Unveiling Fresh Faces in the Realm of Cancer Research
At the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, a new Cancer Biology curriculum is taking shape, aiming to train the next generation of leaders in cancer research. This comprehensive programme integrates didactic coursework, research training, and clinical experiences to prepare students for leadership roles in oncology research.
Emily Quarato and Emily Whitt, two graduate students, spearheaded the formation of the Wilmot Cancer Trainees (WilCaTs) group in early 2021. Quarato, a fifth-year toxicology graduate student, shifted her research focus to cancer after working in the lab of her now-graduate mentor, Laura M. Calvi, M.D. Whitt, who hails from Pullman, WA, earned a bachelor's degree in Biophysics from Brigham Young University before joining the University of Rochester.
The WilCaTs group brings together student cancer researchers, postdocs, and medical students for discussions and social events. They have recently started participating in community events, such as the 2022 Wilmot Survivor's Night and the 2023 STEM Community Day, to inspire local high school students to pursue careers in science or medicine.
Christina Kaszuba, a second-year student in the Biomedical Engineering graduate program, joined the University of Rochester in 2021. Kaszuba studies leukemia's microenvironment in bone, appreciating the various perspectives offered in the curriculum. Zachary Sechrist, a second-year graduate student in the Pathology-Cell Biology program, is studying cancer-related cachexia (or muscle wasting) with mentor Calvin Cole, Ph.D. Sechrist is working to identify a possible drug target for cancer-related cachexia by teasing apart the complicated cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying it.
Bachelard Dieujuste, a second-year student in the Biomedical Genetics and Genomics graduate program, hails from Haiti and is focusing on the phenomenon of gene modification in breast cancer. The curriculum's focus areas include cancer cell biology and molecular mechanisms of tumor development, translational research linking lab findings to clinical applications, interdisciplinary approaches involving immunology, genetics, and oncology, and opportunities for research-led learning and mentorship under expert cancer scientists.
By integrating rigorous scientific education with research experience, the Cancer Biology curriculum at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry helps produce well-prepared clinician-scientists and researchers who drive advancements in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The programme is designed to train tomorrow's leaders in cancer research, building a pipeline of research trainees with a special interest in cancer. The special course concentration is overseen by Brian J. Altman, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Genetics and a member of Wilmot.
Science plays a crucial role in the research and understanding of cancer-related medical conditions. Emily Quarato and Emily Whitt, as part of their personal growth and learning, spearheaded the Wilmot Cancer Trainees (WilCaTs) group to inspire high school students to pursue science or medical careers. Christina Kaszuba, a student in the Biomedical Engineering graduate program, is one example of someone benefiting from the comprehensive education and self-development offered at the University of Rochester, where she studies leukemia's microenvironment in bone. The curriculum's focus on research-led learning and mentorship under expert cancer scientists helps produce the next generation of leaders in cancer research, driving advancements in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
