Like most everyone, cancer research adapted and continued during a second year of COVID-19. In this newsletter, we showcase our new Cancer Research Collaboration of Excellence and highlight some exciting accomplishments of faculty, students and alumni. We also highlight recent activities that provided support for scholarships, equipment and supplies for cancer research at K-State.
Although COVID-19 has forced changes we resisted, it is now providing the opportunity to revitalize our programs. With decreased restrictions, we are looking forward to in-person gatherings that range from the familiar to new and different events. Together, with your support, our students and faculty will fight for a cure.
JCRC launches Cancer Research Collaboration of Excellence in Tumor Microenvironment Studies
This micro-CT image shows a whole breast tumor on the left, and the tumor’s microenvironment with diminished blood vessels and chemo- and radiation therapy-resistant regions on the right. —Photo courtesy of Brad Behnke
The collaboration is made possible with a two-year $100,000 award from the Johnson Cancer Research Center. Brad Behnke, professor of kinesiology and associate dean of research and graduate studies for the College of Health and Human Sciences, leads the collaboration. The members are investigating changes in the tumor microenvironment due to exposure to different levels of radiation, oxygen pressures and vitamin D.
Other researchers involved are Amir Bahadori, associate professor in mechanical and nuclear engineering; Carl Ade, associate professor in kinesiology; David Poole, university distinguished professor of anatomy and physiology and kinesiology; Chieko Azuma, clinical associate professor of radiation oncology; and Wei-Wen Hsu, associate professor in statistics.
Nick Wallace, biology, and colleagues published a study in the journal Cancers in December 2021. They study proteins involved in the development of HPV-caused cervical cancers. They were able to define some gene expression profiles across cervical precancer and cancer stages, identify genes correlating with disease progression, assess patient survival, and validate findings in cell models. View publication in Cancer.
Weiss delivers keynote presentation
Mark Weiss, anatomy & physiology, was a keynote speaker at the fourth International Caparica Christmas Conference on Translational Chemistry held in Caparica, Portugal, on Dec. 6. His presentation was titled “Using Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Detection”
DeLong collaborates on COVID-19 vaccine improvement
Rob DeLong, anatomy & physiology, and team are expanding on an industry partnership to increase stability of mRNA vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, using RNA nanotechnology. DeLong applies RNA nanotechnology in his cancer studies as well, correcting changes that occur in cancer cells to help stop metastasis. read more
Higginbotham receives funding to study special food for dogs with cancer
Mary Lynn Higginbotham, clinical sciences, and Gabrielle Rands received $41,611 from Hill’s Pet Nutrition for their collaborative investigation, “Evaluate a highly palatable, new food in dogs with different types of malignant cancer that are currently undergoing any conventional anti-cancer therapy.”
Welcome to our new faculty members!
Tendai Gadzikwa, chemistry, studies the use of the scaffold of crystalline, multifunctional, nanoporous framework materials to construct multi-tasking drug delivery systems that target cancer cells.
Kate Digby, dance, studies the use of breath and body awareness techniques in the context of simple and fun, low-impact, aerobic dance-exercise to enhance well-being for cancer patients, survivors, and their families.
(Photo credit: John Chapple | Collegian Media Group)
Student Achievements
Upreti awarded K-State fellowship
Deepa Upreti, a two-time graduate cancer research awardee working with Dr. Masaaki Tamura, was awarded the Dr. Jane A. Westfall Graduate Fellowship for Women, which provides financial assistance to female graduate students in the Anatomy & Physiology department.
Maddison File, who works with Dr. Sherry Fleming in biology, presented a poster about her melanoma research.
Students present at Undergraduate Research Showcase
Future cancer researchers, medical professionals and other problem solvers and leaders presented research posters at the Undergraduate Research Showcase hosted by K-State’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Dec 1.
Gido selected to present at state and national events
Carson Gido, a junior who works with Dr. Brian Geisbrecht in biochemistry and molecular biophysics, will present his research at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting in Philadelphia. The Johnson Cancer Research Center will provide a $500 Travel Award to help cover expenses.
Gido studies enzymes that play a role in damaging healthy cells and may promote tumor development. His presentation is titled, “Structural Basis for Nanomolar-Affinity Inhibition of Neutrophil Serine Protease Activity by the Staphylococcus aureus EAP Domain Protein, Eap1.”
Gido was also one of five K-State students selected to participate in Kansas Undergraduate Research Days March 1-3. The annual event, held virtually this year, provides a forum for students throughout Kansas to present their research to state legislators and other guests. His presentation was titled, “Inhibition of Neutrophil Serine Proteases by Staphylococcus aureus Extracellular Adherence Protein Domains.” read more
Vaithish Velazhahan, a 2018 K-State graduate in microbiology, medical biochemistry and pre-medicine, has been awarded the most prestigious prize for students at the University of Cambridge’s MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. The former Cancer Research Awardee worked with Dr. Kathrin Schrick in biology.
The Perutz Student Prize, awarded annually by the Max Perutz Fund, recognizes outstanding work performed at the LMB prior to receiving a Ph.D. The 2021 prize was awarded to Velazhahan and two other students.
Velazhahan was awarded the prize for his work determining the structure of fungal G protein-coupled receptors, which could someday help combat deadly fungal infections.
JCRC awards $84,852 and 26 Undergraduate Cancer Research Awards
Twenty-six undergraduate students were selected for our Cancer Research Award program last fall. They receive faculty-mentored research training and $1,500 awards. Faculty mentors receive $1,000 per student for research expenses. The funding allows the students to devote more time to research and less to non-academic jobs.
The awardees will be recognized at the annual Cancer Research Awards Banquet April 22. Read news release
The center also awarded $10,200 for faculty research and travel. More information is on our Faculty Awardees page.
Undergraduate Cancer Research Awardees were welcomed to the JCRC team at an orientation Dec. 1.
The Walk Kansas statewide fitness initiative presented by K-State Research & Extension sponsors this event to bring together Walk Kansas participants and others to celebrate fitness efforts and achievements, big and small, and raise money for K-State cancer research!
Half-marathoners are in for a treat with this point-to-point race focused on Highway 177, better known as Coach Bill Snyder Highway. Once again, they get to finish on the field of Bill Snyder Family Stadium!
Run, walk, skip or juggle a soccer ball on the scenic trail around Anneberg park for this community event honoring Frank Alonso, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in November of 2018.
8th Annual Fighting for a Cure campaign raises funds and awareness
Our thanks to everyone who bought Fighting for a Cure shirts and united in wearing them Oct. 16 to raise awareness and funds for K-State cancer research! More than $10,000 was raised!
Many friends helped raise awareness ahead of the big day and celebrated with us on Fighting for a Cure Day Oct. 16!
K-State sports legends Jordy Nelson, Laurie Koehn, Megan Mahoney, Nicole Ohlde, Kendra Wecker, Kevin Lockett, David Allen and other legendary K-State athletes & coaches showed their support at the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game.Former K-State Track & Field athlete Jenny Glodowski raised awareness while fighting cancer herself.It was great to visit with lots of friends—including Brian and Kelly, pictured here—at our Fighting for a Cure Tailgate Party co-hosted by the College of Arts & Sciences! We enjoyed food, beverages, purple swag and great company!
The K-State Marching Band spelled out “Beat Cancer” on the field!
See more photos of supporters like Coach Bill Snyder, K-State athletes and coaches, Band Director Dr. Frank Tracz, and more in our Facebook photo album.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson rallies support for K-State cancer research
K-State Wildcats Quarterback Skylar Thompson and his family are committed to being “part of the cure.” In October, they established the Thompson Family Cancer Research Fund for our center. The fund honors Skylar’s mom, Teresa Lynn Thompson, and grandfather, John Walter Thompson, who both died of cancer when he was young.
In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Skylar donated proceeds from his “Stronger Together” apparel sales. He also invited K-State supporters to join his efforts and donate to the fund.
By January, the extraordinary support of the Thompson and K-State families totaled $21,590! In April, the Teresa Thompson Cancer Research Award will be presented to an undergraduate student doing breast cancer research in chemistry.
“Cancer effects all of us in some way, and my family wants to be a part of the cure, so others don’t have to go through losing their loved ones like we did,” Skylar said.
We are so grateful to the Thompson family for leaving this legacy that will impact so many lives, and to the donors who supported their efforts!
23rd Annual Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament raises nearly $18,000
The Regier family, of Overland Park, hosted the 23rd annual Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament Sept. 17 at Colbert Hills in Manhattan. Thanks to the Regiers and many other supporters, it raised $17,872! It was great to see old and new friends and get a visit from the K-State Marching Band! Mark your calendars for Sept. 16, 2022!
Junction City and Clifton-Clyde schools make honorary gifts to JCRC
Junction City school donated $1,250 in honor of a teacher’s mom!
Students, staff and friends of Sheridan Elementary in Junction City raised $1,250 in honor of a teacher’s mom, who is fighting breast cancer. The classes competed and kids emptied piggy banks to show support for Mr. Manning and his mom and family. We visited the school to thank them for the gift and tell the kids about our center and research.
Clifton-Clyde Eagles donated $200 in honor of Coach Snyder!
In return for his presentation to Clifton-Clyde’s 6th- through 12th-graders, the Clifton-Clyde Eagles for Excellence in Education parent group donated $200 in honor of former K-State Head Football Coach Bill Snyder! Coach Snyder is a member of our advisory council.
K-State’s 8th Annual Fighting for a Cure Day Oct. 16
Join Coach Snyder and many others in celebrating K-State’s fight against cancer! Get your shirt—or hat!—and unite in wearing it for K-State’s 8th Annual Fighting for a Cure Day Oct. 16.
Watch for K-State Marching Band’s special halftime tribute and join in our Tailgate Party in Cat Town.
Spread the word by posting photos of yourself and friends wearing the shirt or hat, along with the hashtag, #HelpKStateFightCancer. View 2020 photos.
All apparel proceeds benefit our center. Get yours at:
Fri., Sept. 17
Shotgun Start 1 p.m. Colbert Hills, Manhattan
This tournament honors Rob Regier, a 1988 K-State pre-dentistry alum who died of cancer in 1992 at age 26. Hosted by Rob’s family, this 4-person scramble offers a steak dinner, souvenir item, silent auction, prizes and more. Check-in and same-day registration will start at 11 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 15 Shotgun Start 10 a.m.
Colbert Hills, Manhattan
This annual golf tournament honors Brad Heyka, a K-State finance alum who was tragically killed at the age of 27 in 2000. Proceeds support graduate student Cancer Research Awards and other K-State scholarships. Check-in will open at 8:30. An awards dinner will immediately follow the tournament.
Immunotherapy can leverage the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Some patients respond very well, but many do not. Dr. Punit Prakash, in electrical & computer engineering, has received a $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the monitoring of cancerous tumors’ immune states in order to assess immunotherapy interventions to fight tumors. read more
Dr. David Poole, in the departments of kinesiology and anatomy & physiology, has been listed in the top .01% of scholars writing about muscles by expertscape.com. This ranking recognizes him as a world-renowned expert. read more
Dr. Sim Jun, in social work, was selected to receive the 2021 K-State Global Campus Excellence in Online Teaching Award. read more
Jun also received one of two inaugural University Honors Program Teaching and Mentoring Awards. read more
Jun studies cancer health disparities among ethnic/racial minority groups as well as culturally appropriate and technology-supported health education and intervention strategies.
Drs. Mary Lynn Higginbotham and Raelene Wouda were part of a research team in the College of Veterinary Medicine that found that Visbiome® Vet probiotic may help mitigate diarrhea in dogs undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. This Visbiome formulation has also been studied in more than 70 human clinical trials. read story at Yahoo Finance
Dr. Katie Heinrichwas named head of kinesiology in August. She came to K-State in 2010. Her cancer-related research explores the impact of high-intensity functional exercise training on health, fitness and quality of life outcomes in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. read announcement
Josh Spradlin, a senior in kinesiology and pre-medicine with a minor in biology, who worked with Dr. Zhilong Yang in biology, was awarded the Kinesiology Advisory Board Scholarship. read more
Baumfalk gets two major K-State awards
Dryden Baumfalk, doctoral student in kinesiology working with Dr. Brad Behnke, received kinesiology’s outstanding doctoral student and graduate teaching assistant of the year award. read more
Baumfalk also received one of three University Distinguished Professors Graduate Student Awards. read more
Dalton Dacus, doctoral student in biology working with Dr. Nick Wallace, received the L. Evans Roth Award for Graduate Student Research in Cellular, Molecular or Developmental Biology. Dacus studies the mechanisms by which beta human papillomavirus promotes genome destabilization. read more
Lydia Waner, senior in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, biology and Spanish, earned an honorable mention in the national Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship competition. Waner works with Dr. Thomas Mueller in biology, studying gene expression patterns in the zebrafish brain. read more
A team of former Cancer Research Awardees and other undergraduate students led by Drs. Ranjit Singh and Katsura Asano, Division of Biology, has identified a potential therapeutic target to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. They’ve shown that a novel translational regulatory protein, 5MP, suppresses RAN translation, thereby inhibiting the production of toxic peptides. Their findings are published in the journal, Cell Reports. The cellular protein-production process they study is relevant to cancer growth.read more
Undergraduate Cancer Researchers presented in virtual showcase
Taylor Bugbee gave a presentation for the virtual Undergraduate Research Showcase April 20-22.
Cancer Research Awardees past and present gave virtual presentations for the K-State Undergraduate Research Showcase April 20-22. The event was sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry. Pictured above is Taylor Bugbee. View more images on our Facebook: Caleb Kline, Morgan Phillips, John Tumberger, Lydia Waner, Adara Warner, Lake Winter, Gage Wright. learn more
Division of Biology Most Promising Student Awards were given to Cancer Research Awardees Taylor Bugbee, junior in biology and pre-medicine, John Tumberger, junior in biology and pre-medicine, and Lydia Waner, senior in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology and Spanish. Faculty members nominated students based on grades, rigor of academic program, extracurricular activities, faculty recommendations, and interview performance. read more
Former Cancer Research Awardee Jared Newell, recent graduate in biology with minors in journalism and mass communications and leadership studies, received the Developing Scholars Program’s Above and Beyond Award recognizing scholars who have done well in their research and beyond. He worked with Dr. Thomas Mueller in biology. read more
Former Cancer Research Awardee Diana Najera, recent graduate in biochemistry who worked with Dr. Maureen Gorman, received the Developing Scholars Program’s Rita G. Perez Exemplary Scholar Award, which “honors a scholar who, like Rita Perez herself, exemplifies the whole package.” read more
Adara Warner, senior in medical laboratory science and microbiology working with Dr. Kathrin Schrick, was one of only 18 students in the nation selected by the Alpha Mu Tau professional fraternity to receive the Watson Scholarship for undergraduate students in medical laboratory science. read more
Thanks to our supporters, we were able to direct $415,939 to cancer research and education programs and students this past academic year.
We awarded $95,500 in Innovative Research Awards for studies in such areas as safer drug delivery methods, lab-on-a-chip cancer detection technology, and new chemical tools for cancer drug discovery. We also awarded $150,439 in undergraduate and graduate student Cancer Research Awards and $50,000 to establish the Cancer Research Collaboration of Excellence in Tumor Microenvironment.
We facilitated two major, directed gifts. The Flossie West Trust provided $100,000 for breast cancer immunotherapy research. Linders Family Cancer Expansion Awards totaling $20,000 were awarded to help two faculty members expand the cancer focus of their research programs. read more
The 4th Annual Pink Up the Pace 5K and 1-Mile Honor Walk, held April 24, had record numbers of participants running and walking down Poyntz Ave. and participating virtually! Our thanks to Downtown Manhattan,Stormont Vail Health, Manhattan Running Company and all the sponsors and participants!
You could feel the love for Frank Alonso at the 3rd Annual You’ll Never Run Alone 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk held July 24 in Anneberg Park, Manhattan. The local youth soccer coach passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. Since then, Frank’s wife Jennifer and daughters Isabella and Sophia have worked hard to organize this annual 5K to honor him and raise money for pancreatic cancer research. We are deeply grateful to them and the hundreds of participants, sponsors and volunteers who helped this event raise $6,645 for K-State cancer research. This brings the total to $26,545!
We’ve been busy this spring preparing to showcase K-State cancer researchers in our annual Conquest magazine, welcome visitors during K-State Open House, and honor our student researchers and benefactors at a virtual recognition ceremony. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out all the great things our team members and supporters are doing to help K-State fight cancer!
Our 2021 Conquest magazine is hot off the press! Easy-to-read stories spotlight some of K-State’s excellent cancer research and some partners who help make it happen.
Read about Dr. Jocelyn McDonald’s cell movement research that could aid in brain cancer drug development. See how biochemistry major Kierra Holloman’s cancer research experience is enhancing her path to medical school. Learn how Dr. Punit Prakash is fighting cancer with microwaves and how Dr. Mary Lynn Higginbotham is fighting cancer in pets.
You can also read about Liz Benditt surviving four cancers in eight years, and the late Lyman and Flossie West’s support of Dr. Anna Zolkiewska’s breast cancer research.
