UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center receives funding from BCRFA to advance breast cancer research

Grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama will support 10 groundbreaking projects led by researchers at UAB.
Photography: Andrea MabryThe Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama announces its continued dedication to support breast cancer research in Alabama through a significant investment of $1,125,000 in 2024. This grant funding will support 22 unique projects at seven established institutions throughout the state, enabling lifesaving breast cancer research to take place. Among the beneficiaries are 10 researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The 2024 UAB grantees include:  

• Erin Ahn, Ph.D.: Phenotypic and metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer by mascRNA
• Sofia Beas, Ph.D.: Neuropathological effects of chemotherapeutic drugs
• Jin Chen, Ph.D.: Fusion AI for intraoperative margin assessment of breast lumpectomy specimens
• Blake Hildreth, Ph.D.: Targeting CSF1R/PU.1 signaling and PU.1 super enhancer regulation in tumor progression across breast cancer subtypes
• Katia Khoury, M.D.: Phase II single arm trial of low dose capecitabine in patients with advanced breast cancer
• Steve Lim, Ph.D.: Nuclear FAK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming of triple negative breast cancer
• Timiya Nolan, Ph.D.: ECHO: Exploring Cardiovascular Health Outcomes among Black breast cancer survivors
• Catherine Parker, M.D.: Research conducted by breast surgical fellow
• Bin Ren, M.D., Ph.D.: Targeting the signaling that drives arteriolar niche formation and cancer cell stemness
• Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin, Ph.D.: The role of biomechanical regulation in triple negative breast cancer

“The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama continues to act as a progressive force for breast cancer research in Alabama and worldwide,” said Barry Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D., director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. “This funding will thrust forward the work of UAB investigators, and others in Alabama, and we continue to be appreciative of their steady support.”