Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PSTP Scholars
Current Scholars
Christopher Lewis
Mentor
Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD
Ishan Roy, MD, PhD
Education
BS: University of Washington
MD: University of Washington
Research Interests:
I was a Research Scientist at the University of Washington and received research training on the clinical outcomes of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) as well as bioinformatics and retrospective database research. The focus of my research was the pattern of initial distant metastasis of patients with MCC and the validation of the Merkel cell polyomavirus serologic assay in its ability to accurately detect new metastatic disease in patients with MCC. As a resident at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, I continue my research career in cancer rehabilitation and post-COVID rehabilitation in the domain of clinical informatics and rehabilitation science, with mentorship by Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD and Ishan Roy, MD, PhD.
Alice Ye
Mentor
Linda Ehrlich-Jones, RN, PhD
Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD
Education
BS: University of Chicago
MD: Loyola University
Research Interests:
I plan to pursue an academic career specializing in chronic pelvic pain, with research interests in musculoskeletal generators of pain, resilience approaches to chronic pain, and the therapeutic role of placebo effects.
Past Scholars
Ishan Roy
Education
BS: Case Western Reserve University
MD: Medical College of Wisconsin
PhD: Medical College of Wisconsin
Subspecialty interest: Cancer Rehabilitation
Research Interests:
I completed my PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Dwinell at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In the Dwinell lab, I investigated the role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Through expression analysis of human tissues, and using a variety of mouse models, I helped to delineate novel roles for chemokines in the regulation of pancreatic cancer cell metastasis and tumor microenvironment dynamics. As chemokines are important regulators of cell motility, a significant portion of my dissertation work focused on understanding the mechanisms by which chemokines influence cancer cell signaling through their g-protein coupled receptors. My dissertation work culminated with discovery of a possible mechanism for pancreatic cell motility that is regulated by bio-energetic signaling.
My current basic science research interests stem from my prior work in bioenergetic signaling. Specifically, I am interested in understanding more about how cancer, and its various treatments, influence systemic metabolism. Moving forward, I would like to investigate the mechanisms underlying cancer related cachexia and sarcopenia. From a clinical and translational perspective, I am interested in understanding how cancer rehabilitation can treat cancer related debility, using more novel physical exercise/therapy regimens and novel pharmaceutical targeting.
Colin K Franz
Education
PhD: Dalhousie University, Canada
MD: University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Canada
R. James Cotton
Education
BA: Rice University
BS: Rice University
PhD: Baylor College of Medicine
MD: Baylor College of Medicine