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Chanelle H

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at University of Alabama

Expertise

Cancer Biology, Cancer Immunology, Cancer Immunotherapy Applications

Bio

As a 5th year graduate student in cancer biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, I have extensive experience conducting cutting-edge research in the field of cancer biology. My current research focuses on the development of chemokine-based PET imaging probes for prediction of immunotherapeutic response in cancer, and will be publishing my work in several leading scientific journals in the next year. In addition to my research experience, I am passionate about mentoring and supporting the next generation of scientists. I have previously mentored undergraduate students in cancer biology research projects, and I am excited to offer my expertise and guidance to high school students interested in pursuing research in the field of cancer biology. I believe that providing research experiences to high school students is an important way to inspire and support the next generation of cancer biologists.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Investigating the role of diet and lifestyle factors in the development and progression of colon cancer.

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a variety of factors have been identified as potential risk factors for its development. Among these are dietary and lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption. In this project, we will investigate the potential link between these risk factors and the prevalence of colon cancer in different populations and geographic regions, with the goal of identifying potential strategies for preventing or reducing the risk of colon cancer. This project could involve the following steps: 1. Research the known risk factors for colon cancer, including dietary and lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption. 2. Use online databases and other sources to collect data on the prevalence of colon cancer and the associated risk factors in different populations and geographic regions. 3. Use statistical analysis software to determine whether there are significant correlations between the prevalence of colon cancer and the identified risk factors. 4. Analyze the data and interpret the results, and write a scientific report summarizing the findings and their implications for the role of diet and lifestyle factors in colon cancer development.

Investigating the role of the gut microbiome in the response to cancer immunotherapy.

Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have shown promise in treating a variety of cancers, but not all patients respond equally well to these treatments. Emerging evidence suggests that the composition of the gut microbiome may play a role in determining the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. In this project, we will investigate the potential link between the gut microbiome and the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients, with the goal of identifying potential strategies to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. This project could involve the following steps: 1. Research the known links between the gut microbiome and the immune system, and the potential impact of the microbiome on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. 2. Use online databases and other sources to collect data on the composition of the gut microbiome in cancer patients before and after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. 3. Use bioinformatics tools to analyze the data and compare the microbiome composition in patients who responded well to immunotherapy to those who did not respond as well. 4. Analyze the data and interpret the results, and write a scientific report summarizing the findings and their implications for the role of the gut microbiome in cancer immunotherapy.

Investigating the role of a particular gene in the development of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and a better understanding of the genetic and molecular changes that drive its development is crucial for developing more effective treatments. In this project, we will investigate the role of a particular gene in the development of breast cancer. We will use online databases and other sources to collect data on the expression of the selected gene in normal and cancerous breast tissue, and use bioinformatics tools to analyze the data and determine if the selected gene is differentially expressed in cancerous tissue. Our findings will provide important insights into the genetic changes that contribute to breast cancer development, and may help identify potential targets for new therapies. This project could involve the following steps: 1. Research the function of the selected gene and its potential role in cancer development. 2. Use online databases and other sources to collect data on the expression of the selected gene in normal and cancerous breast tissue. 3. Use bioinformatics tools to analyze the data and determine if the selected gene is differentially expressed in cancerous tissue. 4. Analyze the data and interpret the results, and write a scientific report summarizing the findings and their implications for the role of the selected gene in breast cancer development.

Teaching experience

As an undergraduate student, I worked as a research assistant mentoring my peers in molecular biology. Now, as a doctoral student, I have had the opportunity to continue mentoring undergraduate, early graduate, and master's students in laboratory research and literature review.

Credentials

Work experience

Vanderbilt University (2018 - 2018)
Research Assistant
University of California, Irvine (2017 - 2017)
Research Assistant

Education

University of Central Florida
BS Bachelor of Science (2018)
Biomedical Sciences
University of Alabama
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Cancer Biology

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