Kansas State University

Our 2016 Conquest magazine is hot off the press! Read about Dr. Raelene Wouda‘s cancer drug clinical trials in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Stefan Rothenburg and his student Adam Schieferecke’s studies into the use of viruses to fight cancer, and a multidisciplinary collaboration between Drs. Susan Sun and Annelise Nguyen that has resulted in the use of a new K-State-developed biomaterial to grow breast cancer cells into 3-D tumors that are more complex and helpful for research than traditional 2-D cell cultures.

You’ll also read about National Cancer Institute laboratory director and K-State Alumni Fellow Dr. Bob Kinders, who is helping us develop future cancer scientists, and the purple-bleeding Regier family, who will have their 19th annual Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament for us Oct. 7. And don’t miss the story about how kids at a Gilda’s Club in Grand Rapids, Mich., are benefiting from our A Day With Dr. Waddle activity book.

Read Conquest on the Web or request a paper copy.

The acclaimed statewide fitness motivation program, Walk Kansas, which is organized by K-State Research & Extension, will hold its inaugural Walk Kansas 5K for the Fight (and 1.5-mile fun walk) on the beautiful K-State Manhattan campus at 10 a.m. May 7 and donate all proceeds to our center! It is open to everyone, not just Walk Kansas participants.

Timing will be managed by Manhattan Cross Country Club, which uses the IPICO chip timing system. Medals will go to the fastest 3 males and females in each age category: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & older. All participants will receive a high-quality souvenir water bottle and other goodies as well as water and post-event snacks. Cost is $25. Details and a link to register online are on our WK5K webpage.

ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

Pink & Purple Polyester Party – Fri., April 22, 7-11:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center

Walk Kansas 5K For the Fight – Sat., May 7, 10 a.m., Manhattan campus

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo – Fri., July 22, 8 p.m., Wells Arena in CiCo Park, Manhattan, Kan.

Advisory Council Fall Meeting – Sat., Oct. 1

Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament – Fri., Oct. 7, 1 p.m. shotgun start, Colbert Hills Golf Course

K-State Fighting for a Cure Day & JCRC Tailgate Party in Cat Town – Sat., Oct. 8. NEW SHIRT DESIGN IN 2016!

George S. Bascom Memorial Lecture on Current Issues in Clinical Medicine – Thu., Nov. 3, Michael E. Hagensee, Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Dig out your polyester bell bottoms and platform shoes–or just some pink or purple–and disco for a cure at the groovy Pink & Purple Polyester Party, presented by CivicPlus, 7 p.m., Fri., April 22, at the K-State Alumni Center. Last year’s party raised $13,120!

Shake your booty with Kansas City’s Disco Dick & the Mirrorballs and Manhattan’s host-with-the-most Dave Lewis! Vote for your favorite Off the Hook bra crafted by a local business! Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar catered by Bockers II Catering, as well as a fun photo station! The guest with the most far-out 60s, 70s or 80s threads wins $100!

Tickets are $60, or get a reserved table for 10 and recognition as a Cool Cat Sponsor for $500. Pay online until April 21, or pay at the door.

We thank major sponsors CivicPlus and Central Kansas Cancer Center! We also thank Manhattan Broadcasting and all our Cool Cat table sponsors and other sponsors (see webpage), as well as the planning committee, volunteers and party-goers!

Congratulations to K-State’s 2015-2016 Undergraduate Cancer Researchers!
Students selected for our undergraduate Cancer Research Award (CRA) program last fall were recognized at our annual CRA Banquet April 8. Also recognized were their faculty mentors and the donors who make the awards possible. All awardees are listed on our Student Awardees webpage and in this news release. Photos of the banquet and each student receiving his or her award will be shared soon. Watch our Facebook and Twitter pages.

We awarded $266,394 this spring!
Thanks to our generous supporters, we invested $265,394 into K-State cancer research and education this semester! We awarded faculty $147,245 for innovative research projects, $38,500 for laboratory equipment, and $500 for travel to collaborate or receive training. We awarded graduate students $72,217 in summer stipends and $6,932 for travel. The awardees are listed on our Faculty and Student Awardee webpages.

Faculty Kudos

Rollie Clem, biology, has been selected to serve as a rotational program officer for the National Science Foundation. read more

Clem also published “Arboviruses and apoptosis: The role of cell death in determining vector competence” in the Journal of General Virology. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000429.

Dr. Mei He and graduate student Kim Pleviak developed a 3-D printed diagnostic device that can rapidly detect anemia. This relates to other work Dr. He does to develop low-cost biomedical devices for point-of-care cancer diagnostics. read more

Dr. Jooyoun Kim, who studies biomedical/cancer applications of fiber-based biomaterials in the department of apparel, textiles & interior design, received a 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award! She also will be K-State’s team leader in a $317 million national fabric research partnership with Advanced Functional Fabrics of America and the U.S. Department of Defense. read more

Dr. Beth Montelone, professor of biology and associate dean for research in the College of Arts & Sciences, received a Kansas Advancement of Women in Science Award. read more

Student Kudos

Adam Schieferecke, junior in microbiology and biochemistry working in Stefan Rothenburg’s lab in biology, was awarded a prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. He also represented K-State at Undergraduate Day at the Capitol and was the guest speaker at our annual CRA Banquet.

Raquel Ortega, junior in chemistry working in Stefan Bossmann’s lab in chemistry, was awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Honorable Mention.

Muriel Eaton, a senior in biochemistry working in Jeroen Roelofs’ lab in biology, was nominated by K-State for a Goldwater Scholarship.

Chen Peng, PhD student in microbiology working in Rothenburg’s lab in biology, made it to the final round of K-State’s Three Minute Thesis competition ‪#‎3MT‬! read more

Erika Peters, senior in microbiology working in Kathrin Schrick’s lab in biology, won the Division of Biology’s Haymaker Award for Outstanding Senior.

Vaithish Velazhahan, sophomore in biology working in Schrick’s lab in biology, won a Division of Biology Most Promising Student Award.

IN THE NEWS…

“Dr. Stefan Rothenburg finds key to myxoma virus/rabbit coevolution” – From K-State News Services, April 5, 2016

“K-State cancer research shares goal with Biden’s ‘moonshot’ initiative” – From The Collegian, March 30, 2016

You asked for it, you got it! A new K-State Fighting for a Cure shirt will be available soon!

Wear your shirt to the home football game or anywhere Oct. 8, 2016, in celebration of K-State cancer research and Breast Cancer Awareness Month! We also invite you to help us cheer on the ‘Cats that day at our Tailgate Party in Cat Town!

Proceeds from shirt sales support K-State cancer research. Contact Marcia to pre-order.

We’ll have more details about the shirt soon. Watch our Facebook or Twitter.