Members
Principal Investigator
Kathy DelGiorno, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology, VU
Assistant Professor, Surgery, VUMC
Kathleen (Kathy) DelGiorno, Ph.D. graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the United States Air Force Academy in 2005. She went on to serve as a Biological Research Officer in the U.S. Air Force for two years before working as a Research Associate studying pancreatic and adrenal cancers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute; simultaneously earning an M.S. from the University of Florida in Pharmacy. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2012, first studying pancreatic cancer development at Stony Brook University and then at Mayo Clinic Florida. She completed three years of Postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center investigating the role of interstitial fluid pressure to treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer. Dr. DelGiorno continued her research in pancreatic cancer in the Wahl laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Marcus Tan, MBBS, FACS
Associate Professor, Surgery, VUMC
Associate Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology, VU
Marcus Tan is a surgeon-scientist. His general surgical training included three years in the laboratory of David Linehan at Washington University in St Louis studying the immunology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). His surgical oncology fellowship was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He takes care of (and operates on!) patients with a variety of pancreatic diseases, especially pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cysts and pancreatitis. His research focuses on intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), a pre-malignant form of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In particular, he is interested in: 1. how the tumor recruits nerves into the neoplastic microenvironment. We have established that this neural infiltration occurs early, and is associated with more aggressive behavior of the IPMN. Identification of the mechanisms of tumor-nerve crosstalk may allow us to develop better ways to predict and interrupt malignant transformation. 2. the early origins of pancreatic tumors, both IPMN and PDAC. We are investigating the heterogeneity of the early pancreatic neoplastic cell population and also the influence of germline genetic variation on pancreatic phenotypes. We hope that these studies will lead to methods for earlier detection of this lethal cancer.
Research Staff
Celina Copeland
Lab Manager, Cell & Developmental Biology
Celina Copeland is from Smyrna, TN and graduated from the University of Tennesse Knoxville with her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. During her undergrad, she worked mainly with farm animals such as chickens, pigs, and cows, and even participated in agricultural research that investigated how light intensity and high stocking affected the well-being of broilers. She uses her knowledge of animal biology, behavior, and husbandry to her advantage as a lab manager. Most of her work in the DelGiorno lab consists of mouse work and managing multiple colonies, as well as administrative duties. In her free time, Celina loves to spend time with her family and play with her little dog, Tobi.
Brenda Jarvis, Ph.D.
Research Assistant, Cell & Developmental Biology
Brenda received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Meharry Medical College. She spent many years acquiring various technical skills and techniques such as FACS analysis, ELISAs, animal husbandry, cell culture, microscopy and histology while studying projects ranging from protein biochemistry to breast cancer. Her latest work centered on adapting published 3D brain imaging modalities such as CLARITY for imaging pancreas development on a gross scale. She’s also recently explored expansion microscopy techniques, TrEX and Magnify, and has developed variations of those protocols for use on pancreas tissues. Brenda enjoys crafting, attending Renaissance festivals with her family and cooking.
Sammy Knoblauch
Samantha Knoblauch is from Doylestown, PA and recently graduated from Vanderbilt University. At Vanderbilt, she double majored in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health & Society, and minored in Biological Sciences. During undergrad, she worked in Dr. Michael King’s cancer biomedical engineering lab studying a novel therapeutic for glioblastoma. Currently, she is focusing on translational research, consenting pancreatic cancer patients for our studies during oncology clinics and helping process patient samples in the lab.
Sabrina Torbit
Research Assistant, Cell & Developmental Biology
Sabrina Torbit is from Florence, KY and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a double major in Biomedical Sciences and History in 2023. During her undergraduate career she worked in Dr. Bolaji Thomas’ lab examining the immunological relationship between schistosomiasis and malaria. Her lab work consisted of running PCRs and gel electrophoresis to examine the gene variants. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and spending time with her dog, Yuki!
Malli Turner
Malli Turner is from Columbia, TN and received her B.S. in Biochemistry as well as her M.S. in Biomolecular Science from Lipscomb University. While completing her graduate degree, she conducted research with Dr. Brian Ellis, investigating an innovative new approach to enhance the efficiency of the anthelmintic drug, pyrantel pamoate, for combating soil-transmitted helminth infections. Outside of the lab, Malli enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and spending time with her family.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Katherine Ankenbauer, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Cell & Developmental Biology
Katherine Ankenbauer was born and raised in Nashville, TN and did her bachelor’s and master’s degree at Lipscomb University in molecular biology. As an undergraduate, she had the opportunity to participate in research programs at both Vanderbilt and UAB. After graduating, she went on to do her Ph.D. work in cell biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the lab of Dr. Susan Bellis. While there, her work broadly focused on characterizing how a glycosyltransferase, ST6GAL1, impacted cell signaling pathways and cell behavior in both cancer and inflammation. Katherine’s dissertation work focused specifically on ST6GAL1-mediated glycosylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cancer cell models. During her graduate career, Katherine became increasingly interested in the process of acinar to ductal metaplasia, leading her to the join the DelGiorno lab for her postdoc. Katherine is currently investigating epithelial cell plasticity during acinar to ductal metaplasia and is working to develop pancreatic organoid models for the lab. In her free time, Katherine enjoys gardening, reading, volunteering, and spending time with her family and her cats Gracie and Charlie.
Graduate Students
Amelia Cephas
Graduate Student, Cell & Developmental Biology
Amelia Cephas is originally from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.S degree in Neuroscience and Behavior and a minor in Criminal Justice. After graduation, she worked in the lab of Dr. Vidu Garg at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio as a postbaccalaureate research fellow where she investigated the underlying mechanisms of congenital heart disease development due to maternal hyperglycemia employing in vivo and in vitro models. Later she went on to conduct research at The Ohio State University and gained experience in several fields. She studied the role that Endothelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) plays in autophagy and oxidative burst in macrophages as it pertains to their bacteria-killing abilities in Cystic Fibrosis patients, and investigated the effectiveness of GALGT2 gene therapy, using adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV), on the pathology of dystrophic (dyw /dyw) murine models. Additionally, she worked in local middle schools as a Life science teacher. In the Delgiorno lab, Amelia studies pancreatic tumorigenesis. Specifically, she studying ductal-derived neoplasia in the context of KRAS mutations and is investigating the role statins play in pancreatic acinar to ductal metaplasia. Amelia likes to volunteer her time in the community, dance, listen to podcasts and participate in outdoor sports.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Katie Gell
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Cell & Developmental Biology
Katie is a current undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University where she is majoring in Biochemistry. Before starting in the DelGiorno Lab as an undergraduate, Katie completed a summer internship where she investigated proliferating cell populations in pancreatic neoplasia using immunofluorescence staining. She is originally from Maine where she graduated from the Biomedical Sciences Program at Hancock County Technical Center. Outside of the lab, Katie enjoys swimming, hiking, and baking.
Shreeya Moolamalla
Shreeya is currently a freshman at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Health, and Society. She is originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico where she conducted research at New Mexico State University with Dr. Amanda Ashley investigating DNA Damage in melanocytes using different drugs and immunofluorescence. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Larissa Ramirez
Larissa is currently an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society, as well as Political Science. Before joining the DelGiorno Lab, Larissa participated in an internship where she investigated the impacts of specific Andean herbs on type 2 diabetes. During this internship, she performed basic wet lab techniques and had responsibilities that included data input, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, literature reviews, product evaluation, and drafting reports. Outside the lab. she finds enjoyment in reading horror novels, participating in painting, and indulging in surfing.
Patrick Watt
Patrick Watt is from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and is a current undergraduate student majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society. On a pre-med track with a growing passion for adenocarcinoma discovery, our research is particularly meaningful to him as it is a topic close to home. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hiking and playing all types of sports.
Lab Graduates
