Kansas State University

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.

Read more in the 2021 Conquest.

Faculty

Behnke named associate dean for research and graduate studies for College of Health and Human Sciences

Brad Behnke, kinesiology, has been named associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Health and Human Sciences. Behnke studies cardiovascular function as it relates to aging, muscle disuse and cancer, and works to improve clinical treatments like radiation or chemotherapy.  read more

Ng publishes paper in chemical biology journal

Ho Leung Ng, biochemistry and molecular biophysics, published a paper in the journal, RSC Chemical Biology. His team has identified new inhibitors of the breast cancer drug target, aromatase. These inhibitors may be potential leads for future breast cancer drugs. read publication

Students

Doctoral candidate in biology receives Sarachek Fellowship

Anil Pant, doctoral candidate in biology working with Dr. Zhilong Yang, has been selected for the Alvin & RosaLee Sarachek Predoctoral Honors Fellowship in Molecular Biology. Pant studies the metabolism of vaccinia virus, which is used as an agent for developing vaccines and cancer therapies. read more

Doctoral student in kinesiology receives statewide recognition

Stephen Hammond is among three K-State graduate students who received statewide recognition for their Kansas-related research at the 18th Capitol Graduate Research Summit, held virtually Feb. 18-25. Hammond works with JCRC member Dr. Carl Ade studying adverse cardiovascular responses to the chemotherapy drug 5-Fluorouracil, which is used to treat cancers that are common in Kansas. read more

Graduating senior recognized with Dean of Student Life Award

Carmen Del Real, senior in biology and Spanish and former Cancer Research Awardee in Dr. Jocelyn McDonald‘s lab, is among 12 Dean of Student Life Outstanding Graduating Senior Awardees being honored for making significant contributions to student life during their time at K-State. read more

Megan Campbell, senior in microbiology and 2019-2020 Cancer Research Awardee in Dr. Lorena Passarelli‘s lab, was selected for the Michael E. Brown Alpha Tau Omega Mortar Board Leadership Scholarship recognizing great leadership and contribution to student life at K-State! read more

Many Cancer Research Awardees will present at the Undergraduate Research Showcase April 20-22!

The event website goes live April 20.

Alumni

Former Cancer Research Awardee delivers inspirational presentation

Jamie Ball, MD, ’10, was recently honored by the K-State Alumni Association as a Distinguished Young Alum. On Feb. 23, she gave an inspirational keynote presentation as part of that series. Dr. Ball shared her personal journey of becoming a pediatrician through extreme challenges as well as her appreciation for K-State’s role in her achievement. Watch the full presentation at https://loom.ly/5TuWFtg.

Former Cancer Research Awardees and their faculty mentors publish paper in cancer journal

Former Cancer Research Awardees Haley Smalley, Fernando Nieto and Jazmin Zeledon were co-authors, with their faculty mentors Drs. Sherry Fleming and John Tomich, on a published paper. The paper, titled “Beta2 glycoprotein I-derived therapeutic peptides induce sFlt-1 secretion to reduce melanoma vascularity and growth,” was published in the journal, Cancer Letters. The team demonstrated that peptides derived from a normal protein in the blood regulate the growth of blood vessels, which are required by tumors to thrive. This suggests therapeutic potential of the novel peptides to slow tumor growth. view publication

JCRC Awards $138,439 to faculty and students this spring

Thanks to our supporters, we were able to invest $138,439 in K-State cancer research and education this spring! We awarded $95,439 in Graduate Student Cancer Research Awards to support summertime work, and $43,000 in Innovative Research Awards to faculty. Linders Family Cancer Research Expansion Awards, for faculty to expand the cancer focus of their research, are still pending. Awardees are listed on our Faculty and Student Awardee pages.

Cancer Research Award recipients will be honored at a virtual ceremony Fri., April 23. Student awardees, faculty mentors, donors and other guests will gather on Zoom for a presentation recognizing the award recipients and benefactors. Awardee Hawa Dembele will be our guest speaker.

Undergraduate awards promote student participation in research and encourage students to consider research as a possible career. Awardees receive research training and $1,500 awards. Last fall, 22 students were selected. Graduate awards provide summertime support of advanced research that contributes to the laboratory’s success.

Video of the recognition will be shared on our 2021 CRA Recognition page.

Pink Up the Pace 5K & Honor Walk April 24

Grab a pink tutu, tube socks or whatever you like and join the fun at the 4th annual Pink Up the Pace 5K & Honor Walk in Downtown Manhattan April 24! Celebrate afterward with pizza on AJ’s patio!

You’ll Never Run Alone 5K & Fun Walk July 24

Honor pancreatic cancer fighters and Manhattan’s beloved youth soccer coach, the late Frank Alonso, at the 3rd annual You’ll Never Run Alone 5K & Fun Walk July 24. Help turn Anneberg Park purple!

Mark your calendars for these fall events!

Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament – Fri., Sept. 17

Brad Heyka Memorial Golf Tournament – Fri., Oct. 15

K-State Fighting for a Cure Day – Sat., Oct. 16

K-State Open House went virtual April 8-10!

For K-State’s annual Open House, April 8-10, the Johnson Cancer Research Center offered a virtual laboratory visit with student researchers. John, Davante and Molly did a great job helping us show how K-State is fighting cancer and training future scientists. Video is on our Open House page.

John Tumberger, junior in biology, pre-medicine & leadership studies, talks about his work in Dr. Brad Olson‘s lab, currently focused on cell-cell adhesion and how things stick together.

Davante Hammer, senior in microbiology & pre-medicine, talks about working in Dr. Sherry Fleming‘s lab, which includes splitting cells in the tissue culture hood.

Molly Leyda, senior in biology, pre-medicine & anthropology, talks about working in Dr. Sherry Fleming‘s lab, which includes setting up tumor protein assays at the bench.