Status: Filled – Intern: Onika Abrams
Intern: Onika Abrams
Faculty Name: craig-elmets-nabiha-yusuf
UAB Department: Dermatology
UAB School: Medicine
Campus Address: 1670 University Boulevard, VH566A, Box 202
Telephone Number: (205) 934-7432
Email: nabihayusuf@uabmc.edu or Click to Send E-Mail
For how many summers have you served as a preceptor: 3 or more
CCC Research Area: Inflammation, Immunology, and Immunotherapeutics
Number of hours per week that the preceptor will personally supervise or work with the intern: 10
Other faculty, staff, or graduate students who may help to supervise the intern:
1. M. Asif Sherwani
2. Mualla Eraslan
Title of Project: 18CE – Immunoprevention of melanoma
Project Description:
Melanoma, an aggressive malignancy of melanocytes, is responsible for more deaths than any other cutaneous neoplasm. In an era in which the incidence of most other cancers has either stabilized or declined, melanoma rates continue to rise. Basic research and clinical observations over the past several decades have clearly demonstrated that immunological mechanisms are capable of controlling melanoma growth and development. This line of investigation has led to the introduction of novel immunotherapeutic agents that prolong the survival of patients with advanced melanomas. Most melanomas begin as premalignant dysplastic nevi, which after months to years, may progress to become invasive melanomas. Thus, there is ample opportunity to prevent dysplastic nevi from evolving into melanomas. Identification of novel chemopreventive agents that can avert melanoma development has proceeded slowly, however, at least in part because of the limited number of preclinical models that can be used to evaluate potential protective modalities. In this project, we will investigate whether this and other approaches to immunoprevention have a protective effect in the animal model of melanoma that we have developed.
Project Status: Already up and running
Location of Project: Birmingham, AL (UAB)
Proposed Start Date: May 4, 2020
Proposed End Date: August 28, 2020
Expected work schedule for intern: Flexible, intern can largely set his or her own schedule (as for students who are instructed how to proceed and are permitted to work independently with weekly guidance) and should contribute full-time effort.
Category of Project: Animal Research
Cancer topic: Skin
Does this project involve human subjects: No
Does this project involve animal subjects: Yes
Duty:
1.
Work on melanomagenesis project
2.
Perform immunostaining on samples
3.
Analyze data
Preceptor will provide intern with access to the following:
Office or desk space, Computer and printer, Laboratory work bench space, Supplies needed to complete project, Equipment needed to complete project
Likelihood that intern will be included as an author on one or more publications
related to this summer research project: Very likely
Areas in which the ideal candidates will have experience:
Animal Research, Cell Biology, Immunology, Laboratory Skills, basic knowledge, Molecular Biology, Pathology, Scientific Writing Skills
