Highlights from the New ACS Mentored Grants

Today we are highlighting the exciting work of several of our new mentored grantees that are part of the larger Summer 2025 grant slate. The full list of new postdoctoral fellows and CSDGs can be found at the link above.

Gabriela Arias Alpizar, Ph.D. 
Boston Children’s Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Project Title: “Exploring the Hematopoietic Niche to Control Hematopoietic Stem Cell Egress Using Nanotechnology”

Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is a common treatment for genetic or malignant hematological disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia. Dr. Arias Alpizar is working to better understand the mechanisms regulating the migration of HSCs (or egress) into the bloodstream. In this project, she will utilize a combination of confocal microscopy, mRNA-lipid nanoparticles, and advanced molecular techniques to identify factors influencing HSC egress, and will explore the feasibility of using RNA-lipid nanoparticles to control this mobilization. This work has the potential to improve stem cell transplantation therapy by improving the pre-transplant conditioning required for success.

Shruti Banerjee, Ph.D. 
Columbia University
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Project Title: “Investigating the Role of Arid1a Gene Dosage on Metastatic Progression and Epigenetic Reprograming in Lung Adenocarcinoma”

While targeted therapies have improved the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), many patients still experience recurrent, metastatic disease. Dr. Banerjee is studying the role of ARID1A, a gene that plays an important role in DNA packaging and expression. In this study, he will expand on recent work demonstrating increased ARID1A mutations in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, a major subtype of NSCLC, by examining how different levels of Arid1a affect gene regulation and downstream tumor growth and progression in mouse models. This research has the potential to identify new therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic lung cancer.

Grace Blitzer, M.D. 
University of Wisconsin-Madison
ASTRO-Clinician Scientist Development Grant
Project Title: “ASTRO: Pilot Trial Investigating the Role of Circulating Tumor DNA as a Risk Stratification Tool to Guide Use of Adjuvant Therapy in Endometrial Cancer”

The goal of this study is to leverage circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood samples from endometrial cancer patients to refine clinical trial inclusion criteria and identify groups of patients who may benefit from specific additional therapies, such as radiation therapy. This project will include a small clinical trial of 65 patients with stage III endometrial cancer. If successful, this test has the potential to enable personalized treatment plans for women with endometrial cancer and improve overall survival.

Criseyda Martinez, Ph.D. 
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Project Title: “Targeting PTK6 in TNBC: Mechanistic Insights and Efficacy of a Novel PROTAC Degrader”

Recent research has identified a protein called PTK6 as a potential oncogenic driver in several cancer types, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this project, Dr. Martinez will conduct a series of tests on a new drug designed to eliminate PTK6 and destroy TNBC tumors. These critical tests will further our understanding of the role of PTK6 in promoting cancer growth and will ensure the new drug is safe and effective in more realistic settings, helping move it forward to potential future use in treating TNBC patients.

Ritam Neupane, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Project Title: “Alternative Pathway of Initiating Protein Synthesis in Oncogenic Human Papillomaviruses”

In this project, Dr. Neupane will study the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of protein synthesis. Recently, it was shown that a high-risk strain of HPV uses a very unconventional looking mRNA (the starting material) to make a cancer-inducing protein called E6 (the finished product). Dr. Neupane will use state-of-the-art high-throughput systems biology, structural biology, and biochemical techniques to better understand the unique translation pathway being used by HPV to create the E6 oncoprotein. Findings from this work may potentially open new doors in HPC drug and vaccine design and move us closer to eliminating cervical cancer.

Lydia Wilson, Ph.D. 
Thomas Jefferson University
ASTRO-Clinician Scientist Development Grant
Project Title: “ASTRO: Novel Functional Imaging to Predict Surgical Side Effects for Lung Cancer Patients”

Through this project, Dr. Wilson proposes to develop advanced imaging and computational tools that leverage recent advancements from the field of radiation oncology. These tools will provide a more accurate assessment of lung function before and after surgery, allowing clinicians to better predict post-surgical outcomes. This work will improve on current methods of assessing lung cancer patients’ suitability for surgery which often misclassify patients, leading to either increased risks of complications after surgery or denying potentially beneficial treatment.