The Aitch Foundation is dedicated to changing lives through the advancement of cancer research, while generating community awareness and involvement through sports and fashion related events. The Aitch Foundation collaborates with Michigan State University’s Office of Research and Innovation to offer an annual fellowship program for medical and graduate students participating in cancer research. The total support for each fellowship is $30,000 provided for a 12-month period.
For 2022, we are pleased to announce four students have been named Aitch Foundation Fellows.
2022 Aitch Foundation Fellows
Carson Broeker, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the College of Natural Science, is conducting research on gene expression profiling and preclinical therapeutic screens on tumors and breast cancer cell lines that he says are not possible without funding from the Aitch Foundation. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed among women, and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer is more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. Broeker's research looks to identify factors that can contribute to creating a basis for future research that aims to reduce metastasis in the 25% of HER2+ breast cancer patients.
Broeker has been conducting his research with mentor, Dr. Eran Andrechek as a part of the Andrechek Lab.
Elliot Ensink, a D.O. Ph.D. candidate who comes from the College of Natural Science's department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He studies pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or PDAC. PDAC is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis due to limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Einsink has been awarded for his work investigating critical mechanisms by which pancreatic cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to support growth within the tumor microenvironment and to identify novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Einsink is mentored by Dr. Sophia Lunt.
Nicholas Giacobbi is a D.O. Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Physiology in the College of Natural Science and he intends to use the funding from the Aitch Foundation to support the development and evaluation of a novel regimen for the treatment of HPV and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). HPV is responsible for roughly 5% of all human cancers worldwide, including nearly over 95% of all cervical cancers and an estimated 25% of HNSCC. This new platform will be initially tailored for treating HPV+ HNSCC, but is intended to eventually be modifiable to adapt to specific patient needs in order to reduce or eliminate the need for chemoradiation therapy or surgery.
Nicholas is a member of the Pyeon Lab, investigating under the supervision of Dr. Dohun Pyeon.
Jess Moerland, Ph.D. candidate from the College of Human Medicine's Pharmacology and Toxicology program has been recognized for her work on finding new methods to treat lung cancer. Lung cancer is the currently leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Moerland's research focuses on identifying novel immunomodulatory strategies to help treat patients with lung cancer. Funding provided by the Aitch Foundation will facilitate the continuation of this project through the transition from cellular studies into animal studies, which is a critical step to move potential therapeutics closer to clinical trials to benefit lung cancer patients.
Moerland has been working under the tutelage of Dr. Karen Liby for her research.
With the assistance of the Aitch Foundation, I am hopeful that this project will someday help to extend survival and improve quality of life for lung cancer patients and their families.Jess Moerland
About the Aitch Foundation
Founded on January 24, 2011 through the vision and guidance of Dr. Jim Potchen and others at Michigan State University Health Care, formerly MSU HealthTeam, “The Aitch Foundation” was established in order to raise money and awareness for early cancer detection.
Through the Aitch Foundation's Hidden Cancers Fund, they support research to develop methods to identify occult (hidden) cancers throughout the human body.
The Office of Research and Innovation is deeply appreciative of the Aitch Foundation and their continued contributions to cancer research.