Faculty
K-State engineering team leads NSF-funded study to improve cancer immunotherapy treatment
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
David Poole listed in top .01% of scholars studying muscles
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
Sim Jun recognized for online teaching excellence
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.
Study by Veterinary Medicine faculty may help dogs undergoing chemotherapy
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 Heinrich named Head of Kinesiology Department
Dr. Katie Heinrich was 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
Students
Spradlin awarded Kinesiology Advisory Board Scholarship
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
Dacus recognized for superior graduate student research in biology
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
Waner earns Honorable Mention for national Udall Scholarship
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
Undergraduates help identify therapeutic target for treating neurodegenerative diseases, co-author study
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
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
Cancer researchers among Division of Biology’s Most Promising Students
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
Jared Newell recognized by Developing Scholars Program
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
Diana Najera receives special Developing Scholars award
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 receives national Watson Scholarship for medical laboratory science students
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
We awarded nearly $416,000 for cancer research and education in 2020-2021
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