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  • GCC | Molecular Oncology & Immunology

Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Molecular Oncology & Immunology

Overview

The Molecular Oncology and Immunology (MOI) graduate program combines the resources of basic science and clinical medicine to develop an interdisciplinary approach to understanding disease processes.

Research in this program focuses on the intersection of cancer biology and the immune system, aiming to understand how intra cellular signaling, extracellular matric and the immune system interact in normal and diseased states. Understanding of these multi-faceted cross talks can be leveraged for therapeutic purposes. Trainees in this program will have an opportunity to conduct independent research under the guidance of world renown faculty to investigate new pathways that underlie cancer and inflammatory diseases. Discoveries made by scientists in this program are also developing the next generation of drugs and biomarkers.


The MOI program equips students with advanced knowledge research and training to develop into the next generation of scientists that can lead the pathway to groundbreaking discoveries. The investigators in this program blend theoretical learning with practical research experience, preparing students to tackle the complex challenges in this rapidly evolving field. Apart from excellent research forums the program also provides career development workshops annually to expose students to careers within and outside academics and the pathways to excel.

Molecular Oncology & Immunology
Curriculum & Timeline
      Essential Resources

 

MOI students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops/classes that offer training in effective presentation skills, and grant writing. The program recognizes the importance of scientific communication and networking at scientific meetings. It does this by supporting student travel to national/international meetings to present their research.

 

Students are also eligible to apply for the support through the Georgia Cancer Center Paceline funding.

MOI Student Ambassadors 2024-2025 Activities Meet Our StudentsAssociate StudentsContact Us

MOI Lab
MOI Lab
MOI Lab

MOI Student Ambassadors 2024-2025

Ogacheko Okoko

Megh Mehta


 

  Ogacheko Okoko

   

     Megh Mehta

Activities

Career Development Workshop

Career development workshop

The Molecular Oncology and Immunology PhD Program hosted the 1st Annual Career Development Event on May 14, 2024. This workshop allowed participants to network and learn from experts that represented various non-academic biomedical-related careers. There were scientists from NIH, FBI, the White House, and the Defense Department. These professionals allowed our students to hear about opportunities in science outside of academics!

Professional team building

Career development workshop

Career development workshop

Axe throwing at Broad Axe, was a fun evening for trainees to interact with faculty in a non-formal setting.

 

The First annual Georgia Cancer Center retreat is an annual event where students and post docs in the MOI program have an opportunity to present their results and compete for awards.

Meet Our Students

photo of Ogacheko Okoko

Ogacheko Okoko

  • Advisor – Dr. Gang Zhou
 I work in the cell and gene therapy space and my project is focused on improving the efficacy of adoptive cell therapy via constitutive STAT5 activation 
photo of Megh Mehta

Megh Mehta

  • Advisor – Dr. Ley
 I joined MOI because I realized it was the best program to learn more about my project andexplore the role of the immune system in a broad context. I hope that the program helps me achieve that goal and also helps me become a better immunologist in the future and in turn, a better doctor when I return to my MD studies. 
photo of Aderonke Fakayode

Aderonke Fakayode

  • Advisor – Dr. Ley
 I am thrilled to be part of the MOI program, a dynamic interdisciplinary field that merges insights from biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and other diverse disciplines. This integration offers a comprehensive understanding of how the immune system engages with a variety of biological processes. At present, my research is focused on investigating the immunological dimensions of atherosclerosis through the utilization of computational tools. This method presents a robust and all-encompassing strategy for unraveling the complex immune responses involved in this disease.
photo of Kathy Li

Kathy Li

  • Advisor - Dr. Hedrick
I'm so thrilled to be receiving my graduate training through a partnership program between the MOI at AU and the National Cancer Institute. I am studying the interactions between natural killer cells and myeloid cells in the settings of cancer and metastases with the overarching goal of contributing to the improvement of cancer therapies.

Associate Students

photo of Sara Murphy

Sara Murphy

I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Kaur’s lab working on immunomodulation of the microenvironment in solid tumors using oHSV and therapeutic antibodies. 
photo of Kimberly Rivera-Caraballo

Kimberly Rivera-Caraballo

My research focus is directed to the use of an oHSV to block integrin–a protein that mediates cell-extracellular matrix interactions- in brain tumor and triple-negative breast cancer brain metastasis cells. 

Contact Us

We are Located on the third floor of the Georgia Cancer Center.

Balveen Kaur, PhD

Balveen Kaur, PhD

Program Director


bkaur@augusta.edu

706-721-8415

Dr. Balveen Kaur is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and serves as the associate director for the 
Georgia Cancer Center.

Dr. Kaur is a translational cancer drug development scientist and is passionate about  training the next generation of scientists who will change the way we think about medicine.

In her free time, she loves gardening.

Amanda Bryant

Amanda Bryant

Program Coordinator


abryant9@augusta.edu

706-721-4621

My name is Amanda Bryant, and I am the Program Coordinator for the Molecular Oncology and Immunology PhD program.

I graduated from Augusta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration. I spent eight years working for Augusta Technical College with the Law Enforcement Academy and as the administrative assistant to the Dean of Public and Professional Services. 

I am excited to now be working at the Georgia Cancer Center, which allows me to exercise my passion for helping people. My family has been touched by cancer in various ways, and I get to work around researchers that are working towards finding cures for this terrible disease. 

 

 

 

 

More about Molecular Oncology & Immunology

 

 

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