James D. Popp Fellows

Purvika Gautam grew up in Virginia Beach and received a bachelor’s in cognitive science at the University of Virginia (UVA). At UVA, she worked as a medical scribe for the UVA Health System and taught literacy and English to refugees and immigrants who resettled in Charlottesville. This period inspired her desire to pursue a medical career dedicated to serving her community. 

Purvika subsequently worked as a clinical research coordinator at UVA’s Emily Couric Cancer Center. This work sparked her curiosity in cancer research. In particular, she became interested in understanding oncology as she witnessed the challenges patients faced in accessing and enrolling in clinical trials.

During her time as a Popp Fellow, Purvika engaged in research alongside Katherine Y. Tossas, Ph.D. Their work expanded upon a prior study conducted in Tossa’s lab revealing an association between metabolic disorders (e.g., high cholesterol) and high-grade cervical cancer lesions (HSIL) that was present among women. Purvika’s research delves into whether statin use attenuates the association between dyslipedemia and HSIL. 

Reflecting on her experience, Purvika says: “I’m so grateful for Dr. Jack Haar and everyone supporting the James D. Popp Research Fund. I know Gurbani, and I wanted nothing more but to uphold Dr. James Popp’s legacy and to continue the tradition of advancing cancer research in his name. I’d like to thank the Popp family for entrusting us with this significant responsibility – they’ve given me the invaluable gift of a remarkable mentor in scientific research, someone I will continue to collaborate with throughout medical school.”

Gurbani Jolly Gurbani Jolly grew up in Northern Virginia and received her bachelor’s in psychology from VCU. Following graduation, she worked as a public health laboratory associate to perform point of care COVID-19 testing. Additionally, she earned her master’s in tumor biology at Georgetown University where she conducted research on the role of a non-selective cholecystokinin inhibitor on the cellular plasticity of pancreatic cancer stellate cells.

Gurbani first became interested in cancer during high school when she completed a summer internship at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center researching therapy-induced senescence in triple negative breast cancer. Taking more cancer-specific courses in undergraduate studies, shadowing various physicians and volunteering at a free health care clinic helped spark her interest in medicine, particularly in oncology. Additionally, with special interests in the role of nutrition in health and visual arts, she hopes to integrate humanities within the context of medicine to promote physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

As a Popp Fellow, she worked in the laboratory of David Turner, Ph.D. Gurbani was determining if dietary advanced glycation end product (AGE) consumption creates a pro-tumorigenic environment in the breast to promote MYC-mediated tumor progression through murine cell models. She hypothesized that MYC activation in epithelial cells is an oncogenic event leading to tumor initiation and/or progression in mice fed a high AGE diet during puberty. She believes that understanding the cellular actions of AGE- mediated dietary consumption can help identify specific mechanisms of action and potential intervention strategies.

Gurbani would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in supporting the James D. Popp Research Fellowship, particularly Dr. Jack Haar and the Popp family. She felt incredibly honored to have the opportunity to carry on the Popp legacy and that the experience helped integrate her personal and educational interests in order to enable early intervention and prevention strategies for patients.

Carolyn Haynes (2022) is a second year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She grew up in Virginia Beach and received her B.S in Honors in Clinical Neuroscience from Virginia Tech in 2020. Following graduation, she worked as a laboratory technician in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, where she also helped lead an internship for aspiring medical laboratory technicians. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and pets, as well as exploring new things to do around Richmond.

Carolyn first became interested in researching cancer and working with cancer patients when she began volunteering in hospice as an undergraduate. Volunteering with hospice patients helped Carolyn understand both the urgency to develop new cancer treatments as well as the importance of a caring, compassionate and empathetic patient care team to a patient’s wellbeing. As a Popp Fellow, she is working with Dr. Harry Bear and his laboratory at Massey Cancer Center. Dr. Bear’s lab has previously shown the ability of guadecitabine, a DNA hypomethylating factor, to downregulate some of the immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment that impede the use of immunotherapy. Carolyn’s research aims to build on this concept by combining guadecitabine with anti-PDL1, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as well as the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. By testing the efficacy of these drugs in different sequences in a murine model, she aims to identify possible dosages and sequences that can potentially be used in a clinical trial.

Her previous research experience includes investigation into the interaction between glioblastomas and blood vessels in the developing zebrafish brain with Dr. Harald Sontheimer at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Carolyn aspires to pursue residency in General Surgery and fellowship in Surgical Oncology following medical school.

Carolyn would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to the Popp Research Fellowship fund, and she hopes to honor the late Dr. James D. Popp with her work, as well as embody his strength and perseverance in her education and career. She hopes that her research can contribute to clinical trials to make breast cancer treatment more efficacious and minimally toxic for patients.

Younus Aqeel (2019) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He grew up in Inland Southern California and received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine. Following graduation, he spent a few years teaching and became interested in medicine after becoming involved in research at the USC Keck School of Medicine. In his free time, Younus enjoys watching movies, hiking, being outdoors, exploring Richmond, and traveling abroad with his friends.

Younus’s interest in learning about cancer comes from seeing how curing a patient’s cancer can give him/her their life back. As a first year medical student, Younus is currently unsure of where he will end up but knows that treating patients with cancer requires a multidisciplinary effort from several physicians. “I’m confident that research this summer will teach me how to think about cancer at the cellular level so that I can someday apply this knowledge when treating patients, regardless of which specialty I’m in.” This summer, Younus will be working in the lab of Dr. Devanand Sarkar. Dr. Sarkar’s lab investigates the molecular basis behind hepatocellular carcinoma with the goal of discovering a treatment for this type of liver cancer. Younus’s project involves cloning two genes upregulated in liver cancer, IFI6 and TAF2, into a DNA vector with the goal of transfecting this vector into mice to create a mouse model of liver cancer. “Creating this mouse model will help understand how liver cancer affects a physiological system and guide ideas for therapeutic strategies.”

Younus would like to thank everyone responsible for supporting the James D. Popp Fellowship and contributing to its fund. “I am extremely honored to be a part of this fellowship and for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution towards cancer research. I’m eager to learn more about Dr. Popp’s legacy and how to embody his resilience and the compassion he had with his patients,” he says.

Kelly McCoy (2018) is a 2nd year student at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School. She was born in Annandale, Virginia, where she grew up playing soccer, running, and hiking. Kelly has always enjoyed traveling and this led her to Scotland where she obtained her Masters of Arts in Economics and Management from the University of St. Andrews. While a student in St. Andrews, Kelly became an avid soccer player – competing against teams from England and Wales during her career as a Striker. After completing her undergraduate education, Kelly returned to the USA to complete a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program at the University of Virginia before she continued on to medical school.

Due to her non-traditional educational journey, Kelly was eager to get involved in research upon starting at VCU Medical School and particularly interested in breast cancer research. She was drawn to oncology research as a result of a close family member’s battle with breast cancer. Kelly became especially interested in research that was investigating mitigations to lessen the harmful effects of chemotherapy on patients. Her research at the VCU Massey Cancer Center under the instruction of Dr. Harry Bear will attempt to identify biomarkers in residual breast cancer cells that can distinguish aggressive cancers that require additional chemotherapy from those cancers that are less aggressive. Kelly hopes that correlating the presence of a biomarker in residual breast cancer cells could help physicians “personalize” treatment plans for breast cancer patients.

Kelly would like to thank Dr. Jack Haar, The Popp Family, and all those connected with the Ride for Jim Foundation for affording her the opportunity to engage in oncology research this summer. She is humbled to be selected as this year’s James D. Popp Summer Fellow and inspired to continue the legacy of Dr. James Popp who embodied – above all else – an unwavering devotion to his family, friends, and patients. Kelly hopes that she can carry forward the compassion in life and in medicine that allowed Dr. Popp to touch so many around him.

Seth Spencer (2017) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. He grew up in Fort Collins Colorado where he enjoyed camping, weekend adventures with friends, and spending time with his family. While a junior in high school Seth was diagnosed with leukemia. After experiencing various aspects of disease and treatment Seth has been free of cancer and treatment since December 2007. He attended Brigham Young University in Utah. Among the many classes he enjoyed he found those which inspired and excited him the most taught how the mind and body worked—which led him to major in neuroscience. His own experience with cancer and these classes inspired Seth to pursue the field of medicine.

Seth loves being in Richmond and is quickly falling in love with the wonderful outdoor and diverse scene which Richmond has to offer. Seth loves the bike trails along the river and the many delicious places to eat! This summer Seth will be working in the research lab of Dr. Anthony Faber pursuing targeted therapy for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a rare and fatal cancer that effects the brain stem. Seth is very grateful for the advances and care which allow him to be alive today, but also realizes there is still a lot of work to do, and not all people with cancer have the positive outcomes which he experienced. Seth is particularly excited for an opportunity to be a part of the great work that is improving treatment to help others who experience cancer.

Seth would like to thank those who have participated in the Ride for Jim and for those who have made this funding possible. “I am very grateful for this opportunity and trust. I am inspired by the life of Dr. James D. Popp and his dedication as a scholar, physician, athlete, loving family member and friend to all. It is an example I hope to replicate.”

Jeffrey Strojny (2016) is a first year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. He grew up in Wilmington, DE and attended the University of Richmond, receiving a B.A. in music and minor in psychology. While in school, he competed as a cross country and track & field athlete, earning all-conference honors. Upon graduating, he decided to stay in Richmond and open a New Balance specialty running and walking shoe store. To enhance his understanding of lower extremity biomechanics, he attended Temple University’s Pedorthic Pre-certification program and subsequently received his degree in Pedorthics from the ABCOP. This spurred Jeff’s interest in healthcare, prompting him to complete VCU’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program and later matriculate into the VCU School of Medicine class of 2019.

Jeff’s research background includes working in Dr. Carlos Escalante’s laboratory on viral gene therapy, making headway into using viruses to deliver and integrate DNA vectors into human DNA, thereby restoring lost gene function. Jeff’s interest in cancer research stems from the challenge of fighting such a notorious disease: “Growing up, I remember regarding cancer as a disease that was impossible to cure, and I looked upon the cancer battle with a sense of disbelief. As I learned more about what cancer entails, I began to understand some of the roadblocks, but still couldn’t believe we were often at the mercy of this fateful disease. I have seen the research and I understand the inner-workings of cancer. This is a disease that can be beat; it is far from impossible.”

Jeff would like to thank those that make the James D. Popp Fellowship possible. “Receiving this fellowship is a true honor. It has given me added motivation to contribute meaningful research to the cancer field and continue Dr. Popp’s legacy.” Jeff will be working in the lab of Dr. Harry Bear on adoptive immunotherapy, a promising new avenue of cancer treatment.

Stephanie DeMasi (2015) is a first year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. Stephanie grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia as the oldest of five children. She attended VCU where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science in 2014. She was a four-year member of the VCU Field Hockey team and served as captain her senior year. Participating in college athletics taught her how to excel as a leader and how to persevere through trials of physical and mental toughness. She is excited for the opportunity to utilize her work ethic and teamwork ability, in order to make a difference in the field of cancer research.

“I have become particularly drawn to the field of surgical oncology, as it is complex, challenging, and has a certain aspect of ingenuity that I find stimulating. A field that requires roles in both surgery and research will be indisputably challenging, and I cannot imagine a greater reward nor happier place to be in as a future career. Prior to being involved in clinical medicine, this summer offers an exciting opportunity to experience how basic science research makes an unparalleled difference in the world of cancer. I have the honor of working in Dr. Kazuaki Takabe’s laboratory this summer, where considerable contribution has lead to the manifestation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) as an important contributor to the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. Recent research has discovered that animal experiments are addressing the progression and prognosis of the primary breast tumor (orthotopically implanted breast tumor), which is not the case for human breast cancer patients where primary tumors are removed surgically and the prognoses are determined, not by the progression of the primary tumor, but by the recurrence of the tumor or by the development of drug resistance and progression of metastatic lesions. Therefore, the principle goal of my summer research is to establish a murine Radical Mastectomy model that will contribute to the multi-disciplinary context of Surgical Oncology Research.”

Stephanie would like to thank those that made the James D. Popp Fellowship possible. She feels incredibly proud to represent the meaningful memory and life of Dr. Popp. “His life truly put things into perspective and has unquestionably inspired so many individuals around him, including myself. The Student Research Fellowship, leaves a meaningful memory and motivation to those following in his footsteps. The James D. Popp Summer Fellowship adds a tangible element to the many challenges faced by cancer research. This is an extraordinary way to celebrate the life of Dr. Popp, and I wish to continue the ongoing tradition with the integrity, and ambition required.”

Ingrid Woelfel (2014) is a first year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She attended middle and high school in Eugene, Oregon before eventually graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Spanish in 2013. While attending Notre Dame, she was part of the varsity rowing team and eventually qualified for NCAAs my junior and senior year.

As a Popp Fellow, Ingrid worked with Dr. Kazuaki Takabe to investigate the action of sphingosine-1-phosphate and its potential to contribute to an understanding of disease mechanisms in the areas of pancreatic and colon cancer. His murine disease model for pancreatic and colon cancer will further elucidate the impact that this molecule has on peritoneal carcinomatosis, a late stage complication of both carcinomas. Ingrid is excited to be working in a team environment that will enhance medical research with the goal of ultimately improving patient care.

Biking is a favorite hobbies of Ingrid, and she first learned of the James D. Popp after participating in the 2013 Ride for Jim. As her first year comes to a close, Ingrid is considering oncology as it is a field that greatly impacts the lives of patients and our broader community. This summer promises to be a formative experience that will continue to shape her path in medicine. Ingrid is am extremely humbled to have been chosen as a representative of James D. Popp’s legacy and plan to take full advantage of this learning opportunity.

Jeremy Kalma (2013) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He grew up in Los Angeles, California with his hometown being Long Beach. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts (drawing, painting, and sculpture) in 2004. Following graduation, Jeremy worked for several years as a project manager for a real estate developer in Orange County. Despite enjoying his position, he learned he desired a career that utilized his gifts more directly, satisfied his scientific curiosity, and provided a more tangible way of impacting the lives of others. As a result, Jeremy enrolled in USC’s premedical post-baccalaureate program so that he could apply to medical school in order to pursue a career in surgical medicine.

“Following my first year of medical school, I continue to learn about medicine and the career paths it offers as well as myself and my personal goals. My interest in pursuing a career in cancer medicine came primarily as a result of experiencing a loved one’s battle with cancer as well as the subsequent loss of that family member. Although I find the necessary skill, precision, and knowledge to do surgical oncology intriguing, it is the chance to be there for someone at a time in their lives when they are in the most need of assistance that I find most captivating; a time when nothing else matters but one’s own health or the health of a loved one. I have experienced what it is like to be part of a family dealing with cancer; an experience I hope I will never have to go through again. Despite losing someone so close to me and the pain that goes with that loss, my experience with cancer taught me so much, and for that I am grateful. There will undoubtedly be many others who find themselves in situations much like mine. I hope that I can take what I have learned from my experience, research, and training in order to be the best physician possible to those who find themselves on the same road.”

Jeremy would like to thank all of those who make the annual Ride for Jim possible including all of the generous donors. Jeremy also wanted to add, “Since becoming aware of the fellowship, I continue to learn about Jim Popp and the life he led. Hearing about the work ethic, character, and selflessness he demonstrated are a constant reminder of the type of person and physician I aspire to be. I hope I can use this opportunity to continue to honor the legacy of such a remarkable individual.”

Hannah Gardner (2012) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She was born and raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania; however, her family recently moved down to Blacksburg, Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology at Houghton College with a minor in chemistry and communication. Outside of schoolwork, Hannah’s hobbies include playing sports, being outside, and teaching herself how to play the guitar and banjo. She has enjoyed biking in the past, but she never endeavored a cycling adventure like Ride for Jim until last year’s ride at Rockett’s Landing. It took a good bit of training and some real determination but she was grateful that she was able to participate in the ride this past year, and she looks forward to the ride this year as well. Hannah states that “it was a joy to be able to cycle amongst a group of people who were raising support for a cause such as this, in honor of a remarkable man.”

As a second year medical student, Hannah is unsure of what the future holds for her. She explains that she is “malleable and willing to work anywhere at this point”, and she is interested to see where her medical career takes her. Although she is not particularly drawn to a career in oncology right now, she recognizes that cancer has widespread effects. Whether it be a family member, a friend, or themselves, most people can say that cancer has caused anxiety or pain in their lives in one way or another. Because of this, she has felt lead to participate in activities such as Relay for Life and fundraisers during breast cancer awareness month with her collegiate volleyball team. She was eager to take the next step and use what she was taught in college and medical school to possibly find out something new in the field of cancer research.

Hannah was extremely excited to work for the summer in the Goodwin Research Center. She spent her time researching with Dr. Shirley Taylor doing a project focused on mitochondrial epigenetics in brain tumors. It was an amazing chance for her to work hands on in the lab and learn what research entails. She certainly enjoyed her time researching and looks back fondly upon the experiences that she had there. The project that she was working on has been carried on with other members in the lab, and this will hopefully lead to new answers and a publication someday. Hannah realizes that without the Ride for Jim and its many supporters, she would not have been able to do this kind of research last summer. Therefore, she would like to say thank you and that she is immensely grateful for the James D. Popp Summer Research Fellowship and how it granted her this opportunity.

Chris Hong (2011) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Born and raised in San Jose, California very close to the heart of Silicon Valley. He attended Santa Clara University where he received a bachelors degree in electrical engineering in 2004 and a masters degree in electrical engineering in 2006. From 2004 to 2010, he worked as an electrical engineer at ITT Corporation, designing and developing high frequency signal intelligence systems for the US military.

In 2005, a close relative was diagnosed with cancer, and it was his arduous journey which ignited his interest in medicine as a career path. He was fascinated by the science of healthcare and the technology of the treatment. He began shadowing physicians and volunteering in hospitals and soon discovered that he sincerely enjoyed interacting with patients and the idea of being able to provide care for people in his community. The following year, he began taking pre-medical courses in the hopes of applying to medical school.

In 2008, he suffered from a disc herniation and sciatica due to a weight lifting injury. Over the next ten months, he endured severe back and leg pain and lost the physical freedoms he once took for granted. For physical conditioning, he took to cycling because he was no longer able to run. He quickly fell in love with the sport. Through cycling, he was able to strengthen his core, improve his fitness, and eventually recover from injury. It was a very difficult time in his life, and it was cycling which enabled his body and spirits to feel whole again.

He was extremely excited when he heard about the James D. Popp Summer Research Fellowship because, not only is it an excellent opportunity for research, but also because it combines two things that have had a profound impact on his life: cancer and cycling. He is extremely honored to have the opportunity to contribute towards the fight against cancer through research. Also, during one not so distant summer, He hopes to participate in the Transamerica Ride for Jim (if his wife lets him) because it is a fun and unique way to promote cancer research while honoring a great man.

Kyle Kindley (2010) is a medical student at the VCU School of Medicine with aspirations of becoming an oncologist. He was born and raised in Clarksville, Virginia, a small town with approximately 1,200 citizens. Kyle graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a B.A. in Physics. He is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hobbies including biking, hunting, and fishing. Kyle has biked several trails throughout Virginia, but has never attempted such a daunting feat as the TransAmerica Ride for Jim. However, he did mention that, “the Ride for Jim is truly a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ adventure, and I would be honored to be able to partake in the ride following my residency years. The summer fellowship gives me further inspiration to join the ride and provide fellow researchers the opportunity to perform cancer research due to the helpful contributions afforded by the Ride for Jim.

As a lifelong resident of Southside Virginia, Kyle wishes to return home after studying oncology to serve cancer patients who yearn for the stable establishment of a patient-oncologist relationship. Before starting medical school, he volunteered in many cancer related settings including Relay for Life and the Pediatric Oncology department at the VCU Medical Center. However, the Jim Popp research experience will be his first exposure to the extensive process of cancer research. Despite minimal experience in research, he is very excited to have been awarded the first Jim Popp Summer Research Fellowship. Kyle is currently discussing topics with several researchers at the Massey Cancer Center, and he is hoping to have a project started by this June. He concluded, “I would like to thank all who have graciously donated and volunteered their time to make the Ride for Jim a reality.

Kyle says of his experience: “I was grateful enough to be awarded the Ride for Jim Summer Fellowship award in its inaugural year of 2010. After spending that summer working with Dr. David Williams at the Massey Cancer Center, I was able to learn the tools of the trade of a research laboratory and integrated new trained skills to become a successful researcher. Our research team focused on DNA-protein interaction with a specific oncogene and utilized protein structure mechanics to generate a synthetic protein to interact with the DNA strand. My team was able to make a poster with our data to display at a national genetic conference at the University of North Carolina. We are currently working on a publication, and I hope to continue this amazing journey in the field of research in the future. Also, I am currently in the process of searching for another nationally recognized cancer research conference to further share the knowledge I have gained through this incredible opportunity.”