Welcome to the Trainee Spotlights page, a space where we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows here at the Meyer Cancer Center.
Each month we feature select trainees to highlight the volunteer work, grant awards, travel awards, invited talks, invitations to speak on panels, publications, and more of our talented trainees!
Grant Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Mariela Cortés López who has been awarded the NIH NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)!
Dr. Mariela Cortés López has been awarded the NIH NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00). Her research project leverages single-cell technologies and long-read sequencing to uncover altered RNA isoforms unique to cancer cells, specifically in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). By identifying these cancer-specific isoforms, Dr. Cortés López aims to uncover novel targets for precision immunotherapies, potentially expanding treatment strategies.
This award recognizes Dr. Cortés Lopez’s approach to understanding how alternative splicing contributes to tumor heterogeneity and highlights the growing importance of RNA-based mechanisms in cancer research. The funding will provide support to facilitate her timely transition to an independent faculty position, allowing her to establish a research program at the intersection of RNA biology and computational oncology.
Invited Talk Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Valentina Marulanda for being selected to present at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting!
Dr. Valentina Marulanda, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics (MI&T) within the Department of Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been selected for a podium presentation at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her abstract, "PSMA-Targeted Actinium-225 Therapy in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Comparative Outcomes Between Monotherapy vs. Combination Therapy," showcases her contributions to the rapidly evolving field of theranostics and molecular imaging.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Osborne (Chief of MI&T) and Dr. Sandra Huicochea-Castellanos (Program Director, Nuclear Medicine), Dr. Marulanda’s research is at the forefront of precision oncology, investigating PSMA-targeted Actinium-225 therapy to refine treatment strategies for advanced prostate cancer. Her work provides critical insights into optimizing patient outcomes and advancing the role of nuclear medicine in personalized cancer care.
Beyond her research, Dr. Marulanda is an active member of the Trainee Advisory Council, demonstrating a commitment to academic engagement, mentorship, and the future of oncologic imaging. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, she is eager to present her findings at AUA 2025, contributing to discussions that will shape the future of theranostics and molecular imaging.
Publication Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Sung-Min Hwang for their recent publication in Nature!
Dr. Sung-Min Hwang is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Juan R. Cubillos-Ruiz, where their research focuses on understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying T cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment. Recently, Dr. Hwang's groundbreaking study was published in Nature. This work highlights how ER stress in ovarian tumors disrupts the function of a key cytoskeletal protein, TAGLN2, in T cells, leading to impaired lipid metabolism and anti-tumor activity. The findings open new avenues for therapies aimed at restoring T cell function in cancer.
Dr. Hwang has received numerous accolades for their contributions to cancer immunology, including the prestigious AACR-Bristol Myers Squibb Immuno-Oncology Fellowship and the KASBP Fellowship. Dr. Hwang’s research is driven by a passion for bridging fundamental discoveries with translational applications to improve patient outcomes.
To read the publication, please click here. To read the news release covering Dr. Hwang's research, please click here.
Invited Talk Announcement: Congratulations to Jude Owiredu on being a finalist for the Eula and Donald S. Coffey Innovation Award!
Jude Owiredu, a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Barbieri's lab, was selected as a finalist for the Eula and Donald S. Coffey Innovation Award Finalist Short Talk at the 2024 Society for Basic Urology Research (SBUR) meeting. The Eula and Donald S. Coffey Innovative Research Award is presented to the top-rated innovative abstract at the SBUR annual meeting and encourages more investigators with “out of the box” ideas to share their work. Jude's thesis project is investigating the molecular interplay between the Androgen Receptor and Activator Protein-1 in prostate tumorigenesis.
Research Award Announcement: Congratulations to Jee Hye Kang on receiving the Representation In SciencE (RISE) Scholar Award from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) at WCM!
Jee Hye Kang, a Ph.D. student in Roberta Zappasodi's, Ph.D. lab, received this year’s Representation In SciencE (RISE) Scholar award from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) at WCM with her project Rational approach for Treg-targeted therapies based on the tumor glycolytic state.
Travel Award Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Mohammad Alexanderani on receiving the Digital Pathology Association Award and filing for a patent!
We are pleased to share that Dr. Alexanderani has received the Digital Pathology Association Award and had 2 abstracts accepted for oral presentation!
Additionally, a second abstract on colon cancer has been filed as a patent at Weill Cornell Medicine. This project focuses on utilizing AI to predict liver cancer recurrence from histopathology images, enabling patient stratification for selecting the most appropriate therapeutic interventions. Our goal is to help determine which patients require active treatment versus those who can be placed under active surveillance to promote personalized medicine.
Grant Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Franco Castillo Tokumori on receiving the 2024 ASH Minority Hematology Fellow Award (MHFA)!
Franco Castillo Tokumori was recently selected by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to participate in the 2024 ASH Minority Hematology Fellow Award (MHFA). This prestigious award, which provides $100,000 in grant funding, will enable him to spend two years of protected research time carrying out laboratory and translational-based hematology research projects. He will continue to study the clonal evolution of myeloproliferative neoplasms under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Scandura.
Invited Talk Announcement: Congratulations to Andrés Ricaurte Fajardo on his invitation to chair the Current Directions in Testing and Implementation for Dementia Diagnosis and Care II session at the Alzheimer Association International Conference!
Dr. Andrés Ricaurte-Fajardo recently received a prestigious conference fellowship from the Alzheimer Association International Conference, where he was honored to chair the session titled "Current Directions in Testing and Implementation for Dementia Diagnosis and Care II." Additionally, he presented his research in a featured session with a talk on "Altered Cerebral Blood Flow as a Screening Test for Neurodegenerative Disease: A Comparative Analysis of Arterial Spin Labeled Magnetic Resonance Imaging and FDG-PET." His research focuses on demonstrating how Arterial Spin Labeled Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ASL-MRI) can serve as an effective screening tool for patients with cognitive symptoms.
Invited Panelists Announcement: Congratulations to Drs. Azam, Deyell, Khan, and Ricuarte Fajardo for being selected to serve as panelists on Pathways to Science Panel
MCC postdoctoral fellows and Trainee Advisory Council members Drs. Shadi Azam, Matthew Deyell, Johnathan Khan, and Andrés Ricuarte Fajardo served as panelists for the Pathways to Science Panel Session on Tuesday, July 16th. During this panel, they answered questions from ~40 high school and undergraduate students about choosing a career in science, advice on building key skills, and strategies for success. Student attendees reached out after the program noting that they enjoyed the panel and found it “extremely insightful.” We are so thankful to our panelists and grateful to work with such talented members of our community.
Pictured (from left to right): Stephanie Rogers, PhD (moderator), Jonathan Khan, PhD (panelist), Shadi Azam, PhD (panelist), Matthew Deyell, PhD (panelist), and Andrés Ricuarte Fajardo, MD (panelist).
Travel Award Announcement: Congratulations to our 2024 Hill Day Travel Award Winner, Andrés Ricaurte Fajardo!
Andres Ricaurte Fajardo (center), a Colombian physician and fellow in the Radiology department at Weill Cornell Medicine since 2022, is dedicated to health equity and cancer research. Recognized with prestigious awards like the ‘’Professor Ralph Blumhardt Award’’ and the ‘’Pioneer in Diversity Louis Wade Sullivan Award’’, he passionately represents our institution, his country and Latin America on the global medical stage.
Pictured here: Dr. Joseph Osborne (left), Dr. Andrés Ricaurte Fajardo (center), and Kellie Jack (right) stand in front of the US Capitol Building.