19th Annual Oncology Student Research Day

Each year, trainees from the Berg lab have the opportunity to submit research abstracts for presentation during the Oncology Student Research Day.  Abstracts are reviewed prior to the event and successful submissions are invited for presentation.

This year five members of the Berg Lab were invited to present: Emily Hartung, PhD candidate (Biochemistry), Sarah Coopersmith, MSc candidate (Biochemistry), and Jamie Avrumutsoae, BSc candidate (Biochemistry Co-op) were selected to give oral presentations. Kanwaldeep Singh PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher (Oncology) and Siddaarth Varatharajan BSc, (Biochemistry BDC) were selected to give poster presentations.

Presentations are judged the day of the event by a panel of Oncology clinical and research faculty with the top three oral presentations and top two poster presentations awarded prizes. This year, three of the Berg Lab trainees received prizes: Emily received 3rd Prize as oral presenter, and Kanwaldeep and Siddaarth received 1st and 2nd prize, respectively, as poster presenters. Awards are provided through the Stuart Jay Cohen Memorial Fund administered by the JCC Foundation on behalf of the Cohen family. Awards are intended to foster education and support the ongoing learning of students involved in cancer research.

Berg Lab Presentations:

Emily’s oral presentation: ‘Role of myeloid transcription factor networks in the response of normal and malignant stem cells to LSD1 inhibition’.

Jamie’s oral presentation: ‘Inhibition of fatty acid syntheses as a targeted therapy to induce differentiation in AML.

Sarah’s oral presentation: ‘The Investigation of the combination effect of LSD1 inhibition with novel RARA agonist Tamibarotene’.

Kanwaldeep’s poster presentation: ‘LSD1 inhibition synergizes with Venetoclax in Acute Myeloid Leukemia by targeting cellular metabolism’.

Siddaarth’s poster presentation: ‘Inhibition of MAPK pathway induces differentiation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia’.

Congratulations to all presenters but especially to Emily, Kanwaldeep and Siddaarth on your awards!

For additional information on awardees, photos, and special acknowledgments, please visit the Department of Oncology website.

What our trainees are saying about the event:

“Receiving recognition and awards for one’s research is always a significant honor. The value of such recognition is greatly enhanced when it comes from distinguished oncologists and hematologists in the field” ~ Dr. Kanwaldeep Singh