UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., and UAB Division of Plastic Surgery Associate Professor Sherry Collawn, M.D., Ph.D., have been awarded funding from the UAB Faculty Development Grant Program.

Guenter will receive $10,000 funding for her project, “Understanding the relationship between Notch1 and HIF-2a signaling in pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.” Guenter studies pancreatic cancer and neuroendocrine cancer - with a focus on new treatments, cellular signaling, and strategies to promote the early detection of these diseases.

Collawn will also receive $6,000 funding for her project, "Indocyanine green fluorescent (ICG) dye for the evaluation of skin cancer." ICG is a chemical component that shines under low lighting and helps detect potentially malignant skin lesions. Collawn has been consistently supported in her work as a researcher, with areas of interest including reepithelialization, skin grafts, wound healing, and minimally invasive surgery.

“The Faculty Development Grant Program enables our faculty the ability to actively pursue their research interests and potentially impact the community around us with new care options,” says UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Endowed Chair Herbert Chen, M.D. “We look forward to both Dr. Guenter and Dr. Collawn furthering the knowledge and current scientific literature for pancreatic and skin cancer detection and treatment.”