Cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 were given for the best posters in each of the three categories presented at the 2015 UNC Lineberger Annual Scientific Retreat. Students and fellows who first-authored the studies presented were eligible for awards.
CHAPEL HILL – Students and fellows presenting the top posters in clinical/translational, basic science and population science research were recognized at the 2015 UNC Lineberger Annual Scientific Retreat on Tuesday.
The poster contest was held at the end of the scientific retreat, which also included research presentations by faculty and a State of the Cancer Center address by Norman E. Sharpless, MD, cancer center director and the Wellcome Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research.
Cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 were given for the best posters in each of the three categories. The contest was open to students and fellows who were first authors of the studies they presented. The winners were:
Clinical/Translational Research
1st Richard A. Moffitt, “Virtual Microdissection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Reveals Tumor and Stroma Subtypes.” Moffitt’s mentor was Jen Jen Yeh, MD, a UNC Lineberger member and an associate professor and the vice chair for research in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Surgery. She also has an appointment in the Pharmacology Department.
2nd Aleisha Smith, “Characterization of novel human papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma GEM models.” She is a graduate student mentored by William Y. Kim, a UNC Lineberger member and an associate professor of medicine and genetics.
3rd Michael Eblan, MD, “Investigation of Circulating Tumor Cells from Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy: A Pilot Study.” Eblan is a resident mentored by Andrew Wang, MD, a UNC Lineberger member and an associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
3rd Emma Barber, MD, “Trainee Participation in Surgery for Ovarian Cancer: Does It Impact Patient Outcomes?” She is a clinical fellow mentored by Kenneth H. Kim, MD, assistant professor in the UNC Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Basic Science
1st Elizabeth Flate, “Patient-Derived Fibroblasts Support Dual Role of Stroma in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.” Flate is a postdoc mentored by Yeh.
2nd Mamoru Takada, “Loss of FBW7 Promotes Chromosomal Instability through Cyclin E1/ CDK2-mediated CENP-A Phosphorylation.” Takada is a postdoctoral fellow mentored by Qing Zhang, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and assistant professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
3rd Alisha Koblansky, “The innate immune receptor, NLRX1, functions as a tumor checkpoint by reducing colon and intestinal tumorigenesis and key tumor promoting signals.” Koblanksy is a postdoctoral fellow mentored by Jenny Ting, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and UNC William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the UNC School of Medicine.
3rd Camille Kapita, “Nrf2 may contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) through metabolic reprogramming.” Kapita is a graduate student mentored by Hao Chen of the N.C. Central University Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute.
Population Science
1st Humberto Parada, “Polychlorinated biphenyls and their association with survival following breast cancer.” Parada is a graduate student mentored by Marilie Gammon, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and a professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Epidemiology.
2nd Jessica Pepper, “Smokers’ perceptions of the health risks of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products: Implications for tobacco control and cancer prevention.” She is a postdoctoral fellow mentored by Noel Brewer, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and an associate professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
3rd Andrew Seidenberg, graduate student, “Tanning bed burns reported on Twitter: over 15,000 in 2013.”