CRTEC Program Participants

Massey mentor: Kaustubh Datta, PhD

Research focus: Investigating whether targeting Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) can overcome docetaxel resistance in advanced prostate cancer by enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity and suppressing resistance-associated signaling pathways.

Massey mentor: Priscilla Hwang, PhD

Research focus: Using computational microfluidic models to investigate how cell shape, orientation, and tissue architecture influence fluid shear stress experienced by cancer cells.

Massey mentor: Anindita Das, PhD

Research focus: Evaluating whether sildenafil and rapamycin can enhance the effectiveness of doxorubicin therapy and increase cancer cell death in triple-negative breast cancer.

Massey mentor: Katherine Tossas, PhD

Research focus: Evaluating whether residual Pap test specimens can be used to measure local cortisol levels as a biomarker for HPV persistence and cervical precancer risk.

Massey mentor: Venkata Battula, PhD

Research focus: Investigating GD3 synthase inhibition as a strategy to target cancer stem cells and reduce recurrence in triple-negative breast cancer.

Massey mentor: Venkata Battula, PhD

Research focus: Evaluating novel GD3 synthase-targeting compounds as a strategy to reduce GD2 expression and improve targeted treatment approaches for triple-negative breast cancer.

Massey mentor: Huiping Zhou, PhD

Research focus: Investigating how cell-specific loss of HuR influences liver aging, inflammation, and gut-liver communication.

Massey mentor: Yue Sun, PhD

Research focus: Investigating how targeting PIPKIγ can enhance antigen presentation and strengthen anti-tumor immune responses in melanoma.

Massey mentor: Rebecca Martin, PhD

Research focus: Investigating whether glutaminase inhibition can reduce cisplatin-induced hypersensitivity and modulate immune responses.

Massey mentor: Joseph Landry, PhD

Research focus: Investigating how inhibition of the chromatin remodeling protein BPTF can enhance anti-tumor immune responses in triple-negative breast cancer.

Massey mentor: Imad Damaj, PhD

Research focus: Investigating the Role of Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Massey mentor: Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, PhD

Research focus: Investigating new drug compounds that block SLC25A32, a protein that helps liver cancer cells survive and grow, to evaluate their potential as targeted treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Massey mentor: Molly Bristol, PhD

Research focus: Developing novel models of HPV-associated anal cancer to understand how HPV genome status influences disease progression and treatment response.

Massey mentor: Anthony Faber, PhD

Research focus: Investigating the role of epigenetic dysregulation and MYCN amplification in driving aggressive, treatment-resistant neuroblastoma.

School: Virginia Commonwealth University (Bioinformatics Major)

Massey mentor: Alexandra Harris, PhD

Research focus: Investigating the epigenetic factors associated with mammographic breast density to better understand breast cancer risk in diverse populations.

School: Virginia Commonwealth University (Biology Major)

Massey mentor: Henbin Wang, PhD

Research focus: Investigating how PLK1 inhibitors and RSF1 modification can enhance treatment sensitivity and reduce drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

School: Virginia Tech (Computer Science/AI Major)

Massey mentor: Venkata Battula, PhD

Research focus: Developing an AI-powered, citation-grounded research tool to improve discovery, retrieval, and synthesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) literature.

School: Virginia State University (Biology Major)

Massey mentor: Chris Green, PhD

Research focus: Investigating the role of SphK2 in regulating macrophage polarization and immune responses within disease environments.

School: Virginia Commonwealth University (Biology Major)

Massey mentor: Paula Bos, PhD

Research focus: Developing advanced 3D imaging techniques to study astrocyte-tumor interactions in brain metastasis and the brain tumor microenvironment.

School: Virginia Commonwealth University (Biology and Bioinformatics Major)

Massey mentor: Kristoffer Valerie, PhD

Research focus: Investigating how ATM inhibitor-based radiosensitization and lactate-targeting therapies can improve immune responses against aggressive glioma tumors.

Assigned Team: Leukemia and Lymphoma Working Group Team

School: Senior at the College of William and Mary (Neuroscience Major)

Assigned Team: GI Disease Working Group Team

School: 2026 Graduate of the College of William and Mary

Medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from Lafayette College.

Medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Earned his bachelor's degree in public health from the University of Virginia.

Massey mentor: Gordon D. Ginder, M.D.

Research focus: Investigating mechanisms of cell death following depletion of CHD4 in TP53-mutant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Massey mentor: Shawn Wang, Ph.D.

Research interests: Investigating the role of scavenger receptor A (SRA/CD204) in tumor responsiveness to immunotherapies, drug-induced tissue injury, and immune-associated adverse events.

Massey mentor: Kevin Byrd, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Research interests: Integrating single-cell and spatial multiomics to define stromal-immune cell communication within the oral tumor microenvironment.

Massey mentor: Paula Bos, Ph.D.

Research interests: Cancer pathology and immunology, focusing on mental health treatments and quality-of-life improvements for patients with brain metastasis.

Massey mentor: Anthony Faber, Ph.D.

Research interests: Epigenetic regulation and HDAC6 signaling in shaping immune niches, oral cancer stem cell formation, and periodontal pathogen-driven OSCC progression.

Focus: Hands-on experience across grant, manuscript, protocol, and public-facing scientific communication.

Focus: Rotational exposure to grant writing, manuscript preparation, clinical protocols, and data presentation.

Massey mentor: Mignonne Guy, Ph.D.

Research interests: Mixed-methods analyses grounded in humanistic frameworks within social and behavioral health sciences, health policy, and health communication addressing systemic disparities.

Massey mentor: Kim Rhoads, M.D., MS, MPH, FACS

Research interests: Cancer prevention and developing health interventions to increase screening uptake and understand associated psychosocial factors.