This one-and-a-half-day learning event brings together scholars and professionals from across the CCTS Partner Network. Highlights include a keynote from Reshma Jagsi, M.D., DPhil, professor and chair of radiation oncology at Emory University School of Medicine; the popular Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition; poster presentations; and the CCTS Scholars’ Dinner.
Registration is free, and submissions for posters and 3MT presentations are now open.
 |
| Chandrani Sarkar, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology, is principal investigator of the project. |
Chandrani Sarkar, Ph.D., a cancer researcher at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of pathology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, is principal investigator of the project. She has been awarded a two-year $616,000 Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program Idea Award from the DOD to lead the research.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and lethal cancer in both men and women, affecting a large population not only in the United States but also worldwide. The National Cancer Institute reports that colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. While incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer are decreasing in adults 50 and older, they are rising at an alarming rate in adults under age 50.
“With emerging evidence supporting that the disease is often detected at more advanced stages in young adults, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify factors that regulate CRC and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms to develop targeted therapeutic approaches for patients,” Sarkar said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overweight and obesity are associated with a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. These cancers make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. Visceral fat, or “belly fat,” is a type of fat stored deep in the abdominal cavity and surrounds vital organs. Excess visceral fat disrupts normal body functions, which can promote abnormal cell growth and increase the risk of cancer.
The molecular links between obesity and CRC, though explored, are not fully understood. Sarkar’s study aims to study the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors in obesity-induced CRC progression. Key functions of NPY include regulating appetite and energy balance, stress response, cardiovascular health, and immune modulation.
Identifying new targets will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer, Sarkar said.
Collaborators on the project are Debanjan Chakroborty, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology; Guillermo Herrera, M.D., professor and chair of pathology; Paramahansa Pramanik, Ph.D., assistant professor of math and statistics; and Ahmed Abdalla, M.D., assistant professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology.
Sarkar joined USA Health and the Whiddon College of Medicine in July 2021. She earned a Ph.D. in cancer biology from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She also holds a Master of Clinical Research from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Sarkar’s research efforts have led to several publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. She has also authored book chapters and presented her work at national and international professional meetings.
Amanda Arnold, education and training specialist; Heather Fleming, assistant director of faculty affairs; and Alice Nolen, faculty affairs specialist, will join this year’s cohort as mentees. Emily Wilson, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty affairs and faculty development, has been selected to serve as a mentor.
The GFA Mentoring Circles Program is a year-long, cohort-based initiative that connects faculty affairs professionals from academic medical institutions across the country. Rather than pairing individuals in a one-on-one relationship, the program organizes participants into “mentoring circles” — small groups of five to seven mentees and two to three mentors who meet regularly throughout the year. The goal is to promote networking, peer support, and shared learning on topics relevant to faculty affairs and professional development.
Each circle is thoughtfully composed based on career goals, institutional roles, and areas of interest, with the intent to foster meaningful collaboration and cross-institutional connection. Monthly meetings follow a structured curriculum provided by the GFA, focusing on topics like leadership development, GFA committee involvement, and best practices in career advancement.
Reflecting on her decision to apply, Arnold shared: “I joined the GFA Mentoring Circles Program because I wanted to connect with others who do similar work and learn from their experiences. Being part of a mentoring circle gives me a chance to grow professionally while also contributing to a supportive community.”
The staff members' involvement represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity for the institution to engage with the broader national conversation around faculty development and leadership in academic medicine.