Lauren B. Smith, a clinical professor of pathology in the Medical School, has been elected to fill a vacancy on the nine-member Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, the executive arm of U-M’s central faculty governance system.

A collaborative team of researchers from the University of Michigan, New York University, and Arima Genomics has developed a new method that improves the detection of genomic rearrangements in lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

Dr. Yuanyuan Qiao has been named a recipient of the Investigator Award from the Neuroendocrine Research Foundation.

Regina Catherine Ferguson, Facilities Manager for the Department of Pathology (2017-2026), passed away peacefully at home on February 2, 2026, in the presence of her family after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Regina was a beloved member of our team, with a smile that lit up every room she entered. Her quick steps and service-oriented demeanor reflected who she was at heart – a servant leader. Anyone with a facilities-related issue could receive a quick resolution when Regina was notified. She was a bloodhound on the trail, ensuring nothing was left undone.

The University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity has awarded an Impact Accelerator Grant to a U-M–Kenya collaboration focused on improving digital pathology quality and diagnostic accuracy, led by Dr. Ulysses G. J. Balis with Dr. Kamran Mirza as co-investigator.

A new study published in Nature by Dr. Sriram Venneti’s laboratory at the University of Michigan’s Department of Pathology and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center has identified a surprising driver of ependymoma growth: a molecule called itaconate. The discovery opens the door to new therapeutic strategies for this aggressive childhood cancer.

Dr. Celina Kleer, Harold A. Oberman Collegiate Professor of Pathology, received a generous donation from The Dynami Foundation to study invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. The Dynami Foundation recognized Dr. Kleer as an exceptional breast cancer researcher with over 20 years of experience.

Parolia Lab to expand its research into Ewing Sarcoma with grant funding from Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

The 24^th Annual Pathology Research Symposium, held on Friday, November 7^th, was a resounding success! The auditorium was filled with graduate students, faculty mentors, and others interested in learning more about the exceptional work being performed by our students.

Dr. Madelyn Lew was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement in Medical Education Award.

Congratulations to Dr. Rouba Ali-Fehmi and Dr. Rohit Mehra for being named among Hour Detroit magazine’s “Top Docs” of 2025.

RNA modifications control how stem cells develop into retinal cells. Study uncovers METTL3’s role in tissue development, which was previously unexplored

A study from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center and Department of Pathology shows that further testing in renal cell carcinoma with an overexpression of gene TRIM63 could uncover a mutation otherwise undetected, leading to more treatment options for patients.

Dr. Lanbo Xiao, a research assistant professor in the Center for Translational Pathology, received a 2025 Faculty Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to cancer research, teaching, and service. His pioneering work in chromatin remodeling and epigenetic regulation has led to new insights in cancer therapy and significant advances in public health diagnostics.

Annette S. Kim, MD, PhD, FCAP, received the prestigious 2025 CAP Laboratory Improvement Programs Service Award in recognition of her transformative leadership as the vice-chair of the Personalized Health Care Committee (PHC).

On September 14, 2025, Dr. Meredith Herman, Pathology House Officer III, was awarded the College of American Pathologist’s (CAP’s) Junior Member of the Year award, which is given to one resident or fellow annually who has made exceptional contributions to the field through leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and service. This award reflects the CAP’s commitment to supporting the next generation of pathologists and recognizing the impact residents can have on the specialty, even early in their careers.

For decades, cancer has been primarily viewed as a disease caused by genetic mutations, but Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP) graduate student Sanjana Eyunnis' research is expanding this perspective. Her thesis research, published in her dissertation, Chimeric AR Motifs and Neo-Enhancer Expansion in Prostate Cancer Development, presents the first evidence of FOXA1-driven prostate adenocarcinoma formation in mouse models and further substantiates the structural classification of distinct FOXA1 alterations within its coding region or genomic locus. 

Busy packing up his apartment following his graduation from the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program, Brian Basinski, PhD, took a few moments out of his day to share about his journey.  Basinski presented his research in his PhD dissertation defense, “Mechanistic Insights into the Function of PRDM13 in Mouse Retinal Organoids,” on June 17, 2025.

A career in science was not even on the radar when Agamjot Sangotra, PhD, was in high school. English and history were more up her alley, and high school AP biology was not a fun experience. When Sangotra graduated from her New Jersey high school, she attended Rutgers and was unsure of her career path. “I took psychology and biology at the same time. I found the molecular workings of a cell to be fascinating, much more so than psychology. That was one of the first moments where I could see myself in a science career.” She joined a research laboratory and developed a passion for research. “I also volunteered at a hospital for some time, but did not develop the same sort of passion. I much preferred to be working in the lab than in a stressful hospital environment.”

One of the defining characteristics of Michigan Medicine’s Department of Pathology is its commitment to broadly sharing expertise to ensure patients everywhere receive the best care possible. Recently, Pathology faculty, Robert Humble, MD, Rahul Mannan, MD, and Rohit Mehra, MD published an article in Kidney Cancer describing the most recent advances in diagnosing renal neoplasia, including their morphological context, diagnostic algorithm, and available molecular biomarkers to assist pathologists in correctly identifying renal cell carcinomas (RCC) of varying types. In addition, whenever possible, they also provided a brief summary of the current therapeutics that align with each subtype of RCC.

Two years ago, a team of Pathology staff embarked on a journey to become culture-change advocates by obtaining FISH! Philosophy Trainer certifications. They received a Wellness grant from Michigan Medicine and began training faculty and staff in the FISH! Philosophy, collecting pre- and post-training data. This team, made up of Melina Adler, Karren Barron, Gloria Barkley, Chris Distelrath, Lynn McCain, and Julene Pummill, supported by Drs. Jeffrey Myers and Kamran Mirza, recently published their data in Laboratory Medicine. 

One of the lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Gabriel Núñez, is that in many situations we can work effectively from anywhere. Originating from Seville, Spain, Núñez, who has been faculty in the Department of Pathology since 1991, has taken this lesson to heart. He purchased a home in Seville and, since 2023, spends the winters there working remotely. 

The University of Michigan Medical School is committed to serving those in Michigan and the world, and the faculty in the Department of Pathology live that out daily. One of these faculty is Dr. Gabriel Núñez. Through the years, Núñez has trained researchers from many countries, including nine who are now full professors in Japan. One of these was Dr. Nobuhiko Kamada, who is at the University of Michigan Medical School with a joint appointment at Osaka University in Japan.

One of the most heartbreaking things a parent can hear is “Your child has an aggressive, malignant brain tumor.” When that is followed up with the physician saying there is no effective cure, parents are left devastated. This is what motivates Dr. Sriram Venneti and his research laboratory to dedicate their all to finding a cure. Venneti focuses on Group 3 medulloblastomas, which are very aggressive pediatric brain tumors with no known cure.

In August 2018, Alexander (Alec) Monovich began a journey that culminated in the successful defense of his doctoral thesis on April 15, 2025. Monovich, who was raised in Naperville, Illinois, joined the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS) graduate program immediately following his graduation from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, with a B.A. in Biology. After an exploratory year, Monovich joined the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program and later completed his dissertation work in the laboratory of Dr. Russell Ryan, assistant professor of pathology.

Four years ago, a group of eight bright-eyed, newly minted, doctors crossed the threshold of the Department of Pathology to begin their residency training. On Sunday, June 8^th, these now well-trained pathology residents, along with the year’s graduating team of fellows and advanced clinical trainees, were celebrated at the annual Residents and Fellows Farewell Celebration held at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor.

On June 5, 2025, Jessica Teitel completed her doctoral journey in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, defending her thesis, Pan-Cancer Myc Modulator Induces Selective Cell Death Following Mitotic Catastrophe, and earning her PhD. Teitel’s journey began with a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree with Distinction in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware. This is when she discovered her interest in research and completed a senior honors thesis in a neuroscience/psychology laboratory. Over the summers of her undergraduate years, she interned at Merck. There, she learned molecular biology techniques and was encouraged to pursue graduate studies.

In the Department of Pathology, we have scholars at all levels working in our laboratories. One of these, undergraduate Harini Ram, was recently recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Astronaut Scholarship, the only one to receive this scholarship from the University of Michigan this year, and only the 18^th in the history of this award. According to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, this award is presented to students in their junior or senior year of college who are pursuing a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) with the intention of conducting research or advancing their field upon completion of their final degree. These scholars represent the “best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity, and excellence in their chosen field,” reports the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Imagine your friend is in kidney failure and desperately needs a new kidney. You are tested, but you are not a close enough match. You watch as your friend struggles to survive, going through dialysis. You feel helpless…but there is nothing you can do. Or is there?

The University of Michigan participates in the nationwide paired donation program that enables patients on the kidney transplant list to obtain donor kidneys more quickly [...]

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which measures your heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood out to your body, remains a leading cause of death and hospitalization worldwide. Over the last three decades, clinical trials have highlighted the efficacy of four key medication classes- Beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Together, these medications form the pillars of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), which has significantly improved patient outcomes, contributing to up to a 70% reduction in mortality among HFrEF patients.

On April 15, 2025, the Board of Regents announced faculty who were approved for promotion, and fifteen Pathology faculty are included on the list!  These promotions will become effective on September 1, 2025.  Please join us in congratulating our faculty

Richard and Susan Rogel were passionate about supporting the education of the next generation of physicians and researchers. In their honor, the Rogel Cancer Center Graduate Student Scholarship was established. These scholarships are awarded to graduate students who display outstanding potential in the field of cancer research. This year, Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student Grace McIntyre was selected to receive this $25,000 award.