Past Stories
Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant Awardees for 2024
The Cancer Innovation Pilot Grants provide research funding to support the career development of pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees and early-career faculty. These grants are evaluated via a competitive peer-review process in the NIH style.
This year we had a record number of applications and of very high quality. Please join us in congratulating the 2024-2025 Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant Awardees (listed below).
Learn more about the Innovation Pilot Grant Program
Joselyn Cruz Cruz, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Mentor: M. Verneris, MD
Project: Improving the Homing of CAR-T Cells within the Pediatric Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment
Kellen Gil, MD
Resident – StaRR Fellow
Mentor: M. Amaya, MD-PhD
Project: The Role of VDAC1 in energy metabolism and apoptosis in leukemia stem cells
Irene Liang, BS
Post-Baccalaureate Fellow
Mentor: J. Studts, PhD
Project: Perspectives on Lung Cancer Screening in the Sexual and Gender Minority Community
(Co-sponsored by COE)
Johannes Menzel, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Mentor: J. DeGregori, PhD
Project: Understanding myeloid differentiation associated autophagy and therapeutic resistance in AML
(Co-sponsored by THI and CRTEC)
Varuna Nangia, BS
MD-PhD Student
Mentor: S. Spencer, MD
Project: Investigating rapid drug adaptation to MAPKi in melanoma
Joseph Sottnik, PhD
Research Instructor
Project: Development and characterization of spontaneous ER+ bone metastasis models of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Rachel Steinmetz, BS
PhD Student
Mentor: T. Lyons, PhD
Project: Investigating the potential to overcome fulvestrant resistance in ER+ breast cancer using anti-Semaphorin 7a treatment.CRTEC Leadership
ASCENT and PIKE-PREP Scholars Shine at 2024 ABRCMS
Scholars from the ASCENT and PIKE-PREP programs made their mark at the 2024 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in Pittsburgh, PA. Nine scholars attended the conference to listen to scientific and career development symposia, network with peers, faculty and program directors and present their research projects. These scholars demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and contributed to the strong presence of ASCENT and PIKE-PREP at the conference, underscoring the impact of these programs in fostering the next generation of STEM leaders.
PIKE-PREP Scholars Manna Morris and Astrid Ardón-Lopez, and ASCENT Scholars Pedro Gamez and Sumra Chaudhry, were recognized for their Outstanding Poster Presentations in their respective research categories. Their work captured the attention of conference attendees and earned them accolades for excellence in scientific presentation.
Here’s a look at their award-winning presentations:
Astrid Ardon-Lopez (PIKE-PREP): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Immunology for her presentation titled, “Sex-Specific Differences in Hepatic Steatosis and Macrophage Infiltration in Aged Galectin-3 Knockout Mice”.
Manna Morris (PIKE-PREP): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Cell and Developmental Biology for her presentation titled, “Effects of Innate Immune Activation on Myelin Development”.
Sumra Chaudhry (ASCENT): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Cancer Biology for her presentation titled, “Immune Profiling of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients with Primary and Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcomas”.
Pedro Gamez (ASCENT): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Microbiology for his presentation titled, “Developing a Model System to Advance Treatments for γ-Herpesvirus-Associated Lymphomas”.
Congratulations to Anne, Astrid, Hajjia, Irene, Jenna, Manna, Miga, Pedro, and Sumra for their dedication and contributions to the scientific community. We wish them all continued success in their future endeavors!
Back row, from left to right: Anne Williams, Jenna Bahn, Sumra Chaudhry, Pedro Gamez, Miga Romano Banks, and Irene Liang. Front row, from left to right: Manna Morris, Astrid Ardon-Lopez, Adela Cota-Gomez (Senior Coordinator of PIKE-PREP and ASCENT), and Hajjia Mohammed Gipson.
From left to right: Astrid Ardon-Lopez, Manna Morris, Sumra Chaudhry, and Pedro Gamez
Bringing Science to Life: How Shanna Atzmiller is Transforming Classrooms Through the BEST Teacher Program
When Shanna Atzmiller first heard about the BEST (Biotechnology Education and Specialized Training) Teacher Program from a former colleague, she was immediately intrigued. As a dedicated biomedical science and honors biology teacher, she saw a unique opportunity to enrich her students’ learning with real-world applications and cutting-edge resources. After some research, she knew the program could be a game-changer—and she was right.
“I was looking for more real-world applications for my biomedical science and honors biology students,” Shanna shared. “This program offers excellent resources to enhance the classroom experience and help students explore different career paths within the biological sciences.”
Since joining the program in 2024, Shanna has implemented a range of BEST-developed lessons, with remarkable results. One standout experience involved using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) materials to explore DNA testing. Her students didn’t just learn about the process—they worked through it, gaining a hands-on understanding of how biotechnology functions in the real world.
“Implementing the lessons has been a huge help in having the students understand how scientists work and analyze data to help society in a positive way,” she explained. “They’ve become more engaged because these lessons make relevant connections to the science happening around them every day.”
Beyond the lab bench, the BEST program has helped her students forge deeper connections to academic standards and learning targets. They’re now able to articulate the importance of biotechnology in modern science, interpret data with greater confidence, and even see themselves pursuing careers in biological sciences, something that wasn’t always on their radar before.
“I feel like some of my students have a new interest in pursuing a career in biological sciences,” Shanna said. “It’s opened up a world of future opportunities for them.”
From enhancing scientific literacy to sparking genuine enthusiasm for biology, the BEST lessons have proven to be powerful teaching tools. The real magic, however, lies in the way they make science feel relevant, personal, and inspiring.
“A highlight of using these lessons is seeing the excitement of the students as they work through the material and use the technology that comes with it,” she said. “They’re engaged, curious, and eager to learn more—even outside of class.”
Thanks to Shanna Atzmiller’s passion and the support of the BEST Teacher Program, students are no longer just studying science, they're living it. And in the process, they’re discovering a future full of possibilities.
ASCENT Scholar Highlight: Irene Liang’s Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant
This fall, Irene Liang, BA, was awarded a Cancer Innovation Pilot grant for her project, “Perspectives on Lung Cancer Screening in the Sexual and Gender Minority Community.” The grant, which was given with the support of her mentor, Jamie Studts, PhD, is co-sponsored by the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement and the Office of Engagement, Access, and Success.
Irene is a post-baccalaureate scholar in the ASCENT program, funded by the American Cancer Society’s Diversity in Cancer Research grant.
CONGRATULATIONS! Anschutz Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) Committee
Thanks in part to the dedication, commitment, and energy of CRTEC Assistant Director, Dr. Adela Cota-Gomez, the CU President’s DEI Grant was awarded to the Anschutz HSI Committee for the inauguration of the annual Latiné Excellence Symposium. The symposium is a joint effort of all schools on the Anschutz campus and is the foundation of the Anschutz HSI Committee and the committee’s base to elevate the educational and professional experience for everyone on campus. The Anschutz HSI Committee diligently worked on the grant to provide programming in the form of the Latiné Excellence Symposium that will be a half-day event in honor of Anschutz Medical Campus Latiné Excellence, highlighting Latiné leaders, faculty, students, staff and community partners that demonstrate excellence in their field and contribute to creating an environment of true “servingness” on the AMC, who will be recognized with the Con Ganas award. There will be talks by the awardees and a keynote address by a renowned Hispanic Servingness scholar Dr. Gina Ann Garcia a world-recognized researcher on equity and justice in higher education.
Welcome PIKE-PREP and ASCENT Scholars!
June 3 & 4, 2024, is now in the history books at the UC Cancer Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus, when the post-baccalaureate programs 2024-2025 PIKE-PREP (Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel – Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program) and the 2024-2026 ASCENT (Advancement of Scholars in Cancer Education aNd Training) cohorts were welcomed into the programs. Scholars had two days of orientation and training, meeting program directors Dr. Eduardo Davila and Dr. Carlos E. Catalano, CRTEC staff, mentors and members of the various labs. We are excited for their growth and to see the research that will come from their work in the labs.
(Top L-R) Irene Liang, Sumra Chaudhry, Skye Patterson, Pedro Gamez, Miga Romano
(Seated L-R) Jenna Banh, Hajjia Mohammed-Gipson, Evie Nguyen, Manna Morris, Astrid Ardon Lopez
Visit our post-baccalaureate program sites:
Bioscience Educator Support and Training “BEST” Program
CRTEC held the inaugural BEST Professional Development (PD) training for high school and middle school teachers on August 1st and 2nd on the CU AMC for the start of the Timmerhaus Grant-funded program. The cohort consists of seven high school and one middle school bioscience teacher from the Denver Metro and surrounding areas, who want to bring new lab experiences to their students and expand their own knowledge and experiences. Teachers are from the following schools: Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, Westminster High School, West High School, Northfield High School, Bear Creek High School, Smoky Hill High School, Evergreen High School, and Merrill Middle School. We would like to recognize and thank Alexis Catala, Research Associate, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for partnering with us to support the BEST teachers during the PD session and throughout the year, as teachers need support in the classroom or virtually.
Through the BEST Program, secondary science teachers:
- participate in high-quality professional development sessions to learn exciting and engaging bioscience labs and activities to implement in their classrooms,
- have access to the Bioscience Lending Library which provides equipment, lesson plans, and free materials needed to implement the BEST lessons,
- receive one-on-one mentoring and in-classroom support from CU-AMC scientists as they implement BEST lessons with their students,
- and develop relationships with CU-AMC scientists and other bioscience educators through the BEST teacher network.
Currently, BEST has seven lab kits that are available in Bioscience Lending Library, including Micropipette Kit, DNA Extraction Kit, BioBits Kit, Animals in Cancer Research Kit, DIY Electrophoresis Kit, Gel Electrophoresis Kit, and PCR Kit.
With direction from CRTEC Associate Director, Dr. Eduardo Dávila, Drs. Meredith Tennis, Shawndra Fordham and Adela Cota-Gomez wrote and were awarded the Timmerhaus Fund Ambassadors Grant and developed the BEST program.
Click HERE to learn more about the BEST Program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
Another Successful Session of C2R2 (Cancer Center Research Rangers)
The Cancer Center hosted 6th grade students from the Challenge Foundation Summer Program. Students were served lunch before an afternoon of cancer science, including hands-on stations: A Close Up Look at Cancer, Use Your Brains, Love the Skin You’re In, and Tobacco Time. Challenge Foundation counselors Connie, Miriam and Aziza were great to join right in to help with the stations. CRTEC would also like to thank Dr. Kristin Schaller and Ben Kooiman of the Verneris Lab for their partnership to give students a dive into cancer.
LaCOTA Travel Award Recipients Present at Oncology National Conferences
This fall, three CU-SOM medical students received an amazing opportunity to present their cancer research nationally via the LaCamera Oncology Travel Awards (LaCOTA), thanks to funds generously donated by the LaCamera family specifically to support oncology training of CU-SOM medical students.
LaCOTA awards provided funding support for these medical scientists in training to present their research and participate in professional development activities at oncology-focused national conferences.
The three students who received the award in Fall 2024 were Jamie Burke, Brandon Bellen, and Lucas Eggers.
- Jamie Burke, mentored by Charles Van Hook, presented her project titled “Malignant Pleural Effusion: Unveiling an Unusual Course of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma After Years Of Remission” at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Conference.
- Brandon Bellen, mentored by Dr. Erin Bredenberg, presented his project titled “Access to Palliative Care for Individuals with Cancer Experiencing Homelessness” at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.
- Lucas Eggers, mentored by Dr. Natalie Serkova, presented his research titled, “Advanced MRI Analysis to Assess Chemo-Radiation Response in Pediatric Ependymoma Models” at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Conference.
Through the LaCOTA program, these medical students had the opportunity to present at prestigious national conferences and gain valuable oncology training experience. Please join us in congratulating these future oncology medical scientists.
CRTEC Hosts the Southwest Regional Research Symposium
The first annual Southwest Undergraduate to Graduate Pathways Research Symposium (SW U-GRAPH) held March 22-23, 2024, at the AMC was a great success. CU PIKE-PREP (Preparatory in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel – Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program) welcomed scholars from the University of Oklahoma, University of New Mexico, and University of Utah. Scholars gave oral presentations, Andrielle Finch, University of Utah and two PIKE-PREP scholars from the AMC, Zoe Drigot and Kaitlyn Arce, were recognized for their outstanding oral presentations. Attendees of the symposium were enlightened by keynote speaker Dr. Richard McGee, Northwestern University who spoke about his research on the differentiation of young biomedical scientists into critical careers. The Symposium presented several panels, one being a virtual panel of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Other panel subjects were Biomedical Careers in Industry, Scientific/Medical Writing Careers and Law Careers in Biomedical Science. The PIKE-PREP team led by Dr. Eduardo Davila and Dr. Carlos E. Catalano hosted the event and look forward to next year ‘s SW U-GRAPH 2025.
Learn About Cancer Day, Fall 2024
On October 11, 2024, we hosted 35 local high school students to help them learn more about cancer research and cancer-related careers. Following a presentation titled ‘Why We Hate Cancer’ by Richard Schulick, MD, students learned about different types of cancer, health disparities, and everyday prevention activities. Afterward, students toured multiple cancer-research laboratories as well as shared resource facilities, where they learned about innovative technology, cutting-edge research, and cancer-related careers. It was a day filled with educational opportunities for students to connect their understanding of science to the latest advancements in research happening right here at the CU Cancer Center.
The next Learn About Cancer Day will be this spring, April 18, 2025. Learn more.
CU Cancer Center Receives ACS Diversity in Cancer Research Training Grant
We are excited to share that our American Cancer Society Diversity in Cancer Research (ACS DICR) grant was awarded! The ASCENT program (Advancement of Scholars in Cancer Education aNd Training) will offer a multi-dimensional mentoring and cancer research training experience to inspire and prepare post-baccalaureate students from historically underrepresented groups to enroll and succeed in a top-tier PhD or MD-PhD program and commit to cancer research careers. This funding will support four post baccalaureate students in a two-year mentored research experience.
Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant
Are you in a post-baccalaureate training program, a nursing, medical, MS, or PhD graduate student, a post-doctoral investigator or an early career-faculty member doing cancer research or wanting to start a new cancer research project and need seed money for it? If so, we encourage you to apply for a Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant. Projects addressing cancer health disparities or community-engaged research are highly encouraged.
Read more about the Cancer Innovation Pilot Grants and see how to apply in the flier or visit THIS PAGE. You don’t want to miss this opportunity, the application deadline is July 3, 2024.
Fall 2023 Learn About Cancer Day
On September 28, 2023, we hosted 50 local high school students to help them learn more about cancer research and cancer-related careers. Following an introduction to cancer presentation by John Tentler, PhD, students participated in a simulated cancer-focused clinical trial designed and facilitated by Meredith Tennis, PhD, toured multiple cancer-research laboratories as well as shared resources facilities, and learned about cancer-related careers and career paths during a lunchtime student trainee panel visit. It was a day filled with educational opportunities for students to connect their science understanding to relevant, cutting-edge science occurring right here at the CU Cancer Center.
The next Learn About Cancer Day will be this spring, April 5, 2024.
PIKE-PREP Scholars Recognized at Fall Science Conferences
PIKE-PREP Scholars Brooke Linden, Zoe Drigot, and Rebecca Han were recognized for their Outstanding Poster Presentations at the 2023 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS). At the conferences the scholars were able to share their science and network with other trainees and scientists with similar research interests. Congratulations on a job well done!
- Brooke Linden (Left): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Immunology for her presentation titled, Redirecting anti-tumor immune responses using engineered CD1d-restrictred T cell receptor (TCR) T cells in acute myeloid leukemia
- Zoe Drigot (middle): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Immunology for her presentation titled, The differential impact of airway Prevotella species on neutrophil activation and Streptococcus pneumoniae infection
- Rebecca Han (right): Outstanding Postbaccalaureate Poster Presentation in Physiology and Pharmacology for her presentation titled, Translocator Protein Ligands Inhibit Neuronal Excitability in Primary Neuronal-Glial Cultures
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Cancer Center Student Symposium (C2S2)
Dr. Adela Cota-Gomez will kick off the 2nd Annual Cancer Center Student Symposium (C2S2) on October 12th, 2023. This year’s monthly presentations will include presentations from pre- and post-doctoral trainees from the various cancer center research programs. Last year’s C2S2 was a huge success with over X # of high school students attending throughout the year. This year, students who attend 6 of the 7 sessions will earn a certificate of completion. The CRTEC Office created C2S2 to connect the CU - Cancer Center with Colorado high school students and teachers through a monthly virtual symposium on cancer-focused topics.
Introducing the 2023-2024 PIKE-PREP Scholars
The 2023-2024 cohort of PIKE-PREP Scholars have arrived on campus!
Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel - Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PIKE-PREP) is a mentoring and training program directed by Dr. Eduardo Davila and Dr. Carlos Catalano and administered by Dr. Adela Cota-Gomez and Shawndra Fordham, which helps underrepresented post-baccalaureates to gain research experience and other needed training to gain admission into top-tier PhD or MD/PhD programs.
This year's Scholars have started the year off strong with an informative and fun orientation day, during which we got to know this wonderful and talented group of people. The scholars were also introduced to their research lab teams and started to get familiar with their research projects, where an abundance of their time and effort will be focused on.
This year's PIKE-PREP Scholars are Anne Williams mentored by Dr. Gidon Felsen, Brooke Linden mentored by Dr. Eduardo Davila, Daniela Gonzalez-Rivera mentored by Dr. Michael Harris-Love, Jordan Swartz mentored by Dr. Matt Sikora, Kat Arce mentored by Dr. Rachel Friedman, Megan Hupka mentored by Dr. Kelly Doran, Olivia Ovard mentored by Dr. Diego Restrepo, Rebecca Han mentored by Dr. Manisha Patel, and Zoe Drigot mentored by Dr. Sarah Clark.
Alongside their research projects, the Scholars will also participate in career and professional workshops on a variety of topics that will help them advance their career training and will present at either the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) conference or the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM Conference. We are excited and honored to be able to support them on their professional journeys this year.
Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant Awardees for 2023
The Cancer Innovation Pilot Grants provide research funding to support the career development of pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees and early-career faculty. These grants are evaluated via a competitive peer-review process in the NIH style.
This year we had a record number of applications and of very high quality. Please join us in congratulating the 2023-2024 Cancer Innovation Pilot Grant Awardees (pictured below).
PIKE-PREP Scholars Present at Fall Science Conferences
PIKE-PREP Scholars Kat Arce, Megan Hupka, and Zoe Drigot presented their research at the 22nd Annual Colorado Immunology & Microbiology Conference in Steamboat Springs that was held August 30th – September 1st, 2023. Jordan Swartz headed off to the 2023 International Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer (ILC) Symposium that took place in Pittsburgh, PA from September 28th – 30, 2023. At the conferences the scholars were able to share their science and network with other trainees and scientists with similar research interests. Congratulations on a job well done!
- Kat Arce (pictured left) presented her research titled, “Ligand accessibility may limit Mertk dependent T cell suppression in the islets during Type 1 Diabetes”
- Megan Hupka (pictured right) presented her research titled, “Contribution of a DNA Methyltransferase to Enterococcal Vaginal Colonization”
- Zoe Drigot presented her research titled, “The differential impact of airway Prevotella species on neutrophil activation and Streptococcus pneumoniae infection”
- Jordan Swartz presented her research titled, “Efficacy of PARP inhibitor Talazoparib on ER+ ILC breast cancer models”
Learn more about the PIKE-PREP Scholars
OSI Welcomes 2023 Interns
The CU Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) program was happy to welcome Ferdos Abdulkader and Mustafa Saeed into the 2023 program. Mentored by Dr John Tentler and Dr. Tejas Patil, the Interns worked hard and persevered; at the end of the internship, they were able to present their research projects:
Ferdos Abdulkader
Project: Immunotherapy outcomes in KRAS NSCLC who are never smokers
Mustafa Saeed
Project: Incidence and outcomes of patients with large-cell neuroendocrine or sarcomatoid lung carcinoma with driver oncogenes