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Research

Our fellows' research experiences are diverse and flexible.

Our fellows’ research experiences are diverse and flexible, ranging from laboratory to informatics to population health services to various types of traditional clinical research/trials. Fellows are able to design their own research projects and are often involved in multiple projects spanning a variety of interests, methodologies and settings. All fellows undergo rigorous training to develop their research skills and academic interests. Fellows are mentored to design, obtain support for and carry out their own studies. Fellows also often direct the research efforts of others. Research groups within the division and department offer significant investigative opportunities.  The division also has a tissue bank of surgical specimens collected for research use. Fellows are encouraged to define and pursue their individual research interests among the opportunities and resources available at the institution and among our collaborators.

Fellows
 Yasmin Abedin profileGrants 
  • Kansas University Cancer Center Pilot Grants-pending
    • Project: Examining the role of REST deficiency on augmentation of obesity-associated endometrial cancer
    • PI: Dr. Warren Nothnick, Co-I: Dr. Yasmin Abedin, Dr. Andrea Jewell, Dr. Lori Spoozak
  • The University of Kansas Medical Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Interdepartmental Funding of Research
    • Awarded 2023-2024 $1500
    • Project: Examining the role of REST in endometrial cancer cell lines
    • PI: Dr. Lori Spoozak, Co-I: Dr. Warren Nothnick, Dr. Yasmin Abedin
 Poster and Oral Presentations
  •  Abedin, Y., Minchella, P., Peterson, R., Graham, A., Cook, I., Javellana, M., Jewell, A., Spoozak, L., Nothnick, W. RE1 Transcription Factor (REST) is decreased in endometrial cancer. Poster Presentation. The 20th Annual Glibert S. Greenwald Symposium on Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, November 2-3, 2023.
  • Abedin, Y., Minchella, P., Peterson, R., Graham, A., Cook, I., Javellana, M., Jewell, A., Spoozak, L., Nothnick, W. RE1 Transcription Factor (REST) is decreased in endometrial cancer. Poster Presentation. Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancers. San Diego, California, March 16-18, 2024.
  • Abedin, Y., Samuels, C., Murphy, T., Alpert, E., Cheung, E., Zhao, Q., Einstein, M.H., Douglas, N.C. Gamma secretase inhibitors in combination with cytotoxic agents decrease invasion in uterine leiomyosarcoma. Oral Presentation. Society of Gynecology Oncology, Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancers. San Diego, California, March 17, 2024.
  • Fife, A., Murphy, T., Zhao, Q., Abedin, Y., Einstein, M.H., Douglas, N.C. Notch inhibition with gamma-secretase inhibitor increases apoptosis in uterine leiomyosarcoma cells. Poster Presentation. Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancers. San Diego, California, March 16-18, 2024.
 Leadership and Service
  •  Volunteer for The 20th Annual Gilbert S. Greenwald Symposium on Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, November 2-3, 2023
 Rubina Ratnaparkhi profileResearch Experience
  • Thesis title: Multilevel implementation science program evaluation of federally-funded cervical cancer screening and diagnostic testing in a non-Medicaid expansion state
    • Investigated disparities by age, race, and rurality in cervical cancer screening, colposcopy, and treatment among low-income women in Kansas’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
    • Conducted mixed methods evaluation of patient navigation reach, efficacy, and sustainability using validated implementation science frameworks
    • Designed, conducted, and analyzed qualitative interviews with patient navigators and led community-based participatory research initiatives with 360-feedback the Kansas Department of Health as well as the University of Kansas Cancer Center Patient Research Advocacy Program
  • Sexual Health Empowerment (S)HE Program
    • Characterized adaptation and baseline calibration of validated cervical and breast health literacy instruments in criminal legal-involved populations to support evidence-based evaluation of gynecologic health literacy interventions
    • Reviewed best practices in jail-based research for cervical cancer prevention
    • Analyzed evidence and implementation and policy considerations for use of HPV self-swab testing for cervical cancer screening among criminal-legal involved persons
  • Quality Improvement Project: Assessment of referral patterns, uptake, and loss-to-follow up for outpatient specialty palliative care in gynecologic oncology
 Grants
  • University of Kansas Cancer Center Cancer Prevention and Control mini pilot grant ($1200)

 Priya Sabu profile
Grants
  • 2022-Present Principal Investigator, University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS
    • $35,000 grant funded prospective clinical trial examining changes in the gut microbiome in association with patient symptoms, quality of life in endometrial cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment.
 Research Experience
  • 2021-Present Lead Investigator, University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS
    • Conduct preclinical studies on novel agents targeting cell kinesins in ovarian cancer cell lines. Conduct pilot study on evaluation and characterization of gut microbiome and bacterial extracellular vesicles in blood of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
  • 2021-2022 Principal Investigator, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
    • Develop and implement hospital wide interventions to improve Enhanced Surgery After Recovery (ERAS) metrics including improving antibiotic timing and decreasing erroneous administration of antibiotics for gynecology cases.
  • 2022 Fellow, Society for Translational Oncology Fellow’s Forum, Leesburg, VA
    • Complete three-day intensive workshop in how to apply translational research findings in tumor biology to improve patient outcomes
 Chelsea Salyer profile
Grants
  • University of Kansas Cancer Center Pilot Project Award, $19,500 (Principal Investigator)
  • National Institutes of Health R01CA226838 (co-investigator)
  • KUMC Department of OBGYN Interdepartmental Research Grant $1500 (co-investigator)
 Publications
  • Salyer C, Lipnicky A, Bagwell-Gray M, Lorvick J, Cropsey K, Ramaswamy M. Abnormal Pap Follow-Up among Criminal-Legal Involved Women in Three U.S. Cities. 2021. Submitted, under review.
  • Salyer C, Lee J, Lorvick J, Comfort M, Cropsy K, Smith S, Emerson A, Ramaswamy M. Cervical Cancer Prevention Behaviors Among Criminal-Legal Involved Women from Three U.S. Cities. 2021. Submitted, under review.
  • Salyer C, Veazey-Brooks J, McCammon S, Bassette E, Spoozak L. Facilitators and Barriers to Recruitment of Surgical Professionals into Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Manuscript in process.
  • Salyer C, Reese E, Dimon E, Voth C, Spoozak L, Klemp J, Nye L, Glenn J, Ramaswamy M. Adherence Patterns to NCCN Guideline Recommended Genetic Testing among Ovarian Cancer Patients at a Midwestern National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center. Manuscript in process.
  • Salyer C, Reese E, Dimon E, Voth C, Spoozak L, Klemp J, Nye L, Glenn J, Ramaswamy M. Understanding Black-White Disparities in Genetic Testing among Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study of Key Stakeholders. Manuscript in process.
Poster and Oral Presentations
  • Salyer C, Lee J, Lorvick J, Comfort M, Cropsy K, Smith S, Emerson A, Ramaswamy M. Cervical Cancer Prevention Behaviors Among Criminal-Legal Involved Women from Three U.S. Cities.
    • Oral presentation at the 2020 University of Kansas Cancer Center Research Symposium, awarded best presentation in Population Health category (November 2020)
    • Poster presentation at the 2021 SGO Annual Meeting (March 2021)
  •  Salyer C, Lipnicky A, Bagwell-Gray M, Lorvick J, Cropsey K, Ramaswamy M. Abnormal Pap Follow-Up among Criminal-Legal Involved Women in Three U.S. Cities.
    • Oral presentation at the 2021 WAGO Annual Meeting (scheduled June 2021)
  •  Salyer C, Veazey-Brooks J, McCammon S, Bassette E, Spoozak L. Perspectives of Physicians with Dual Certification in a Surgical Specialty and Hospice and Palliative Medicine
    • Oral presentation at the 2021 ACS Annual Meeting (scheduled October 2021)
    • Oral presentation for the KUMC Graduate Medical Education Research Forum (April 2021)
    • Oral presentation for KUMC Department of OBGYN Research Day (April 2021)
 Shariska Petersen profile
Grants/Awards
  • TL1 Postdoctoral Clinical and Translational Research Training Program Award –  funded Masters in Clinical Research
  • Frontier’s Clinical and Translational Science Award $20,000
  • Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) Ann & Sol Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award $75,000
  • Residents as Teachers Scholar Program
  • Foundation for Women’s Cancer Young Investigator Award in Honor of Laurel Rice, MD
  • Society for Reproductive Investigation’s Underrepresented Minority Program Award
 Publications
  • Gupta VG, Hirst J, Petersen S, et al. Entinostat, a selective HDAC1/2 inhibitor, potentiates the effects of olaparib in homologous recombination proficient ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Apr 15:S0090-8258(21)00325-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.04.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33867143.
  • Petersen S, Shahiri P, Jewell A, Spoozak L, Chapman J, Fitzgerald-Wolff S, Lai SM, Khabele D. Disparities in ovarian cancer survival at the only NCI-designated cancer center in Kansas. Am J Surg. 2020 Dec 7;. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.12.009. PubMed PMID: 33309256
  • Ball, J, Thompson, J, Wulff-Burchfield, E, Ellerbeck, E, Kimminau, K, Brooks, J, Petersen S, Rotich, D, Kinney, A, Ellis, S.  “Precision community: a mixed methods study to identify determinants of adoption and implementation of targeted cancer therapy in community oncology.” Implement Sci Commun August 2020. 1:72 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-020-00064-y
  • Doe, S, Petersen S, Buekers, T, Swain, M. Does a Multidisciplinary Approach to Invasive Breast Cancer Care Improve Time to Treatment and Patient Compliance? J Natl Med Assoc. 2020 Apr 11. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.010. PubMed PMID: 32291070.
  • Petersen S, Wilson AJ, Hirst J, Roby KF, Fadare O, Crispens MA, Beeghly-Fadiel A, Khabele D. " CCNE1 and BRD4 co-amplification in high-grade serous ovarian cancer is associated with poor clinical outcomes." Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Feb 7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.01.038. PMID: 32044108
  • Doe, S, Petersen S, Swain, M. Utilization of genetic testing in breast cancer treatment after implementation of comprehensive multi-disciplinary care. Breast J. 2020 Jan 9;. doi: 10.1111/tbj.13747. PubMed PMID: 31916345.
Poster Presentations
  • Petersen, S, Winchester, M, Krase, K, Berbel, G, Tarver, S, Broski, J. Shared leadership maintains situational awareness during intraoperative critical events. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Virtual Annual Meeting. April 30th-May 2nd, 2021.
KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Mailstop 2028
Kansas City, KS 66160