Molecular Oncology
Shivani Sheth co-authored a publication, “FANCD2 limits acetaldehyde-induced genomic instability during DNA replication in esophageal keratinocytes,” in the July 2021 issue of Molecular Oncology. Shivani conducted her MS thesis research in the lab of Dr. Eishi Noguchi.
Recent Thesis Defenses
Melissa Sutton-Navarro, MS
May 2021, Non-Thesis review title: “Targeting epigenetic vulnerabilities in high-grade serous ovarian cancer”
Advisor: Dr. Todd Strochlic
Marwa Al-Aloosi, MS, MD
May 2021, Non-Thesis review title: “Clinical review of hepatocellular carcinoma”
Advisor: Dr. Michael Bouchard
Michael Bouchard, PhD, Receives the 2021 Elias Abrutyn Mentoring Award
The College of Medicine's Elias Abrutyn Mentoring Award is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring colleagues, residents, or students, by creating a supportive, effective environment in research, clinical care, education or scholarship, while advocating for the advancement of their mentees, and serving as a trusted advisor and role model. Bouchard was honored at a virtual ceremony, along with other Faculty Award recipients, on June 4.
Mauricio Reginato, PhD, Receives the 2021 Julian Marsh Faculty Scholar Award
The College of Medicine's Julian Marsh Faculty Scholar Award is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in scientific research, achieved international recognition, demonstrated outstanding teaching skills, mentored students as well as peers, and provided consistent, high-quality leadership to the medical school, creating a better environment for all faculty and students. Reginato was honored at a virtual ceremony, along with other Faculty Award recipients, on June 4.
Bradford Jameson, PhD, and Todd Strochlic, VMD, PhD, receive 2021 Golden Apple Awards
The College of Medicine's annual Golden Apple Awards recognize outstanding service and teaching by Drexel University College of Medicine faculty and professional staff.
Christian Sell, PhD, and Collaborators Awarded NIH (R56) Funding
Christian Sell, PhD, with co-investigators Eishi Noguchi, PhD, and Srinivas Somarowthu, PhD, in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department were awarded a grant from NIH. The funding will support their project “Novel Longevity Enhancing Pathways Regulated by mTOR,” which will investigate how mTOR inhibition by rapamycin prevents senescence and enhances pluripotency by increasing the lncRNA H19.
Congratulations 2020 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2020 graduates of the Cancer Biology program: Rebecca Moeller, Shivani Sheth and Fatima Alfaran!
Recent Thesis Defenses
Rebecca Moeller successfully defended her MS thesis, "Exploring CDK5 as a novel therapeutic target in glioblastoma" on June 15, 2020. Rebecca conducted her research in the laboratory of Dr. Mauricio Reginato.
Current position: Associate Scientist II, Cancer Immunotherapy Group, Vor Biopharma, Boston Massachusetts
Shivani Sheth successfully defended her MS thesis, "Roles of Timeless in Fanconi Anemia-mediated repair pathway and cancer growth in Esophageal cancer cells" on June 29, 2020. Shivani conducted her research in the laboratory of Dr. Eishi Noguchi.
Current position: Research Specialist at PerkinElmer, Inc.
Fatimah Alfaran successfully defended her MS thesis, "The effects of copper modulation on CK2 kinase activity" on July 14, 2020. Fatimah conducted her research in the laboratory of Dr. Todd Strochlic.
Current position: Lecturer, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Science
Congratulations 2019 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2019 graduates of Cancer Biology program: Alison Goupil, Jing Ju, Jacob Parfianowicz and Yesim Mercan!
2019 Award for Excellence in Research
Waleed Iqbal received the 2019 Award for Excellence in Research (MS degree) for his thesis studies, "Utilizing large genomic datasets to evaluate novel, rare variants in ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M2 B." Waleed performed this work in the laboratory of Drs. Erica Golemis and Sanjeevani Arora (Fox Chase Cancer Center).
Waleed is a co-author of a recent publication, "Interaction of germline variants in a family with a history of early-onset clear cell renal cell carcinoma," in the March 2019 edition of the journal Molecular Genetics and Genomic Medicine.
2018 Pre-Commencement Award/Hood Presentation Ceremony Speech
The following speech was given by Carlie at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies Pre-Commencement Award/Hood Presentation Ceremony on May 16, 2018.
"Graduation marks another milestone in our lives. In this room, there are students from various programs within the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, and our experiences as Drexel Dragons may be very different. However, as we look back at what we've accomplished these past couple of years and our contributions to the Drexel community, we're all probably anxious and excited about what lies ahead, whether it be pursuing a higher degree or going out into the "real world" as a working professional."
Read Carlie's Speech
Congratulations 2018 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2018 graduates of Cancer Biology program: Carlie Mendoza, Rusia Lee, Mohamed Abdelbaset and Kiana Shahidi!
Congratulations 2017 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2017 graduates of Cancer Biology program, Erica Dalla, Amber Theriault, Dimpi Mukhopadhyay and Kristen Maslar!
Student Publication in Oncotarget
Safoora Deihimi is the first author on a recent publication entitled "BRCA2, EGFR, and NTRK mutations in mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancers with MSH2 or MSH1 mutations" in the Advanced Publications 2017 edition of the journal Oncotarget. Safoora performed her MS thesis research in lab of Dr. Wafik El-Deiry.
International Experience Award
Carlie Mendoza was awarded an International Experience Award ($1500) from the Office of Global Engagement and Education Abroad at Drexel University to travel and conduct research at University of Cambridge for summer of 2017. Carlie will be working on oncogenic rewiring of signaling networks in the lab of Dr. Alessandro Esposito.
Congratulations 2016 Graduates
Congratulations to the 2016 graduates of the Cancer Biology program, Safoora Deihimi, Yayi Feng, Sam Flashner, Meghan Kopp and Dustin Rollins.
MS in Cancer Biology 2016 graduates Meghan Kopp, Yayi Feng, Safoora Deihimi, Dustin Rollins and Sam Flashner attended Commencement ceremonies for Drexel University College of Medicine at the Kimmel Center.
Successful Thesis Defense
Tong Lu successfully defended his MS thesis, "Understanding O-GlcNAc transferase regulation of SIRT1 in breast cancer cells" on April 29, 2016. Tong is a second author on a recent publication entitled "O-GlcNAcylation regulates breast cancer metastasis via SIRT1 modulation of FOXM1 pathway" in upcoming issue of the journal Oncogene. Tong conducted his research in the laboratory of Dr. Mauricio Reginato.
Student Publication in Frontiers in Oncology
Meghan Kopp is a co-author on a recent publication entitled "Opposing effects of inhibitors of Aurora-A and EGFR in autosomal-dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease" in the October 2015 edition of the journal Frontiers in Oncology. Meghan is doing MS thesis research in lab of Dr. Erica Golemis.
Student Publication in Nucleic Acids Research
Kritika Hanamshet is a co-author on a recent publication entitled "Targeting BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient cells with RAD52 small molecule inhibitors" in the February 2016 edition of Nucleic Acids Research. Kritika is completing her MS degree in lab of Dr. Alex Mazin.
Successful Thesis Defense
Samuel Flashner successfully defended his MS thesis "Sp1 nontranscriptionally regulates centrosome number" on March 28th, 2016. Samuel conducted his study in the laboratory of Dr. Jane Clifford (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology). Samuel has been accepted into the Molecular & Cell Biology and Genetics PhD program at Drexel University College of Medicine and will begin his PhD thesis work this summer.