PhD Program

MCP News

Dr. Asma Nusrat Receives 2024 Rous-Whipple Award at ASIP Meeting

Dr. Asma Nusrat Receives 2024 Rous-Whipple Award at ASIP Meeting

Apr 23, 2024

Dr. Asma Nusrat, F. Peyton Rous Professor and Director of Experimental Pathology, was awarded the 2024 Rous-Whipple award at the American Society for Investigative Pathology Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.

The ASIP Rous-Whipple Award is presented to a senior scientist with a distinguished career in research who has advanced the understanding of disease and has continued productivity at the time of the award, including impactful science [...]

MCP Student Gabbi Rozumek awarded 2024 Phyllis M. Wise Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service

MCP Student Gabbi Rozumek awarded 2024 Phyllis M. Wise Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service

Apr 12, 2024

The MCP team is proud to share the news that MCP student Gabrielle "Gabbi" Rozumek is the recipient of the 2024 Phyllis M. Wise Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service.

Gabbi is very passionate about and dedicated to serving her community. Since 2016, she has touched so many lives by serving in numerous and various capacities. A few of her efforts include:

Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center Identified as an Elite Research Center

Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center Identified as an Elite Research Center

Apr 11, 2024

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from across Michigan Medicine are focused on cutting-edge research to understand and address food allergies as members of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center. Nicholas Lukacs, PhD, the Godfrey Dorr Stobbe Professor of Pathology and Scientific Director of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, and James R. Baker Jr., Ruth Dow Doan Professor of Biologic Nanotechnology and Director of the MHWFAC, were instrumental in founding the food allergy center in 2015 and in recruiting an exceptional team of researchers to the Center. One of their goals since the inception of the MHWFAC was to see it become recognized as one of the world’s elite research centers in its field. Recently, this goal was achieved when the National Institutes of Health awarded them one of just 10 seven-year CoFAR Cooperative Agreement Grants, recognizing the center’s exceptional ground-breaking research.

Rita A. Avelar, PhD Receives Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award

Rita A. Avelar, PhD Receives Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award

Apr 9, 2024

The American Association for Cancer Research recently released their 2024 Women in Cancer Research Scholar Awards and Rita A. Avelar, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow in the DiFeo Laboratory, was one of just twelve women scholars awarded. This award is presented to early-career, meritorious female scientists at the AACR Annual Meeting, which will be held April 5-10, 2024, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

Celina Kleer, MD Elected to the AAP

Celina Kleer, MD Elected to the AAP

Mar 21, 2024

Congratulations to Celina Kleer, MD, the Harold A. Oberman Collegiate Professor of Pathology and Director of Breast Pathology Research, on her election to the prestigious Association of American Physicians (AAP). The AAP is an honorary society dedicated to the advancement of scientific and practical medicine and admits only 70 new members to its rank each year. Election is highly selective and as described on their website, is “an honor extended to physicians with outstanding credentials in basic or translational biomedical research.” Kleer will be formally inducted into the AAP at their Annual Meeting in Chicago next month.

Derek Dang becomes Dr. Derek Dang

Derek Dang becomes Dr. Derek Dang

Mar 20, 2024

Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student, Derek Dang, successfully defended his thesis, “Beyond the Warburg Effect: A study of metabolic alterations in malignancies of the posterior fossa” on January 19, 2024, becoming Dr. Derek Dang. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Derek Dang on his achievements.

If you are interested in learning more about the MCP Graduate Program, click here or email Dr. Jeff Rual at jrual@med.umich.edu.

Education is His Passion

Education is His Passion

Jan 19, 2024

Dr. Kamran Mirza, Assistant Chair for Education

MCP Graduate Student Joanna Lum Receives ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation Fellowship Award

MCP Graduate Student Joanna Lum Receives ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation Fellowship Award

Jan 18, 2024

In the world of research and grant funding, it is easy to lose sight of the effort required for foundations to provide funding to researchers and the underlying motivation for that funding. This is not the case, however, for Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student Joanna Lum. Lum was recently awarded the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation Fellowship Award, providing her with $200,000 over 3 years to study Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer. DIPG is a brainstem glioma most commonly affecting children ages 5-9 years old. More than 90% of these children will die within 1.5 years. The DIPG foundation was created by two families who lost their sons to DIPG.

Sahiti Marella becomes Dr. Sahiti Marella

Sahiti Marella becomes Dr. Sahiti Marella

Dec 6, 2023

Congratulations to Dr. Sahiti Marella on successfully defending her PhD dissertation entitled “Regulatory Networks that Govern the Esophageal Epithelial Proliferative Response in Eosinophilic Esophagitis Endotypes."

MCP Student Derek Dang Secures Prestigious Fellowship Position

MCP Student Derek Dang Secures Prestigious Fellowship Position

Nov 30, 2023

Students who train in our Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate program find a broad range of opportunities before them as they graduate.  Whether they wish to remain in academia, go to industry or pursue another path, their options are plentiful. Derek Dang, who will be defending his dissertation soon, decided to pursue a path that is taking him to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He was accepted into the prestigious Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) Fellowship.

MCP Graduate Student Madeline Sykes Awarded Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant

MCP Graduate Student Madeline Sykes Awarded Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant

Nov 27, 2023

Congratulations to Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student, Madeline Sykes, on being selected for a 2023 Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant. These grants are awarded to students based on the quality of their research proposals and are used toward funding experiments for their thesis work.

Faculty Recognition: Congratulations!

Faculty Recognition: Congratulations!

Nov 14, 2023

Multiple Department of Pathology faculty members have recently been recognized for their achievements and nominated to leadership roles for their excellence within their respective fields. These members continue to demonstrate the depth of our department's knowledge and research.

22nd Annual Molecular and Cellular Pathology Research Symposium Held November 3rd

22nd Annual Molecular and Cellular Pathology Research Symposium Held November 3rd

Nov 9, 2023 On November 3rd in the Biomedical Science Research Building's Khan Auditorium, the 22nd Annual Pathology Research Symposium began. This year the symposium featured lectures, panel, and poster sessions from a variety of individuals from the Molecular and Cellular Pathology program, including Department of Pathology faculty, Michigan Medicine staff, and visiting professor and keynote speaker Charles Mullighan, MBBS (Hons), MSc, MD Department…
MCP Graduate Student Michael Pitter Receives Trainee Abstract Award

MCP Graduate Student Michael Pitter Receives Trainee Abstract Award

Oct 16, 2023

The Department of Pathology invites you to join us as we congratulate our Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student, Michael Pitter, on being selected for the 2023 American Association of Immunologists Trainee Abstract Award. As the award recipient, Michael was invited to deliver an oral presentation at IMMUNOLOGY2023 in Washington DC.

Welcome Reception Introduces New Trainees and Faculty

Welcome Reception Introduces New Trainees and Faculty

Oct 6, 2023

The Department of Pathology welcomed 7 new graduate students, 7 new residents, 10 new ACGME fellows, 10 new non-ACGME fellows/Clinical Instructors and 11 new faculty at its annual Welcome Reception on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

22nd Annual Pathology Research Symposium

22nd Annual Pathology Research Symposium

Sep 15, 2023

This Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student event showcases research within the department by faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD students. The day is highlighted by the keynote presentation by Charles Mullighan, MBBS, MSc, MD.

 

Kevin Yang, Nesvizhskii Lab, publishes first first-author publication

Kevin Yang, Nesvizhskii Lab, publishes first first-author publication

Aug 8, 2023

Congratulations to Kevin Yang (Ph.D. student in the Nesvizhskii lab) on his first first-author publication in Nature Communications! In a manuscript published in Nature Communications, Ph.D. student Kevin Yang, from the Alexey Nesvizhskii lab, presented a new computational tool, MSBooster [...]. 

Pathology Fall Picnic

Pathology Fall Picnic

Aug 7, 2023

The Pathology Department Fall Picnic Event for all faculty and staff will be held on Sunday, October 1st at Wiard's Orchards.

MCP Graduate Students Unwind at Gallup Park

MCP Graduate Students Unwind at Gallup Park

Jul 26, 2023

Partly sunny skies and temperatures in the low-to-mid 80’s made for perfect conditions for Michigan Medicine Pathology’s Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate students and their families, faculty, and staff to enjoy a day out at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 25th.

MCP Graduate Student Derek Dang Receives Excellence in Service Award

MCP Graduate Student Derek Dang Receives Excellence in Service Award

Jun 30, 2023

The Department of Pathology is pleased to announce that Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP) Graduate Student Derek Dang has been awarded the 2023 Phyllis M. Wise Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Service. This award is granted to graduate students who exhibit a passionate commitment to service in their communities, nationally or internationally.

Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology

Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology

Jun 28, 2023

Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan, S. P. Hicks Endowed Professor of Pathology and Professor of Urology at Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology and Director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, was recently recognized for his outstanding achievements by the American Association of Cancer Research. He was presented with the AACR James S. Ewing-Thelma B. Dunn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology in Cancer Research award at the 2023 AACR Annual Meeting. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan for this well-deserved prestigious honor!

9th Annual Developing Future Biologists Short Course is Underway

9th Annual Developing Future Biologists Short Course is Underway

Jun 1, 2023

A week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan in late Spring may sound too good to be true, but for 30 fortunate undergraduate students from around the United States and its territories, this becomes a reality when they are accepted into the annual Developing Future Biologists (DFB) short course.

One Day Closer

One Day Closer

Apr 10, 2023

Saturday, March 11th dawned as a typical early Spring day in Michigan, but the day was anything but routine! The North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) at the University of Michigan was teeming with high school students and their parents or guardians, eager to learn more about careers in cancer research. Students learned from career panels as well as through mock tumor boards, DNA extraction activities, and tours of research laboratories [...]

MCP Student Sahiti Marella shares her journey to becoming grant funded

MCP Student Sahiti Marella shares her journey to becoming grant funded

Mar 8, 2023

The Department of Pathology offers the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program (MCP) for students who are interested in translational research – the step between basic science research and clinical care, the “bench-to-bedside” transition. Sahiti Marella is a graduate student in the MCP who was recently awarded her first F31 grant. This is an NIH-funded predoctoral grant that provides awardees with a monthly stipend to support tuition and fees, and funds for training-related costs while they conduct their PhD research project, for up to five-years of funding.

Identifying an “Achilles heel” of an aggressive subset of acute leukemias

Identifying an “Achilles heel” of an aggressive subset of acute leukemias

Feb 17, 2023

Hsiang-Yu (David) Hu, a Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student in the lab of Dr. Andrew Muntean recently published his first first-authored article in Leukemia.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Mahnoor Gondal

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Mahnoor Gondal

Feb 10, 2023

At Michigan Medicine, many of our faculty serve across multiple departments, which opens up opportunities for students to also experience not just Pathology, but also other disciplines. The Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics is one of the departments with which several of our Pathology faculty and students collaborate. In honor of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the DCMB featured one of our joint students as shared below.

Drs. Asma Nusrat and Charles Parkos Named 2022 AAAS Fellows

Drs. Asma Nusrat and Charles Parkos Named 2022 AAAS Fellows

Feb 7, 2023

Congratulations are due to Dr. Asma Nusrat, F. Peyton Rous Professor of Experimental Pathology and Director of Experimental Pathology, and Dr. Charles Parkos, Carl V. Weller Professor and Chair of Pathology, on being named 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows. The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. The 2022 class was comprised of 505 scientists, engineers and innovators from around the world and across all disciplines.  Being selected as an AAAS Fellow is one of the most distinguished honors within the scientific community. The newly elected Fellows are being recognized for their scientific and socially notable achievements spanning their careers.

Rogel Researchers Receive $4M Through Prostate Cancer Foundations Inaugural TACTICAL Awards Program

Rogel Researchers Receive $4M Through Prostate Cancer Foundations Inaugural TACTICAL Awards Program

Jan 10, 2023

The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center researchers received one of the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s four inaugural Class of 2022 TACTICAL (Therapy ACceleration To Intercept Cancer Lethality) Award. This $30 million program will support cross-disciplinary pioneering research toward the goal of developing 21st Century therapies for the most life-threatening form of prostate cancer [...]

The Annual Pathology Research Symposium Makes a Successful Return

The Annual Pathology Research Symposium Makes a Successful Return

Nov 21, 2022

Featuring keynote speaker, Dr. James Olson, alumnus Dr. Aaron Burberry and the MCP faculty and students

30 Years of Research at Michigan Medicine

30 Years of Research at Michigan Medicine

Nov 4, 2022

Walk through a 30-year career with Dr. Gabriel Nunez--highlighting his key discoveries, perspectives on work/life balance, and those he mentored.

Pathology's Best Kept Secret:  MCP Graduate Program

Pathology's Best Kept Secret: MCP Graduate Program

Sep 15, 2022

A Perspective with Jessica McAnulty, MCP Student

Dr. Sriram Venneti named Scientific Research Director

Dr. Sriram Venneti named Scientific Research Director

Jul 1, 2022

Effective July 1, 2022, Dr. Sriram Venneti, Professor of Pathology, was appointed as Scientific Research Director and Dr. Carl Koschmann, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, was appointed as Clinical Research Director for the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center (CC-PBTC).

Congratulations to Dr. Jolanta Grembecka on being named the inaugural Richard and Susan Rogel Professor in Cancer Therapeutics

Congratulations to Dr. Jolanta Grembecka on being named the inaugural Richard and Susan Rogel Professor in Cancer Therapeutics

Jun 27, 2022

We recognize Dr. Jolanta Grembecka on being named the inaugural Richard and Susan Rogel Professor of Cancer Therapeutics. An induction ceremony will be held later this year. Please join us in congratulating her on this honor!

Pathology Celebrates Juneteenth with Third-Annual Equality Walk

Pathology Celebrates Juneteenth with Third-Annual Equality Walk

Jun 23, 2022

With over 80 participants from the Department, the event was a big success.

Parolia Selected For Harold Weintraub Graduate Student Award

Parolia Selected For Harold Weintraub Graduate Student Award

Mar 1, 2022

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Abhijit Parolia on being selected for the 2022 Harold Weintraub Graduate Student Award. The award, established by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is given yearly and recognizes outstanding achievement during graduate studies in the biological sciences [...]

Graduate Student Chelsea Phillips Research Recognitions

Graduate Student Chelsea Phillips Research Recognitions

Jan 26, 2022

Congratulations to Chelsea Phillips, a graduate student in the Neurosciences graduate program, mentored by Dr. Anuska Andjelkovic-Zochowski, for two honors received on her work [...]  

MCP Student Siva Kumar Natarajan Awarded Mistletoe Research Fellowship

MCP Student Siva Kumar Natarajan Awarded Mistletoe Research Fellowship

Aug 25, 2021

Congratulations to Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student Siva Kumar Natarajan on being awarded the Mistletoe Research Fellowship (MRF).  Established in 2018, the Momental Foundation awards 20 MRF positions to exceptional postdoctoral fellows and advanced PhD candidates from the United States, Japan, and Singapore.

Department Hosts Second-Annual Juneteenth Equality Walk

Department Hosts Second-Annual Juneteenth Equality Walk

Jun 21, 2021

On Friday June 18, the Department of Pathology hosted its second-annual Equality Walk in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Andi Cani becomes Dr. Cani

Andi Cani becomes Dr. Cani

Dec 23, 2019
 

Andi Cani, PhD, successfully defended his thesis entitled “Precision Medicine Approaches to Hormone-Driven Cancer” on December 5, 2019. [...]

Abhijit Parolia is Awarded The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award

Abhijit Parolia is Awarded The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award

Dec 2, 2019
 

The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition (F99/K00) Award supports outstanding PhD and other Research Doctoral candidates who complete their dissertation research training (F99 phase) and transition in a timely manner to mentored, cancer-focused postdoctoral career development research positions (K00 phase). [...]

18th Annual Pathology Research Symposium

18th Annual Pathology Research Symposium

Nov 26, 2019

Conference highlighting innovation and excellence in training and research does not disappoint.

From Carrie-Anne to Dr. Malinczak

From Carrie-Anne to Dr. Malinczak

Nov 12, 2019

Carrie-Anne Malinczak, PhD successfully defended her thesis entitled “Long-Term Immune System Alterations Following Early-Life RSV Infection” on October 21, 2019. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a ubiquitous human pathogen, infects nearly all children by age two. Severe RSV bronchiolitis in infancy is strongly correlated with the development of recurrent wheezing later in childhood [...]

New Mechanism in Aggressive Breast Cancer Discovered

New Mechanism in Aggressive Breast Cancer Discovered

Oct 3, 2018

A collaboration out of the Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate program could lead to new treatment strategies.

Andi Cani, BS, MS, and Yashar Niknafs, PhD, recipients of the 2018 U-M Precision Health Scholars Award

Andi Cani, BS, MS, and Yashar Niknafs, PhD, recipients of the 2018 U-M Precision Health Scholars Award

Aug 7, 2018
 
 

Molecular and Cellular Pathology PhD graduate student, Andi Cani, MS and Postdoctoral Fellow Yashar Niknafs, PhD, were among the twelve recipients of the inaugural U-M Precision Health Scholars Award.  This award provides grants supporting precision-health research to applicants whose work reflects the far-reaching potential of precision health at [...]

Effective Elevator Pitches: Best Practices and Real-Time Feedback

Effective Elevator Pitches: Best Practices and Real-Time Feedback

May 4, 2018

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Taubman Health Sciences Library 2903

MCP Students Take Top Prizes at 4th Annual Midwest Case Competition

MCP Students Take Top Prizes at 4th Annual Midwest Case Competition

Apr 11, 2018

Molecular and Celluar Pathology (MCP) Students Siva Kumar Natarajan, Paloma Garcia, and Kelly Kennaley took earned valuable experience and took top prizes during the 4th Annual Midwest Case Competition.

Join Us in Congratulating Emmalee Adelman, PhD

Join Us in Congratulating Emmalee Adelman, PhD

Apr 10, 2018
 

Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program student, Emmalee Adelman, successfully defended her PhD thesis on April 9. Widespread epigenetic reprogramming in aging human hematopoietic stem cells, covers her work [...]

Congratulations to Talha Anwar for a successful defense of his PhD Thesis with the mentorship of Dr. Celina Kleer

Congratulations to Talha Anwar for a successful defense of his PhD Thesis with the mentorship of Dr. Celina Kleer

Apr 10, 2018
 

Talha Anwar is in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Program at U-M. He defended his PhD thesis, Regulation of EZH2 in triple-negative breast cancer, on Friday April 6, 2018 [...]

Congratulations to Hung-An (Anna) Ting, PhD for Successful Defense of Her PhD Thesis

Congratulations to Hung-An (Anna) Ting, PhD for Successful Defense of Her PhD Thesis

Feb 23, 2018

 

Dr. Ting successfully defended her PhD thesis, Notch ligand Delta-like 4 (DII4) induced epigenetic mechanisms in regulatory T cell function during pulmonary viral infection, on February 21, 2018. [...]

Graduate Students Awards Presented at Research Symposium

Graduate Students Awards Presented at Research Symposium

Nov 30, 2017
The 16th Annual Pathology Research Symposium was held this November and featured Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and CEO of Strata Oncology, Dan Rhodes, PhD, as the keynote speaker.  But it also included research presentations from our graduate students with some of our students receiving awards [...]
PhD Student, Sierrah Grigsby, Receives MGSAA Award

PhD Student, Sierrah Grigsby, Receives MGSAA Award

Nov 1, 2017
 
Doctoral candidate Sierrah Grigsby from the Nikolovska-Coleska Laboratory has received an Achievement Award from the American Society of Hematology. Sierrah was selected to receive a 2017 Minority Graduate Student Abstract Achievement Award (MGSAAA) for her [...]
Jacqueline Mann of Nesvizhskii Lab Awarded NIH F31 Fellowship

Jacqueline Mann of Nesvizhskii Lab Awarded NIH F31 Fellowship

Sep 11, 2017
 
Jacqueline Mann, an MCP Program PhD student in the lab of Alexey Nesvizhskii, PhD, has been awarded a Ruth L Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31) for her work with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) [...]
PhD Student, Paloma Garcia, Awarded F31 Fellowship

PhD Student, Paloma Garcia, Awarded F31 Fellowship

Sep 11, 2017
 
Paloma Garcia, a PhD student in the Dr. Gabriel Nunez Lab, has been awarded an F31 Fellowship. The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual [...]
Chinnaiyan Lab PhD Students Receive Department of Defense Awards

Chinnaiyan Lab PhD Students Receive Department of Defense Awards

Aug 30, 2017
 
 
Abhijit Parolia and Yajia Zhang, both MCP students in the laboratory of Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan, have each been awarded Department of Defense awards for prostate cancer research [...]
Resident Class of 2021

Resident Class of 2021

Jul 18, 2017

We're welcoming our new pathology residents! They are a great addition to our already outstanding classes. 

Work of PhD Candidate Ana Ting featured in The Journal of Immunology

Work of PhD Candidate Ana Ting featured in The Journal of Immunology

Feb 10, 2017
 

Congratulations to Molecular and Cellular Pathology PhD student, Hung-An (Ana) Ting, in the laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Lukacs, whose work on “Notch Ligand Delta-like 4 Promotes Regulatory T Cell Identity in Pulmonary Viral Infection" is featured in the “In This Issue” section of the February 15, 2017 issue of The Journal of Immunology. The “In This Issue” highlights articles considered to be among the top 10% of articles published in the journal.  Their work is on regulating lung pathology with the Notch pathway.