The PSTP is delighted to announce that Julia Knight, a research-year student in the program, was recently awarded a National Cancer Institute Diversity Supplement under the mentorship of Drs. Anda Vlad and Ronald Buckanovich at the Magee Women's Research Institute. Her grant project, titled “ALDH Inhibition as Modulator of Tumor Immunobiology,” explores the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors as novel immunotherapy compounds for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Julia’s goal is to elucidate the effects of multiple ALDH inhibitors on tumor-associated macrophages in the ovarian tumor microenvironment. There is a critical need for effective immunotherapeutic agents for ovarian cancer due to its aggressive nature and frequent recurrence with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.
“Working alongside such wonderful and supportive mentors has been the highlight of my research year so far. I’m eager to contribute to basic and translational discovery under the support of this grant and to grow as a budding physician-scientist throughout the coming year.”
Before joining the PSTP, Julia received her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and English from Case Western Reserve University in 2019. In her free time, Julia spends time with her partner and their two cats, enjoys yoga and hiking, and sings mezzo-soprano with the PalPittations a capella group.