Scientists at the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research Earn Top Honors

Two rising cancer researchers from ChristianaCare’s Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research were recognized for outstanding scientific contributions at the University of Delaware’s Annual Biology Research Day Conference on January 30. The awards highlight the strength and impact of colorectal cancer research underway at the Cawley Center, part of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.

Anh Nguyen, a third‑year Ph.D. student, received the conference’s first‑place poster award for his project “FGF19/FGFR4 Axis: A Key Driver in Tumor Growth and Treatment Resistance in Colorectal Cancer.” His research explores a signaling pathway that may lead to new strategies for targeting treatment‑resistant disease. Molly Lausten, a fifth‑year Ph.D. student, earned third place for her presentation “Investigating the Role of miR‑27a‑3p in the WNT Signaling Pathway and Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells.” Her work examines a key microRNA that may influence resistance to therapy, a major challenge in treating aggressive tumors.

“These awards reflect far more than individual excellence,” said Bruce Boman, M.D., Ph.D., MSPH, FACP, senior scientist and director of Cancer Genetics at the Cawley Center. “They show the power of rigorous, curiosity‑driven science to move the field forward. Molly and Anh are tackling some of the hardest questions in colorectal cancer, and their success speaks to the innovative environment we are building at ChristianaCare. I could not be more proud of their achievement and their commitment to improving outcomes for patients.” The Cawley Center links physicians and scientific researchers under the same roof to identify needs of individual patients at the bedside, explore solutions in the lab and translate those results directly into treatment plans as unique as the individuals who will benefit from them. To contribute to innovation at the Graham Cancer Center, click here.