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Azmeer Sharipol, PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering (Frisch Lab), was recently awarded the National Cancer Institute (NCI) F99K00 predoctoral to postdoctoral fellow transition award.

This highly competitive award allows only one nomination from each institution. Azmeer is the first BME student from the University of Rochester to receive this award. Previous recipients from the university are Marielle Jensen-Battaglia, an Epidemiology PhD Candidate, and Dr. AnnaLyn Williams, now an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and Cancer Control.

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

AML is an aggressive blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and spreads to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. It occurs when stem cells in the bone marrow gained mutations that halt them from maturing into white blood cells. Current therapies for people with AML result in an average 5-year survival rate of ~32% (NCI SEER). To improve therapy outcomes, researchers are looking into the various cell types in the bone marrow, so called the bone marrow microenvironment in hoping to discover new pathways to target AML.

Research project and postdoctoral training

Azmeer’s project is titled "Investigating the Microenvironmental Dysregulation and Polypharmacy Impact during AML in an in vitro model of the human bone marrow and in vivo models".

Under the mentorship of Dr. Frisch and co-advisor, Dr. Danielle Benoit, Azmeer is building a model of the bone marrow microenvironment in the laboratory using microfluidics and hydrogel technologies. This approach allows studying AML in a setting that is more relevant to the human body compared to using animal models. The Frisch lab is currently investigating the role of a molecule called CCL3 that is a key molecule released by AML cells that affect other cells in the bone marrow such as osteoblasts which are bone forming cells. Dr. Frisch and Azmeer’s works are published in Frontiers of Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Frontiers of Hematology.

To expand this research for his postdoctoral training, Azmeer is interested in studying the effects of polypharmacy in the bone marrow microenvironment during AML. Polypharmacy is described as the concurrent use of multiple drugs which is common for older adults with other conditions. Recently, a study lead by Dr. Erika Ramsdale, an oncologist at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, showed that 70% people with stage 3 and 4 cancer and other health conditions were at risk of adverse drug-drug interactions. In collaboration with Dr. Frisch, Azmeer is looking forward to utilizing the bone marrow model developed during his Ph.D. research to investigate the effects of commonly prescribed medications to cells in the bone marrow.

The F99K00 fellowship

‘The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized by their institutions for their high potential and strong interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independent cancer researchers.’ ~ From the RFA

The fellowship covers stipends, fees, and travel for up to 2 years of PhD to complete dissertation (F99 phase) and up to 4 years for the post-doctoral training (K00 phase). The fellowship is among the few opportunities that international students can apply to. Other opportunities include F99K00 from National Institute of Aging (NIA) and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), and predoctoral fellowships from International Foundation for Ethical Research and PhRMA foundation. Azmeer is happy to provide guidance for any BME students interested in applying to these fellowships.

Azmeer would like to thank his mentors and committee members including Dr. Frisch, Dr. Benoit, Dr. James McGrath, Dr. Hani Awad, and Dr. Jane Liesveld. In addition, Azmeer would like to acknowledge the invaluable guidance he received from Marielle, Dr. Williams, Dr. Elaine Schmolock (GEPA), Dr. Marian Ackun-Farmmer (BME Alumni), Dr. Lisa DeLouise, Dr. Catherine Ovitt, and Bonnie Lipari.

Sincere congratulations to Azmeer! 

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^{Related Links...}

• _{Azmeer Sharipool LinkedIn}
• _{Frisch Faculty Page}
• _{National Cancer Institute (NCI)}
  • _{F99/K00 predoctoral to postdoctoral fellow transition award}