Our team

Jennifer Rooks (Research Assistant)

Jenny recently graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in neuroscience and minors in biology and Spanish. During college, she discovered her love for working with children. That’s why her goal is to attend medical school and focus on Pediatric medicine. In our lab, Jenny is interested to understand metabolic pathways since metabolic abnormalities underlie a lot of disease in children. Outside of academics, she enjoys spending time with her friends and has recently picked up gardening as a hobby.

Erin Perkins (Research Assistant)

Erin recently graduated from Franklin College with a degree in biology. During college she enjoyed working in a laboratory and getting to do research, leading her to want to pursue a career in medical research. In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and spending time outdoors.

Email

I am a Pharmacologist and an Immunometabolism enthusiast.

Education:
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology), Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Egypt & Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA.
Postdoctoral Fellow in Immuno-metabolism, Physical Sciences in Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL.

More about the PI:
I am an assistant professor in the department of Urology and a full member of Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive (IUSCCC). I became interested in metabolism early in my career. After completing Pharmacy School, I pursued specialized training in diabetes and the molecular mechanisms of antidiabetic agents. As I transitioned my research focus to cancer, I realized during my PhD and postdoctoral studies that metabolic changes are often understudied, despite being key determinants of the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer treatments. When I had the opportunity to establish my own lab and launch an independent research program, I became increasingly interested in exploring how metabolism influences cancer at the cellular and molecular levels. This line of inquiry has the potential to guide the development of more effective targeted therapies and preventive strategies. It also opens the door to comprehensive, personalized approaches in which tailored nutrition can be integrated during or after treatment to improve outcomes and long-term health.

Bruke Weldy

IUSCCC Summer Intern

Will be working with Dr. Hristos Kaimakliotis on Bladder Cancer Projects.

Alyssa Trotter

IUSCCC Summer Intern

Will be investigating cholesterol metabolism in cancer cell persisters.

Faris Khan

IU School of Medicine Summer Intern

Medical student joining our lab to research therapeutic resistance mechanisms in prostate cancer.