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K12 Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program

The individuals below are the awardees of the K12 Calabresi Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program. The award provides two years of support for early-career physician scientists to pursue patient-oriented clinical and translational cancer research. See the Calabresi Program Awards page for information about applying for funding. Congratulations to all the recipients.

2025 Scholars

Morgan Freret, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Mentors: Macarena de la Fuente, M.D., and Scott Welford, Ph.D.

Project: Brain-avoidant craniospinal irradiation for leptomeningeal metastasis (BRAVO-LM)

Cindy Pabon, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Peter Hosein, M.D., and Nipun Merchant, M.D.

Project: Neoadjuvant Salvage Chemo-Immunoradiation for Locally Advanced Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Non-Responders to FLOT

Abhishek Pandey, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Professor, Division of Myeloma, Department of Medicine

Mentors: C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., and Tracy Crane, Ph.D., RDN

Project: FAST-M: Prolonged Overnight Fasting and Mediterranean Dietary Intervention for Patients with Multiple Myeloma or Its Precursor Disease

2024 Scholars

Noa Holtzman, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Antonio Jimenez Jimenez, M.D.; Damian Green, M.D.

Project: Modulation of NK cell reconstitution with recombinant human interleukin-15 (rhIL-15) for relapse prevention of AML in elderly patients after reduced intensity allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Marcella Kaddoura, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., and Francesco Maura, M.D.

Project: Defining the genomic determinants of resistance to venetoclax in multiple myeloma with t(11;14)(CCND1;IGH) translocation

Gretel Terrero, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Peter Hosein, M.D.; Jash Datta, M.D.

Project: Utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for early switch of front-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)

2023 Scholars

Coral Olazagasti, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., MPH; Gilberto de Lima Lopes, M.D.

Project: Proyecto GUIAR: Promoting lung cancer screening awareness and implementation in Hispanic/LatinX head and neck cancer survivors

Benjamin Spieler, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Mentors: Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., and Radka Stoyanova, Ph.D.

Project: The Miami UAdapt molecular characterization tool

Ashish Shah, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery

Mentor: Macarena de la Fuente, M.D., and Antonio Iavarone, M.D.

Project: Investigating the role of HERV-K(HML-2) in gliomas: uncovering novel prognostic and therapeutic targets

2022 Scholars

Katherine Amin, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Urology

Mentors: Sabita Roy, Ph.D., Nipun Merchant, M.D., and Frank Penedo, Ph.D.

Project: Understanding the effects of aromatase inhibitors on the genitourinary microbiome in women with breast cancer

Benjamin Diamond, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., and Francesco Maura, M.D.

Project: Iberdomide, daratumumab, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone for the achievement of MRD-negativity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

2021 Scholars

Namrata Chandhok, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Stephen Nimer, M.D., and Justin Watts, M.D.

Project: Exploiting defective DNA damage repair in isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome to develop novel therapeutic strategies

Janaki Sharma, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Jaime Merchan, M.D., and Priyamvada Rai, Ph.D.

Project: Repurposing riociguat: a novel therapeutic option for prostate cancer

Trent Wang, DO, MPH

Assistant Professor, Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Robert Levy, Ph.D.

Project: MEK inhibition for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease in combination with conventional prophylaxis after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

2020 Scholars

Terrence Bradley, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Maria "Ken" Figueroa, M.D., and Justin Watts, M.D.

Project: An investigator-initiated trial of the lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor IMG-7289 for the treatment of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) or polycythemia vera (PV) that have failed at least one standard therapy: a phase IIa pilot study

Daniel O'Neil, M.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Michael Antoni, Ph.D., and Gilberto de Lima Lopes, M.D.

Project: Defining the multifactorial causes of breast cancer survival disparities in women living with HIV

2019 Scholars

Juan Alderuccio, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

Mentors: Craig Moskowitz, M.D., and Izidore Lossos, M.D.

Project: Prognostic significance of baseline metabolic tumor volume in patients with relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

Neha Goel, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery

Mentors: Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., MPH; Nipun Merchant, M.D.

Project: A novel approach to eliminating racial/ethnic breast cancer disparities in South Florida: Going back to our roots to fix the future

Eric Mellon, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Mentors: Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D.

Project: Weekly multiparametric MRI of glioblastoma during primary chemoradiation therapy