The AACR Anna D. Barker Basic Cancer Research Fellowship represents an effort to encourage and support mentored young investigators to conduct basic cancer research and to establish successful career paths in this field. Eligibility is limited to postdoctoral and clinical research fellows who have completed their most recent doctoral degree within the past three years. The research proposed for funding may be in any area of basic cancer research.

2024 grantee

Research

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly aggressive disease and a prominent cause of death worldwide, with a five-year survival rate of 12%. PDA tumors remodel the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolic pathway to support cancer progression, but the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive. Building on her preliminary findings, Dr. Demetriadou aims to explore the nuclear role of BCAA catabolism in promoting aberrant epigenomic and transcriptional signatures to sustain PDA tumor growth and resistance to anticancer treatment. Elucidating this novel link between nuclear metabolism and epigenetics may provide a promising therapeutic avenue to improve the poor clinical outcomes of PDA patients.

Biography

Dr. Demetriadou received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Cyprus, and her master’s degree in oncology from the University of Nottingham. She completed her doctorate at the University of Cyprus, where she received the top research award for her studies on the oncogenic role of the epigenetic modifier NAA40. In 2022, she joined the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University as a co-mentored postdoctoral researcher. Her research focuses on the link between epigenetics and cancer metabolism.     

Acknowledgment of Support

“I am extremely honored to be awarded the prestigious AACR Anna D. Barker Basic Cancer Research fellowship. This fellowship will empower me with the essential tools and expertise needed to achieve my goal of being an independent researcher, leading interdisciplinary work at the intersection of chromatin biology and cancer metabolism.”

2022 Grantee

Research

Cancer cells exhibit dramatic alterations in cellular metabolism to support cell growth, proliferation, and survival. However, the role of metabolism in late-stage tumor progression is less studied. Through organellar proteomics and metabolomics approaches, mitochondrial antioxidants have been identified as major contributors to cancer dissemination. Dr. Yeh aims to elucidate the roles of compartmental antioxidants in disease pathogenesis and tumor progression, and to identify potential therapeutic targets for cancer.

Biography

Dr. Yeh received his doctoral degree at National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan, where he studied cancer metastasis and gene regulation. After completing his graduate training, he joined Rockefeller University as a postdoctoral research fellow. His research focuses on the role of oxidative metabolism in tumorigenesis.

Acknowledgement of Support

Receiving the AACR Anna D. Barker Basic Cancer Research Fellowship is a great honor. The fellowship represents an excellent opportunity to achieve my research goals of providing new insights in the field of cancer metabolism and identifying prognostic and therapeutic strategies to prevent cancer metastasis.