DCP Early Career Scientist Spotlight Research Seminar Series (Upcoming Research Talks)

Linking the macroenvironment and microenvironment to study breast cancer etiology and progression
Alexandra Harris, PhD, MPH
Cancer Prevention Fellow, NCI, NIH

Dr. Alexandra R. Harris is a postdoctoral fellow and transdisciplinary breast cancer researcher at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), with joint appointments in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and the Center for Cancer Research. A basic scientist by training, Dr. Alexandra Harris earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, as well as her M.S. in Biology, from the University of California, San Diego and a Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from the University of Virginia School of Medicine conducting research within the Biomedical Engineering department. Dr. Harris went on to receive her MPH in Quantitative Methods from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As a Cancer Prevention Fellow at NCI for 3.5 years, Dr. Harris has bridged multiple divisions to conduct cross-cutting and interdisciplinary research in breast cancer disparities across the cancer control continuum. Her research program integrates experimental and population science approaches to investigate the interplay between socioenvironmental risk factors and biological determinants and their impact on breast tissue and its microenvironment in ways that can contribute to socioeconomic and racial disparities in risk and outcomes. She has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications, received several national awards and early career recognitions for her research and mentorship, and served in leadership, task force, panels, and editorial positions to facilitate global conversations on breast cancer disparities.

Abstract:
Dr. Harris’ interdisciplinary breast cancer research program investigates how social and biological determinants shape the breast microenvironment in ways that may contribute to disparities in risk and outcomes. In two racially diverse, cross-sectional studies, she employed genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and pathology-based approaches to link chronic stressors at the individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood level to an inflammatory and tumor-permissive microenvironment within both healthy and cancerous breast tissue; in both, she found effects were more pronounced in Black women. Her current efforts seek to understand how molecular and cellular features within the breast tissue microenvironment influence breast cancer risk, biology, and outcomes in high-risk populations by examining the molecular underpinnings of reproductive and histopathologic breast cancer risk factors, including age at menarche, involution of terminal duct lobular units, mammographic density, and benign breast disease through transcriptomic profiling, with the overarching goal of informing breast cancer precision prevention strategies.

Survivorship in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy
Laura Oswald, PhD
Assistant Member, Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center

Dr. Laura Oswald is a tenure-track Assistant Member in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. She earned a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Miami and completed an NCI-funded T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Prevention and Control at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. At Moffitt, Dr. Oswald leads a research program in behavioral oncology with the overarching goals of understanding and improving cancer survivorship outcomes, such as symptom burden, among novel and underrepresented populations. Her accomplishments to date include almost 100 peer-reviewed publications, several national awards and recognitions, and she was recently awarded her first NCI R01 as Principal Investigator.

Abstract:
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) is a revolutionary treatment that harnesses a patient’s immune system to kill cancer. Since 2021, two CAR-Ts were FDA-approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, real-world data about how CAR-T affects patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as symptom burden, is limited. Our team conducted the first study of longitudinal PROs among real-world RRMM CAR-T recipients, starting pre-CAR-T and through 90 days post-infusion (a key clinical endpoint). Subsequently, we explored relationships between PROs, immune activation, and common clinician-graded CAR-T toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. In an R01-funded study and guided by a psychoneuroimmunology framework, we are prospectively investigating the dynamics of psychosocial and immune-related factors in relation to key survivorship outcomes in a large cohort of real-world RRMM CAR-T recipients over one year. Findings will elucidate targets and critical times for implementing evidence-based behavioral supportive care interventions to improve outcomes and modify immune-related factors.

Reprogramming lipogenic metabolism and inflammation in high-risk breast with licochalcone A: a novel path to cancer prevention
Atieh Hajirahimkhan, PhD
NCI NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Surgery, Lurie Cancer Center Translational Bridge Fellow, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

I am a medicinal chemist with extensive experience in natural products pharmacology and drug discovery. I completed my PhD at the University of Illinois Chicago followed by an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship (2018-2022), a current NCI-NRSA postdoctoral fellowship (2023-2025), and a Lurie Cancer Center Translational Bridge fellowship (2022-2024) in Dr. Seema Khan’s laboratory at Northwestern University. The presently available endocrine therapies used for breast cancer prevention have adverse side effects which has led to minimal acceptance and impact. My research interest is interventional breast cancer risk reduction through reversing oncogenic metabolism and inflammation in high-risk breast with minimal adverse effects. I am developing a promising candidate agent, L13, based on licochalcone A, with demonstrated efficacy against HR+ and HR- breast cancer subtypes, and a promising oral pharmacokinetics. My career goal is to establish independent academic research in the medicinal prevention of cancer.

Abstract:
Anti-estrogens have had limited impact on breast cancer (BC) prevention. Novel agents with better tolerability, and efficacy beyond estrogen receptor positive (ER+) BC, are needed. We are developing licochalcone A (LicA) as a BC prevention candidate.

We evaluated its antiproliferative effects in multiple breast cell lines and its suppression of ER+/- xenograft tumors in mice. Two independent cohorts of high-risk women breast tissues and ER+/- BC cell lines were treated with LicA followed by RNA sequencing, metabolism flux modeling, confirmatory transcriptomics and proteomics, and targeted and phenotypic approaches. We developed LicA’s oral formulations and conducted pharmacokinetic studies.

LicA suppressed proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistically, it downregulates pivotal steps in PI3K-AKT-SREBP1-dependent lipogenesis and NF-kB-dependent inflammation. These changes lead to concerted reduction in inflammation, and lipids including membrane cholesterol and nucleotides essential for cell proliferation. Oral LicA’s promising pharmacokinetics warrants further studies to establish a novel non-endocrine drug for BC prevention.

Leveraging behavioral medicine, optimization methods, and digital delivery to improve sleep health in cancer survivorship
Rina S. Fox, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, University of Arizona College of Nursing

Dr. Rina S. Fox is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, as well as a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program and the Co-Director of the Behavioral Measurement and Interventions Shared Resource at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. As a licensed clinical psychologist, her research focuses on understanding how psychosocial processes impact cancer survivorship and developing behavioral interventions to decrease symptom burden and improve health-related quality of life. Currently she is leading projects focused on 1) understanding and improving sleep health in cancer and 2) addressing the unique psychosocial needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Dr. Fox received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and completed a NCI T32-funded postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Abstract:
Poor sleep is one of the most prevalent and distressing late effects of cancer. It can last for years following diagnosis and is related to higher symptom burden, lower quality of life, and worse clinical outcomes. Behavioral strategies are recommended as the first-line treatment for poor sleep due to their established efficacy and limited side effects. However, access to behavioral intervention can be challenging and engagement can be low. Dr. Fox’s research applies optimization methods to decrease the burden of engaging with care and digital solutions to increase access to care to improve sleep health among cancer survivors. In this talk, Dr. Fox will discuss her current K08-funded study, which aims to identify the best combination of three evidence-based behavioral techniques to improve sleep among gynecologic cancer survivors. She will also discuss her use of low-burden digital strategies to deliver behavioral sleep intervention to cancer survivors and caregivers.

Personalised risk in lung cancer screening
Xiaoshuang Feng, PhD
Scientist, Cancer Epidemiology Branch, IARC-WHO

I am an early-career scientist working in the Risk Assessment and Early Detection (RED) team at the International Agency for Research on Cancer. My work aims to optimize cancer screening strategies, with specific topics including multi-cancer detection and lung cancer risk prediction models and biomarkers.

In the area of multi-cancer detection, our work showed that the suitability of stage-based endpoints to replace the endpoint of cancer mortality varies by cancer type, which poses a challenge for multi-cancer screening trials (JAMA 2024). Working in the Lung Cancer Cohort Consortium (LC3), we evaluated the performance of ten lung cancer risk models in Europe (Lancet Digit Health 2024), and across US racial/ethnic groups (in preparation). Also in the LC3, using high-throughput proteomics, we identified 36 proteins for early lung cancer detection (Nat Commun 2023). Integrating proteins with smoking information improved risk discrimination, especially for those are ineligible by current screening criteria (JNCI 2023).

Abstract:
Risk-based lung cancer screening is more efficient than categorical eligibility criteria, but concerns have been raised regarding the different performance of available risk models across populations. We analyzed participants from the Lung Cancer Cohort Consortium (LC3) by evaluating the discrimination and calibration of more than 10 available lung cancer prediction models in identifying the future lung cancer cases and deaths. We further modeled the potential additional benefits of implementing risk-based screening within the French national population. In addition, our proteomics work showed the potential improvement in the lung cancer screening efficiency beyond the current risk-based strategy.

Harnessing studies of diet and the gut microbiome to reduce colorectal cancer burden
Doratha "Armen" Byrd, PhD, MPH
Assistant Member, Departments of Cancer Epidemiology Program and Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center

Dr. Byrd received a B.S. in biology and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from the University of Florida. She completed her Ph.D. in epidemiology at Emory University, where her dissertation research focused on the development and validation of novel, inflammation biomarker panel-weighted dietary and lifestyle inflammation scores, and their associations with colorectal neoplasms. In January 2019, she joined the National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics as a postdoctoral fellow. During her time there, she conducted methodologic microbiota studies and investigated associations of the microbiota with cancer risk and of diet with the gut metabolome. In January 2021, she joined Moffitt Cancer Center as an Assistant Member in the Department of Cancer Epidemiology, where she continues to contribute to the reduction of cancer disparities using an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to study lifestyle- and microbiome-mediated mechanisms for cancer risk among diverse populations.

Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second overall leading cause of cancer death in the United States. CRC poses a disproportionate burden among Black individuals and residents of rural or highly deprived areas, who experience higher incidence and mortality rates. The human colon and rectum host trillions of microbes that comprise the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome has numerous local and systemic physiological effects mechanistically linked to colorectal carcinogenesis, though there remain many gaps in understanding among human populations. The gut microbiome may also influence colorectal carcinogenesis via the production and regulation of metabolites. Importantly and of clinical relevance, the gut microbiome and related metabolites are potentially modifiable, such as through dietary intake. Dr. Byrd’s research seeks to elucidate the interrelationships among diet and lifestyle exposures, the gut microbiome, and cancer risk and progression, particularly among individuals who are disproportionately affected by CRC.

EASTER Project Phase 1: Advancing Affordable AI-Driven Systems for Cervical Cancer Screening, Triage, and Treatment
Mary Luz Rol, PhD
Scientist, Early Detection, Prevention & Infections Branch, IARC-WHO

I am Dr. Mary Luz ROL. In 2017, I joined the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), motivated to improve equal access to high-quality healthcare for everyone. Currently, I lead an IARC team dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health priority in accordance with WHO targets. I manage the EASTER project, which tests novel, low-cost AI-based screening, triage, and treatment methods for cervical cancer and precancer in low- and middle-income countries.

Furthermore, I coordinate the "Cancer Screening in Five Continents" (CanScreen5) training effort in 27 countries, including 17 francophone African countries and 10 Asian countries. CanScreen5 aims to help countries collect and use cancer screening data in order to assess and improve the quality of national screening programs.

Previously, I oversaw the ESTAMPA clinical trial. ESTAMPA evaluated several approaches for implementing primary HPV screening and triage of HPV-positive women throughout nine Latin American countries.

Abstract:
EASTER project aims to develop and validate an affordable, AI-driven dual system for cervical cancer screening, triage, and treatment. Phase 1, launched in Harare, Zimbabwe, enrolled 1,100 women by December 2024. Participants aged 25-49 provided self-collected vaginal and urine samples. Vaginal samples were tested with ScreenFire, and urine samples are being analyzed with COBAS and AI-driven FTIR spectroscopy. During colposcopy, cervical images were captured using the nGyn system, the second AI-tool under development to predict precancers and guide treatment. Of 1,090 valid vaginal HPV results, 28% were HPV-positive. FTIR signals were successfully collected locally. Colposcopy attendance is 74%, cervical images were collected, and follow-up is ongoing. External histology review has confirmed 40 HSIL cases. Initial AI training for spectroscopy achieved 82% concordance with HPV ScreenFire results. Further analysis, including urine COBAS and nGyn image data, is ongoing. While FTIR spectroscopy shows promise, additional data is needed to enhance model robustness.

Targeting Aging Biology to Optimize the Long-Term Health of Cancer Survivors
Mina Sedrak, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Cancer and Aging Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA

Dr. Mina Sedrak is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cancer and Aging Program at UCLA. His research investigates the mechanisms behind cancer treatment-induced accelerated aging and aims to develop innovative therapies to prevent or reverse this process. Dr. Sedrak’s work, recognized by the NIA with the Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award, bridges cancer and aging to improve outcomes for older adults with cancer. Passionate about inclusivity, he advocates for greater representation of older, frail adults in clinical trials. In addition to his research, he holds key leadership positions, including Vice Chair of the Alliance NCORP Cancer in Older Adults Committee and Chair-Elect of the Research Committee for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Abstract:
The relationship between aging and cancer is complex and bidirectional. Aging-related processes—such as cellular senescence, genomic instability, and chronic inflammation—not only drive cancer development but also contribute to treatment-related accelerated aging. Understanding the dynamic interplay between aging and cancer may create new opportunities to improve cancer prevention and develop treatments that help protect long-term health. This presentation will explore how cancer and aging interact, highlight new therapies targeting aging biology, and discuss ongoing clinical trials testing these approaches in oncology. Lastly, we will outline future research directions to integrate geroscience into cancer care and improve patient health outcomes.