KU Cancer Biology Student Society

The Cancer Biology graduate students kicked off the holiday season by volunteering at the Hope Lodge Kansas City. The Hope Lodge program provides free overnight accommodations to cancer patients and their caregivers who have to travel away from home for treatment. They served dinner to the patients and families and helped spread holiday cheer!

The Cancer Biology Department is proud to announce that over the last few weeks, two of our graduate students passed their dissertations. A big congratulations to both Austin Eades and McKinnon Walsh!

McKinnon Walsh, Doctoral candidate in the Cancer Biology department will be giving his dissertation defense on Monday, December 2 at 2:30 pm in the 1006 Cates West auditorium (formerly Wahl Hall West). Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend. Good luck McKinnon!

Austin Eades, graduate student the Cancer Biology department will be giving his dissertation defense on Wednesday, November 21 at 3:00 pm in the Cates East (formerly Wahl Hall East) auditorium G010. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend!

November Spotlight: Austin Eades 5th Year Graduate Student Austin Eades has been a graduate student in the Michael VanSaun lab for the past 5 years. When reflecting on his time at KUMC, Austin has many positive recollections. Favorite memories: all the people I’ve gotten to meet and interact with since starting graduate school at KUMC. Its been a privilege to get know individuals from all different kinds of backgrounds both from here in the United States and from abroad; individuals that will be lifelong friends after my time here. KUMC has helped me with my goals by having excellent mentors, resources and being in a department that exposed me to a plethora of various types of research that is occurring in the cancer field. Most importantly, through these aspects, I’ve been able to grow as a biomedical scientist while being equipped with a knowledge base to pursue any career path I choose. Future: I have accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position at KU Lawrence to work under Dr. Robin Orozco in the field of cancer immunology with a career goal of becoming a PI at a minority-serving Primarily Undergraduate Institute (PUI) where I hope to foster the love for science into undergraduates as it was fostered into me when I attended a PUI. Hobbies: Spending time with my friends, family, and girlfriend, practicing Jiu-Jitsu, dancing, watching movies and reading books, and enjoying nature.

Our October Spotlight is on Cara Wallingford-3rd Year Graduate Student: Cara is a 3rd year graduate student in the Davis lab where she is studying the effects of a Mediterranean Diet on colorectal tumor metabolism and biology. Like many cancer researchers, Cara has been deeply impacted by the disease, having lost loved ones and being a survivor herself, undergoing treatment here at KUMC. She feels incredibly humbled by the opportunity to do science among so many amazing KUMC researchers and someday hopes to be able to work directly with patients in a clinical setting. Cara is a classically trained pianist and in her spare time enjoys playing music with friends. She is also an artist and likes sketching, oil painting and pastels.

Cara Wallingford, graduate student in the Jennifer Davis Lab, works diligently on cell cultures, specifically colon cancer cells and the effects that different fatty acids have on these cells. Keep up the good work!

The Cancer Biology Department is always looking to make things more exciting. This spring, we encouraged staff and students to attend the Cancer Biology Bohan Visiting Professor seminar series by offering a fun incentive. Those who had the best attendance record were put into a drawing to win a prize basket. This past semester, our lucky winner was McKinnon Walsh of the VanSaun Lab. Congratulations McKinnon! The seminar series returns at the end of August, so be sure to attend as often as possible for your chance to be entered to win another great prize!

The Cancer Biology Department is proud to announce that Kafayat Yusuf, graduate student in the Shahid Umar Lab, was the recipient of an American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Student Abstract Award. There were 79 recipients who received research funding through the annual AGA Research Foundation Awards Program. The program serves as a catalyst for discovery and career growth among the most promising researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology. Congratulations Kafayat!

Aprajita Tripathi, member of the Pyaram Lab, was selected as a winner of the 2024 Tradition of Excellence Award for for her impact on the Jayhawk community. This recognition is awarded to those that encapsulate what it means to be an exceptional student leader. Congratulations!