Dr. Yongki Choi
Yongki.Choi@ndsu.edu 

Dr. Choi’s research aims to develop a novel, electronic-based platform that can selectively detect individual target biomarkers of pancreatic cancer in blood by integrating cutting-edge nanotechnology and cancer biology. This research will offer a highly reliable, accurate, automated identification and classification strategy of pancreatic cancer, allowing early-detection, prediction of organ-specific metastasis, and selection of an effective, specific therapeutic plan for the pancreatic cancer patients. 

Dr. Rick Jansen
Rick.Jansen@ndsu.edu 

Dr. Jansen’s project aims to identify the epigenetic and genetic markers which are important in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer from existing public and clinic based resources. Using these pancreatic cancer associated sets and samples, Dr. Jansen’s group will incorporate clinical-based risk factor data to further understand the biology behind the development and growth of pancreatic cancer. The results of this work will shape a framework for integrative epigenetic-genetic-clinical analysis in future epidemiologic study designs where the objective is identifying key marker sets which can used to screen for early disease or which can be targeted for effective treatment.

Dr. Jiha Kim
Jiha.Kim.1@ndsu.edu 

Dr. Kim's research is focused on investigating the perivascular heterogeneity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Tumor Microenvironment (TME). The research is aiming to identify novel mechanisms to reprogram the perivascular signature that will promote vascular functionality and enhance drug delivery efficacy. The Kim group utilize in vitro cell culture system to study mechanistic details and animal model system including various Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMM), to evaluate the efficacy of new findings in vivo.

Dr. Estelle Leclerc
Estelle.Leclerc@ndsu.edu 

Dr. Leclerc ‘s lab is interested in targeting the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products  (RAGE) in pancreatic cancer. She recently showed in a pre-clinical mouse model of pancreatic cancer, that the combination of RAGE inhibitors with gemcitabine could enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine.

Dr. Guodong Liu
Guodong.Liu@ndsu.edu      

Dr. Liu has been interested in developing nanomaterial-based platforms for early detection of pancreatic cancer.  His group is involved in developing fast, sensitive, and cost-effective lateral-flow devices for detection of protein and micro-RNA biomarkers present in bodily fluids of pancreatic cancer patients.  

Dr. Mohiuddin Quadir
Mohiuddin.quadir@ndsu.edu 

Dr. Mohi Quadir is aiming to develop spatially and temporally-responsive drug delivery nano carriers for pancreatic cancer.  The Quadir group is involved in designing linear and dendritic block copolymers that forms nano-sized polymersomes and vesicles capable of encapsulating frontline chemotherapeutic agents and trafficking them to specific cellular compartments without triggering off-target toxicity.

Dr. Katie Reindl
Katie.Reindl@ndsu.edu  

Dr. Reindl’s research is focused on the roles of small molecule phytochemicals (e.g., piperlongumin) in inducing oxidative stress which kills K-ras oncogene harboring pancreatic cancer cells. The mechanistic details, as well as therapeutic potentials of piperlongumin in  combination of gemcitabine, are being investigated at both cellular and model animal levels.