Mentorship Program Alumni
Dr. Colm O'Rourke & Dr. Ghada Nouairia
Dr. Colm O’Rourke is associate professor of liver genomics and biomarker development at the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen. His research utilizes high-throughput molecular profiling to better understand the biological basis for systemic treatment response and develop novel treatment strategies in molecularly selected subgroups of patients with biliary tract cancer.
Dr. Ghada Nouairia is a computational oncologist specializing in Biliary Tract Cancers (BTC), combining the power of artificial intelligence and omics data to develop clinical tools for diagnosis, prognosis, and precision medicine. With a multidisciplinary background in engineering, bioinformatics, and molecular genetics, she brings innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions to complex medical and translational research questions.
During the mentorship program, Dr. O’Rourke and Dr. Nouairia met online to discuss their ongoing research projects in detail. Dr. Nouairia received valuable guidance on how to strategically steer her work, as well as insights into which researchers and groups within the BTC community might be open to collaboration. These discussions gave her a much-needed bird’s-eye view of the major research directions in the field and where BTC research is heading. The two also identified shared interests and kicked off a mutual collaboration.
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Prof. Chiara Raggi & Dr. Estanislao Peixoto
Prof. Chiara Raggi is an Associate Professor at the University of Florence, Italy, with a robust scientific background in the field of hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). Upon completion of her PhD, she undertook postdoctoral research at the Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis at the National Cancer Institute, directed by Dr. S.S. Thorgeirsson, and later joined the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Milan, where she investigated CSC biology in human cholangiocarcinoma and its interaction with tumor-associated macrophages. Since 2016, Dr. Raggi has been affiliated with the University of Florence, focusing on the metabolic aspects of liver cancer, particularly in cholangiocarcinoma stem-like cells.
Dr. Estanislao Peixoto earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Liver Diseases and Molecular Biology and is currently a Senior Scientist fellow at the University of Minnesota. His research explores the complex role of primary cilia in regulating nuclear processes and cellular signaling under both healthy and disease conditions. In particular, he investigates how these organelles contribute to DNA repair and genome stability in ciliopathies.
During the program, Prof. Raggi and Dr. Peixoto engaged in multiple discussions regarding their ongoing projects. They collaborated on a grant application led by Dr. Peixoto, in which Prof. Raggi helped with an in vitro component involving organoids. Dr. Peixoto also included Prof. Raggi as a collaborator on this project. Furthermore, he shared insights concerning the revision of his manuscript, and the two formally executed a Material Transfer Agreement to facilitate the exchange of cell materials.
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Dr. Daniela Sia & Dr. Antonella Cammarota
Dr. Daniela Sia, PhD, is a cancer biologist with a research focus on hepatobiliary cancers. By combining her genomic expertise with murine and patient-derived models, the goal of Dr. Sia’s current research is to dissect the genetic and molecular determinants of these neoplasms and ultimately identify novel therapies. She is currently Associate Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
Dr. Antonella Cammarota is a Medical Oncologist and PhD candidate at Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan, Italy) specialised in the management of gastrointestinal cancers, with a particular focus on hepatobiliary tumours. She gained experience in the development of novel therapeutics within clinical trials, and in the investigation of biomarkers of response in these tumours, thanks to a two-year fellowship in the UK. Her current research is centred on immune biomarker discovery in cholangiocarcinoma employing bioinformatic approaches.
Dr. Sia and Dr. Cammarota conducted monthly calls, providing Dr. Cammarota with the invaluable opportunity to deepen her understanding of cholangiocarcinoma biology and to receive expert guidance on the development of preclinical research projects, alongside career development advice. This productive exchange has enabled her to enhance her skills in peer reviewing translational oncology manuscripts and to submit a grant proposal aligned with her PhD research. The two have agreed to continue their mentorship, with Dr. Sia now formally appointed as the external supervisor for Dr. Cammarota’s PhD project.
Extension Requested
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Dr. Silvia Affò & Dr. Michele Zanoni
Dr. Silvia Affò is a Group Leader at IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain, and is specialized in cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor microenvironment manipulation to enhance therapy responses in liver tumors. She previously conducted groundbreaking research on cancer-associated fibroblasts at Columbia University and holds a PhD from the University of Barcelona.
Dr. Michele Zanoni is a postdoctoral researcher at IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Italy, focusing on the development of personalized micro-physiological models for biliary tract cancers using patient-derived organoids co-cultured with autologous stromal and immune cells. His research also investigates biomarkers of prognosis and treatment response through tissue, liquid biopsy, and preclinical models.
Over the course of the program, Dr. Zanoni took part in regular monthly meetings with his mentor to discuss project planning, scientific activities, and professional development. During his STSM with Dr. Affò, he developed 3D assembloid models of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and explored tumor–stroma–immune interactions for drug screening. This experience strengthened his technical skills, deepened his understanding of iCCA biology in a translational research context, and laid the groundwork for future translational research and collaborative grant applications with Dr. Affò.
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Dr. Jesper B Andersen & Dr. Yashbir Singh
Prof. Jesper B Andersen is full professor of Translational Hepatology and group leader at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. His laboratory is focused on research into three project themes: 1) immunogenomics, 2) metabolic deregulation, and 3) epigenomic remodeling. Prof. Andersen is chair of the AI working group in the Precision-BTC COST action.
Dr. Yashbir Singh is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Mayo Clinic, specializing in AI and topological data analysis for medical imaging. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Taiwan and completed a DAAD fellowship in Germany. Dr. Singh develops deep learning algorithms for early cancer detection and disease biomarker identification, and his innovative approaches to medical image interpretation have earned him recognition, including the RSNA Research Award 2024 and multiple society distinctions.
Dr. Singh and Dr. Andersen achieved two principle outcomes: 1) Numerous publications with focus on AI utility and implementation in oncology specifically, in liver and biliary tract cancers and 2) a focused AI blog at CCF, in lay terms, explaining the complexity of designing and implementing AI in the clinics and what using AI in the clinics mean to the patients themselves. Dr. Singh aims to utilize this exposure to foster international projects and joint proposals to drive his research from junior to more independence.
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