About the Projects
Our Partnership continues to build on the numerous unique existing resources at SDSU and UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center and the School of Medicine which make up key elements of the Partnership, supporting research, education, and outreach. Among these are joint multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects that include faculty members from both institutions.
The projects have a high degree of novelty and are aimed at enhancing research capacity at SDSU and increasing cancer disparities research at UCSD. These projects are:
The projects have a high degree of novelty and are aimed at enhancing research capacity at SDSU and increasing cancer disparities research at UCSD. These projects are:
Project 1 (Completed):
Title: Defining Mechanisms of MICAL2-dependent Pancreatic Cancer Cell Migration
This project proposes to identify novel therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Investigators are testing the overarching hypothesis that expression of the microtubule associated monooxygenase, calponin and LIM domain containing 2 (MICAL2) gene promotes pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis by cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms.
Products and Results: This project has led to the successful application for National Cancer Institute R01 titled "Defining the Role of MICAL2 in KRAS Mediated Pancreatic Duct Neoplasia".
Timeline: September 2023 – August 2026
Research Team at UCSD:
Andrew Lowy, MD, FACS (Co-Leader); Adam Engler, PhD (Co-Investigator); Ponmathi Panneerpandian (Postdoctoral Fellow),
Research Team at SDSU:
Parag Katira, PhD (Co-Leader); Carrie House, PhD (Co-Investigator); Esra Tiftik Karabay, PhD (Postdoctoral Student); Megan Keene, BS (Doctoral Student)
Project 2 (Completed):
Title: Evaluating Telehealth Use in Older Cancer Patients with Limited Access to Care
This study will help define the national landscape of telehealth among cancer patients, and will provide a framework for the development of future interventions to optimize telehealth among patients. This timely project will deliver actionable information to providers, healthcare systems, and policymakers.
Products and Results: Results have been published, "Cancer Clinician Experiences With Telehealth Across Oncology Specialties: Cross-Sectional Survey Study" (PMC13489505).
Timeline: September 2023 – August 2026
Research Team at UCSD
Juan Javier-DesLoges, MD, MS (Co-Leader); Brett Meyer, MD (Co-Investigator); Ronghui Xu, PhD (Co-Investigator); Leah Deshler (Research Data Analyst)
Research Team at SDSU
Humberto Parada, PhD (Co-Leader); Myunhee Lee, MPH (Doctoral Student)
Pilot Projects:
Pilot Project 1: Creating Bridges to Reproductive Health Care in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (Completed)
This community-engaged project assessed implementation of reproductive health care for adolescent and young adult cancer (AYA) survivors in the Imperial County catchment-area population, a severely medically underserved region with no local resources for control of reproductive health’s late effects related to cancer treatments.
Products and Results: Through the pilot project, the team developed a free online Oncofertility Tool, available in English and Spanish, for individuals and their providers to use to make evidence-based decisions about their fertility during and after cancer treatment.
Timeline: September 2023 – August 2025
Research Team at UCSD
H. Irene Su, MD (Co-Leader); Jesse Nodora, DrPH (Co-Investigator); Sheri Hartman, PhD (Co-Investigator); Sally Romero, PhD (Project Manager); Blanca Equihua (Program Coordinator)
Research Team at SDSU
Shiloh Williams, PhD (Co-Leader)
Research Team at Cancer Resource Center of the Desert
Helen Palomino, LCSW (Co-Leader); Lourdes Ramirez, MSW (Research Associate); Jessica Yocupicio (Research Associate)
Pilot Project 2: Impact of life experiences on somatic molecular biology of breast cancer
This pilot project will generate a molecular dataset that is representative of all breast cancer patients and annotated for several structural factors including access to, and type of health care, zip code, and body mass index. The dataset will include follow-up information, details of their treatment plan and clinical outcomes for cancer patients. The goal is to develop more personalized and better tailored diagnostics for patients from all demographics, as well as to potentially identify better therapeutics for our region’s patients.
Timeline: September 2025 – August 2027
Research Team at UCSD
Asona Lui, MD, PhD (Co-Leader); Gabriel Cesena (Medical Student), Renzo Cavero (Medical Student), Bria McClain (Medical Student), Hawaa Bahreldin (Undergraduate Student), Meher Dhaliwal (Undergraduate Student)
Research Team at SDSU
Svasti Haricharan, MD, PhD (Co-Leader), Humberto Parada, PhD (Co-Investigator), Matthew Bainbridge, PhD (Co-Investigator), Tyler DeWitt (Postdoctoral Scholar)
Pilot Project 3: Promotora-Led Cancer Prevention in the Fields: A Pilot Study Linking Environmental Pollutants and Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Latino Farmworkers
This community-engaged pilot project in Imperial County will measure the association between environmental chemical carcinogen exposure and stool-based biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk among residents of Imperial Valley, particularly farmworkers. In addition to measuring environmental exposures, they will assess the perceptions, belief and awareness around colorectal cancer risk among residents, regional collaborators and healthcare providers. The goal is to combine data around environmental exposures and qualitative feedback to support the development of locally-relevant strategies for CRC prevention or early detection tailored to farmworker populations in Imperial Valley and comparable agricultural regions.
Timeline: October 2025 – September 2027
Research Team at UCSD
Joshua Demb, PhD (Co-Leader)
Research Team at SDSU
Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, PhD (Co-Leader), Linda Lara-Jacobo, PhD (Co-Investigator), Eunha Ho, PhD (Co-Investigator)
Research Team at Lideres Campesinas
Ana Solorio (Co-Leader)
Pilot Project 4: Self-collection Access and Research for Early Detection & Prevention of Cervical Cancer (Self-CARE): A Pilot Hybrid Trial in a San Diego Federally Qualified Health Center
This project will bring together multidisciplinary SDSU and UCSD researchers with partners from Vista Community Clinic (VCC) to conduct a pilot implementation trial of age- and culturally-tailored at-home cervical cancer screening with underscreened VCC patients. Following randomization, 100 participants assigned to the intervention group will receive the at-home CSC intervention (mailed kits, text/phone reminders, screening navigation support, age/culturally-tailored instructions); 100 participants assigned to the control group will receive reminder calls for in-clinic screening.
Timeline: September 2026 – August 2028
Research Team at UCSD
Nicole Stadnick, PhD (Co-Leader) , Ramez Eskander, MD (Co-Investigator)
Research Team at SDSU
Shira Goldenberg, PhD (Co-Leader), Corinne McDaniels, PhD (Co-Investigator), Jailene Cruz (Doctoral Student), Kayla Saadeh (Doctoral Student)
Research Team at Vista Community Clinic
Josue Leon (Co-Leader) , Nanettte Stamm (Co-Investigator), Rajni Lopez (Co-Investigator)
Pilot Project 5: Deciphering Niche Autophagy in Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis
This project aims to characterize the histological, cellular, and molecular signatures of breast cancer-induced autophagy in systemic niches, with a focus on cancer extracellular vesicle-induced autophagy in metastatic niches.
Timeline: September 2026 – August 2028
Research Team at UCSD
Emily Wang, PhD (Co-Leader) , Kay Yeung, MD, PhD (Co-Investigator), Boqing Gu (Postdoctoral Scholar)
Research Team at SDSU
Teresa Monkkonen, PhD (Co-Leader), Nancy Leon-Rivera (Doctoral Student)
Community Partners
Wendy Shurelds (Many Shades of Pink), Joyce Williams (Patient Advocate)
Pilot Project 6: Biomarkers of Early Lung Carcinogenesis in Young Adults Who Exclusively Use Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
The overall goal of this pilot is to establish a novel, multi-pathway biomarker framework to define early carcinogenic biomarker activation in confirmed never-tobacco young adult ENDS users (ages 18–24).
Timeline: September 2026 – August 2028
Research Team at UCSD
Sandip Patel, MD (Co-Leader) , Laura Crotty Alexander, MD (Co-Investigator)
Research Team at SDSU
Uduak George, PhD (Co-Leader), Jennifer Felner, PhD (Co-Investigator), Humberto Parada (Co-Investigator), Gianni Pucillo (Doctoral Student)