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Dr. Muzumdar graduated from Harvard College and received his Doctorate of Medicine from the Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining the Yale faculty. Learn more about Dr. Muzumdar>> Using genetically-engineered mouse models that closely recapitulate human lung and pancreatic cancers, Dr. Muzumdar's lab has shown that gene mutations are permissive, but insufficient, to drive clonal cancer evolution, consistent with the need for additional cellular adaptations. Furthermore, the lab has demonstrated that host adaptations to environmental stresses, such as diet and obesity, may facilitate tumor progression in the absence of new mutations. His research focuses on elucidating the molecular basis of these tumor cell and host adaptations in hopes of defining new approaches for the prevention and treatment of these recalcitrant cancers.

Cassie is a PhD candidate in the Muzumdar Lab, which she joined in 2022 after earning her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021. At CMU, she studied the effects of microbes on stress responses and development in Drosophila in the McCartney Lab. She also conducted cancer research with the Keyomarsi Lab at MD Anderson, where she analyzed transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to investigate mechanisms of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in breast cancer. These experiences shaped her interest in how signaling networks adapt under stress and therapeutic pressure. Her current work focuses on defining non-genetic mechanisms of resistance to KRAS inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), particularly how dysregulation of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathways enables tumor cells to survive KRAS-targeted therapy. Outside of the lab, Cassie enjoys reading, making candles, and exploring cafés throughout New England.

Sherry is an associate research scientist studying the impact of p53 mutants on tumor evolution. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Physiology & Neurobiology and English and then completed her Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her long-term research interests include understanding tumor evolve to avoid apoptosis and identifying thera vulnerabilities in pancreatic and lung cancers. Outside the lab, she enjoys gardening, following Formula 1, and curling up with a cup of tea and a whodunnit.

Shravani graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Medicine in May 2023. Her thesis focused on characterizing distinct subpopulations within patient-derived colon cancer organoids and their differential responses to chemotherapy. She is currently a Postgraduate Associate in the Muzumdar Lab, where she works with mouse models and studies tumor immunology. Outside the lab, she enjoys hosting friends, watching crime documentaries, and exploring new cafés around New Haven.

Dr. Jeremy B. Jacox, MD, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine and a Medical Oncologist at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He earned his bachelor’s degree from MIT before pursuing his MD and PhD at Yale University School of Medicine. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ruslan Medzhitov, Dr. Jacox completed his doctoral studies in immunobiology, focusing on how intracellular circuits based on growth factors regulate macrophage and fibroblast interactions in both homeostasis and melanoma. His work was supported by a Ruth Kirchstein F30 NRSA Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute, and his PhD dissertation work awarded with Distinction and the MD/PhD Prize from Yale. Dr. Jacox completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital through the Physician-Scientist Training Program and continued his specialized training with a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Yale Cancer Center. His clinical practice primarily focuses on the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. During his post-doctoral fellowship, mentored by Dr. Mandar D. Muzumdar, Dr. Jacox investigated the impact of obesity and extreme dietary conditions on the development of pancreatic cancer. He also explored how targeting the tumor microenvironment can enhance anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer. His research efforts have been supported by the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, the Yale Cancer Center Advanced Training Program for Physician Scientists (T32), and the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (KL2). Dr. Jacox's interests include community service and his faith, DIY (home and auto), and being with his family. Since meeting his spouse on the Yale shuttle bus, they have raised a family of five precious children together, his greatest accomplishment.

Raised in Eastern Iowa, Collin completed his undergraduate education and training at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Co-advised by Drs. Amy C. Blair and Brenda J. Peters, he investigated the in vivo effects of hormetic stimuli, e.g., heat shock and calorie restriction, in relation to memory and learning. After completing a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia, in the laboratory of Dr. Zachary A. Lewis, Collin returned to the Lewis Laboratory during his post-baccalaureate time. Mentored by Dr. Lewis, he led cutting-edge investigations on chromatin- and epigenetics-related research projects, with an emphasis on the biology of nucleosome remodeling. Concomitantly, he contributed to highly collaborative multi-disciplinary endeavors with Drs. Richard B. Meagher (UGA) and Xiaorong Lin (UGA) to advance antifungal drug effectiveness via targeted lipid nanoparticles (i.e., DectiSomes). As an M.D.-Ph.D. student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Yale School of Medicine, Collin seeks to probe the manifold ways in which genome structure and chromatin architecture—intricately partitioned at both local and global scales—contribute to disease susceptibility, progression, and amelioration, particularly in the context of cancer. Outside of the research laboratory and classroom, Collin is an avid digital photographer, and he enjoys recreational basketball.

I am originally from Ossining, NY, a town in the suburbs of New York City. During high school, I began working in the cancer biology laboratory of Dr. Goutham Narla at Mount Sinai studying small molecules that activate a tumor suppressive phosphatase, PP2A. Being a part of this group galvanized my passion for cancer research and led me to study Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale for undergrad. I completed my senior thesis in the laboratory of Dr. Craig Crews, studying PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and stayed in the Crews lab for my two gap years before beginning medical school. For my PhD in the Muzumdar lab, I am working to identify novel ways to prevent and treat pancreatic cancer. Outside of the lab, I enjoy working out, visiting local breweries, and following Arsenal FC in the English Premier League.

Yanixa is a Genetics PhD candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Mandar Muzumdar. She was awarded the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA F31 pre-doctoral fellowship to support her thesis work, which investigates the molecular and phenotypical differences of KRAS variants in pancreatic cancer through a multi-omics approach. She obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in Genetics and Biomedicine from the University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla. As a prior recipient of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA F31 pre-doctoral fellowship, Yanixa currently serves as a Graduate Writing Lab (GWL) fellow at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning, where she helps fellow graduate students navigate the fellowship application process. Her passion for providing equal access to health care and education, outreach and mentoring has driven her involvement with non-profit organizations such as HAVEN Free Clinic, New Haven Science Fair Program, and multiple student-led mentoring programs focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.

Christy received her Bachelors in Biology and Asian Languages & Cultures in 2022 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Dr. Elaine Alarid studying the function of the transcription factor Grainyhead-like protein 2 in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Following graduation, she remained in the lab as a research technician/specialist and lab manager over the next two years, further delving into the metastatic potential and plasticity of ER positive breast cancer. In March 2025, Christy joined the Muzumdar lab as a PhD student interested in the interplay of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Her project stems from understanding whether and how GLP-1RAs modulate risk of PDAC development. Outside of research, Christy is passionate about cultivating an indoor jungle of houseplants.