HOT Division Summer Internship Research Program

I’m Allison Makovec, a 2024 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and current MD/PhD student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. As an MD/ PhD student, I'm interested in the rapidly advancing field of cancer genomics, with a particular focus on characterizing genomic features related to cancer survivorship and therapy adverse effects. The HOT Division Summer Research Internship Program helped me acquire skills directly related to my career goals. I particularly enjoyed the experimental design, grant writing, and networking opportunities. This program overall influenced my decision to pursue a career as a physician-scientist after I was given the opportunity to shadow and work with physician-scientists in both oncology and hematology. In the three years following this internship, with great support from the lab, I have been awarded multiple research grants, presented at several international conferences, and been awarded numerous leadership and research-based awards. This program overall gave me certain insights and the mentorship needed to be successful in the beginning stages of my career in science and medicine.

My name is Gavriel Pappas, and I am a junior at UMN majoring in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development as well as Spanish Studies. I plan to attend medical school once I graduate.

Interning with the HOT Division has been perhaps the most transformative experience of my undergraduate journey. Prior to the program I had minimal research experience and general interest in cancer biology. Through HOT, I was able to develop a strong understanding of oncology research and the state and development of immunotherapies for cancer. My hands-on work in the Felices lab, coupled with multiple Hem/Onc shadowing sessions and the end-of-summer poster presentation on my research, provided me with comprehensive exposure to the field of cancer medicine, from the lab to the clinic.

Additionally, other enrichment opportunities such as CV/personal statement building sessions and meetings with medical students and faculty helped me to adjust my course so that I can assure I am the best medical school candidate that I can be. The stand out of these opportunities, of course, was our presentation from and QnA with UMN Medical School’s Dean of Admissions, which provided invaluable advice on how to be a top candidate. Working for the HOT Division was an unforgettable experience that has strengthened my skills, my applications, and my commitment to medicine.

Yvonne Datta, MD practices medicine in Classical Hematology, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders. Her main clinical interests are bleeding and clotting disorders, platelet disorders and sickle cell disease. She collaborates with Dr. David Wood in sickle cell disease research. Dr. Datta has a strong interest in education as she is the former Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program in the HOT Division, and interviews for the University of Minnesota Medical School Admissions committee. Advising undergraduate students in their path to medical school admission is one of her favorite academic activities.

Stuart Bloom, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor and he spent his 20's in New York City as an actor and musical comedian, but after he turned 30, and his own father was diagnosed with cancer, he had an epiphany and decided to become an oncologist. After an award winning, 20 year run in community oncology, he joined the HOT Division at the Medical School as part of the Master Clinician pathway. While he remains dedicated to the care of patients with breast and prostate cancers, he has multiple other passions he offers to medical school students and faculty. These include the teaching of doctoring skills, exploring and addressing the causes of medical burnout, and further developing the intersection of the humanities in medicine. His acclaimed musical “How to Avoid Burnout in 73 Minutes” has played a sold out run at the Open Eye Theatre, with the plan on performing this musical at medical schools around the country.

Nicholas Zorko, MD, PhD, received his MD and PhD at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he first became interested in bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapies. He then completed his clinical residency and fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. His primary research interest is development of novel natural killer cells and immune engagers to treat solid tumors, with a particular focus on castration-resistant prostate cancer. He sees genitourinary oncology patients in the clinic and attends on the inpatient bone marrow transplant/cellular therapy team.

Dr. Allred is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation where he serves as an oncologist with a focus on the treatment of blood cancers. In addition to his clinical interests, Dr. Allred has an active clinical and translational research effort that includes cutting edge basic science into the biology of myeloid cancer development and its interaction with the immune system. The goal of this work is to develop next generation targeted therapies, including immune and cellular therapies, to improve the treatment of myeloid cancers and improve the lives of patients with these diseases.

Joan Beckman, MD, PhD is the Lois and Richard King Assistant Professor of Medicine and is a dedicated physician-scientist who is passionate about caring for patients with benign hematologic conditions. She has a clinical interest in patients with acquired and congenital bleeding disorders as well as patients with anemia. Dr. Beckman conducts translational research in the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving inflammation-induced pathology in endothelial cells and blood vessels. Her current research focuses on evaluating the contribution of red blood cell and endothelial cell interactions in JAK2 V617F and CALR+ myeloproliferative neoplasm patients.

Robert Kratzke, MD is a Professor of Medicine and Section Head of Medical Oncology in HOT Division as well as a member of the Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program at the Masonic Cancer Center. He has spent his entire career in translational mesothelioma and lung cancer research. In recent years he has redirected his research interests to the dual projects of oncolytic virotherapy and targeting cap-mediated translation for lung cancer or mesothelioma therapy. In addition, he holds leadership roles in the Alliance for Cancer Clinical Trials including directing thoracic oncology correlative science projects and serving as Vice-Chair of the Respiratory Committee for this NIH sponsored organization. Dr. Kratzke has worked on numerous lung cancer projects for the CALGB including analyses of patient outcomes, biomarkers, and staging and he is active in the oversight and analysis of both the Alliance lung cancer tissue bank and PLCO tissue and blood samples. During the course of his career, he has mentored numerous fellows and trainees in the study of mesothelioma and lung cancer including funded researchers at institutions such as Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

Emil Lou, MD, PhD, FACP is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and board certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. In addition, he is also board certified in Neuro-Oncology through the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Dr. Lou runs a laboratory focusing on the cellular biology of gastro-intestinal tumors in addition to translation clinical research.  He has carved out a unique and interesting niche for himself through his study of tunneling nanotubules. His research focuses on identifying cellular and molecular factors that cause drug resistance of aggressive cancers.  His team is the forefront of an emerging niche of cell biology focusing on intercellular communications.  He is a nationally recognized leader in this area. Dr. Lou has mentored a variety of learners across multiple levels to encompass clinical and basic/translational research trainees.  This includes involvement in continuity clinics and educating fellows, residents and student observers in clinical settings

Julie Ostrander, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine.  Her research focuses on studying the scaffolding protein PELP1 in the context of breast cancer progression. The recent studies have found that PELP1 signaling promotes cell survival in the presence of tamoxifen; enhances breast epithelial cell migration through upregulation inflammatory cytokines and chemokines; and promotes CSC phenotypes in models of ER-positive breast cancer. Her lab has identified a novel cytoplasmic interaction between PELP1 and SRC-3. The objective of her current research is to identify the molecular mechanisms associated with PELP1-induced BCSC phenotypes and therapy resistance.

Dr. Felices received his Ph.D. in immunology from UMASS Medical School in 2008, where his research focused on innate and adaptive immune subsets. He then pursued an industry postdoctoral fellowship at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, in Cambridge, MA, in the Developmental and Molecular Pathways group where he studied signaling pathways involved in liver injury and tumorigenesis. In 2011 he joined the University of Minnesota as a T32 postdoctoral fellow in the HOT division, focusing his research on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology, prior to becoming an assistant professor. Dr. Felices' group focuses on methodologies to improve NK cell immunotherapy, with a particular focus on cytokine signaling and development NK specific biologics. In recent years Dr. Felices has been dedicating most of his effort on a Tri-specific Killer Engager (TriKE) platform to target NK cells to tumors while providing a cytokine signal. Dr. Felices' lab has also been evaluating how the tumor microenvironment impacts NK cell immunotherapy and methodologies to bypass impacts.