Cancer Biology Program Students
Year you started the UC Denver Cancer Biology Program:
2007
Why you chose the UC Denver Cancer Biology Program:
When I was looking at different schools, I liked the diverse areas of research accessible in the cancer biology program at UC Denver. I felt that I could explore my different interests during my rotations.
What labs you rotated in:
Doug Graham, MD PhD
Lynn Heasley, PhD
Cheng-Jun Hu, PhD
What lab you joined and why:
Lynn Heasley’s lab because throughout my first year I came to acknowledge modified signaling as a common theme in cancer progression; and I was drawn to the lab’s use of both cellular and molecular techniques.
Description of your project:
My project involves looking at signaling pathways in NSCLC, particularly the family of FGF tyrosine kinase receptors.
Publications:
Marek, L., K. E. Ware, et al. (2009). "Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and FGF receptor-mediated autocrine signaling in non-small-cell lung cancer cells." Mol Pharmacol 75(1): 196-207.
Kono, S. A., M. E. Marshall, K. E. Ware, L. E. Heasley (2009). "The fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway as a mediator of intrinsic resistance to EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer." Drug Resist Updat 12(4-5): 95-102.
Keating, A. K., G. K. Kim, A. E. Jones, A. M. Donson, K. Ware, et al. (2009). "Inhibition of Mer and Axl receptor tyrosine kinases in astrocytoma cells leads to increased apoptosis and improved chemosensitivity." Mol Cancer Ther 9(5): 1298-307.
Where you attended undergraduate and what your major / minor(s) were:
Louisiana State University
Major: Microbiology
Minor: Chemistry
What you did (if anything) between undergraduate and graduate school:
I worked as a research associate in a microbiology lab for half a year.
What you like to do outside of school:
Camping, snowboarding, good food and hanging out with my dog Riley.
What is your favorite thing about Colorado:
Seeing the mountains everyday.