Cherie’ Scurrah
Department: Cell & Developmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Ken Lau, Ph.D.
Dissertation Description: The Influence of Commensal Bacteria and Inflammation on Colon Cancer Development
Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the westernized world. About 5% of Americans develop colon cancer at some point in their life, yet successful treatment options are scarce. A better understanding of the development of colon cancer will aid in the development of more effective colon cancer treatments. I am specifically interesting in understanding the influence of commensal bacteria and inflammation on intestinal epithelial cells that induce colon cancer. To investigate this, I am taking a single cell analysis approach by utilizing multiplex imaging in the form of flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.