Arts and Sciences present Works in Progress

Dr. Lauren Endres kicked off the College of Arts & Sciences Works in Progress Seminar with a discussion on Reactive Oxygens in Cancer on February 10.

SUNY Poly’s College of Arts and Sciences kicked off the Spring 2017 Works in Progress Seminar this month, giving faculty the opportunity to present their research in progress to the campus community.

The seminar began February 10 with Dr. Lauren Endres, Assistant Professor of Biology presenting Nanoceria: Getting Serious about Reactive Oxygens in Cancer on a Small Scale.

“Molecular oxygen has a Jekyll and Hyde character in the body,” Dr. Endres explains. “Though it enables the body to transform food into energy, it can change its form and become harmful to our cells. These harmful, or so-called reactive oxygens are maintained at their appropriate levels within cells by anti-oxidants. As cancer cells advance through their developmental stages – from excessive cell growth, to in situ cancer and then on to metastasis – many shift towards higher levels of reactive oxygen production that would otherwise cause a normal cell to die. It is beneficial for cancer cells to ramp up reactive oxygen production; reactive oxygens can stimulate cells to grow and enhance their ability to shed into the body’s vasculature. In order to capitalize on these ‘benefits,’ cancer cells undergo genetic alterations that increase their anti-oxidant capacity, maintaining reactive oxygens at just the right level (i.e. growth stimulation without death). The goal of this project is to use nanoparticles composed of cerium oxide (nanoceria) to interfere with the anti-oxidant systems at work in cancer cells. Specifically, cancer cells treated with nanoceria will be forced beyond their favorable levels of reactive oxygen production, and cell death will ensue.”

Presentations continue this month with a presentation scheduled Thursday, February 24 with Dr. Ryan Lizardi, Assistant Professor of Digital Media Design and Humanities discussing Generation Nostalgia.

Two other faculty members are currently scheduled to present at the Works in Progress Seminar later this semester – Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Adam McLain on Biodiversity in Madagascar March 31 and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Dr. Naryan Sharma on Structure-Function Studies on CYP2A13 Enzyme April 21.

The mission of these seminars are to foster awareness about the research interests among faculty and students, improve communication about the topic, and encourage future research opportunities.

All Presentations will take place in Donovan Hall 2132 from 1 – 2 p.m.