For nine weeks (June 6 to Aug. 4), the students participated in the cancer center’s Summer Research Program, gaining hands-on experiences by working with physicians and researchers at the cancer center. The program seeks to increase the number of cancer researchers among underrepresented groups.
During the program, students were assigned mentors affiliated with the center. Participant selection was based on interest in biomedical or behavioral science, grades, and personal interviews. The students worked with faculty who are doing research in the most advanced areas of cancer research.
High school students who participated must have completed at least their junior year and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Undergraduates in the program must have completed 24 hours of college credit, be majoring in a biomedical or behavioral science, and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.2.
Following are the students who participated in the program, with their research projects:
Taiwo Ajumobi, of Indianapolis and a student at Ben Davis High School, presented “The Relationship Between Gata3 and BCL6 in the Immune System.”
Oluwabunmi “Bunmi” Akintomide, of Indianapolis and a student at Northwest High School, presented “In-Vivo Testing of N1S1 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Cells Response to Benzamide Riboside.”
Alexa Coopman, of Needham, Ind., and student at Clemson University, presented “Cloning of Cerulean/Citrine Insert into the V207 Vector in the Study of Amot Expression in Cancerous Breast Epithelial Cells.”
Priyanka Dube, of Carmel, Ind., and student at Indiana University, presented “TeleCare Management of Pain and Depression in Cancer: Suicide Ideation in Oncology Patients.”
Sharrice Irving, of Indianapolis and a student at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, presented “Indiana Pain and Depression.”
Rakeva Jacks, of Fishers, Ind., presented “Barriers to Enrollment.”
Jocelyn Kinsey, of Columbus, Ind., and a student at Stanford University, presented “Correlation of Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Cell Parameters with Dose of Ionizing Radiation in C57BL/6 Mice.”
Mwangi Maina, of Muncie, Ind., and a student at Muncie Central High School, presented “The Purpose of Neurotransmitter Release.”
Lissette Martinez, of Crown Point, Ind., and a student at Indiana University, presented “Clinical Pharmacology of Antimetics of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.”
Jarrett Mickens, of Aurora, Ill., and a student at Valparaiso University, presented “Novel PET Cancer Imaging Agents.”
Jasmine Morris, of Indianapolis presented “The Effect of Age and Co-morbidity on Colorectal Cancer Screening.”
Misha Owenby, of West Lafayette, Ind., and a student at Purdue University, presented “DMAPT Inhibits Cell Growth and Increases the Radiation Sensitivity of Lung Cancer Cells.”
Leroy Seymour, of Avon, Ind., and a student at Indiana University, presented “Increased Proliferation is Not Responsible for Increased Cutaneous Tumor Burden and Size in PAF-R Knockout Mice Following Chemical Carcinogenesis.”
Logan Witt, of Indianapolis and a student at Indiana University, presented “Angiogenesis in Various Stages of Human Colorectal Cancer.”