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Radiation Oncology

URMC / Radiation Oncology / Research / Dr. Kerns

Dr. Kerns

Sarah Kerns, Ph.D.

My CV: Sarah L. Kerns, Ph.D., M.P.H.         

Grants

Current

  • NIH/NCI K07 Career Development Award "Risk Prediction for Development of Adverse Effects Following Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer” (PI: Kerns)
  • NIH/NCI Clinical Loan Repayment Program Award 2020-2021

  • Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Research Development Funding Program “Elucidating the Role of the Renin-Angiotensin Pathway in Development of Hemorrhagic Radiation Cystitis” (PIs Kerns and Marples)

Completed

  • NIH SBIR Phase II Contract "Predictive Biomarkers of Adverse Reactions to Prostate Radiotherapy” (PIs: Peterson-Roth, Kerns, Rosenstein) 
  • DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program Award "Genetic Modeling of Radiation Injury in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With Radiotherapy” (PIs: Rosenstein and Ostrer; UR site PI: Kerns)

Research

Genetics of Late Radiotherapy Toxicity

  • Meta-analysis of multiple genome-wide association studies of late GU and GI toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.
  • Development of risk prediction models incorporating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical factors.
  • Prospective, longitudinal study of late GU and GI toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy at Wilmot Cancer Institute to validate radiosensitivity SNPs and assess performance of genetic risk models (NIH, 1KO7CA187546).
  • Functional laboratory-based studies of novel radiosensitivity genes identified through genetic association studies of clinical late toxicity.
  • Collaborative studies through the Radiogenomics Consortium to identify genetic markers of late toxicity in breast, lung, and head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
  • Assessment of physician knowledge and preferences related to genetic testing for radiosensitivity.
  • Pan-cancer genome-wide association study of acute radiotherapy toxicity among >10,000 patients treated for lung, breast, prostate, or head and neck cancer.
  • Genetic association study of radionecrosis following SBRT for brain metastases.
  • Evaluation of medications targeting the angiotensin pathway as radioprotectors against damage to the bladder

 

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer 
 

  • Collaborative project with Dr. William Hall at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
  • Role of CRP and cytokines in prostate cancer and radiotherapy response.
  • Gene expression changes in response to radiotherapy and role in acute and late toxicity.

 

Genetics and Epigenetics of Chemotherapy Response 
 

  • Collaborative project with Dr. Michelle Janelsins at the University of Rochester.
  • Assessment of genome-wide epigenetic changes in response to chemotherapy among breast cancer patients.
  • Genetic risk factors for chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment.

Staff & Student Researchers

  • Ashley Amidon, M.P.H. Health Project Coordinator
  • Rebecca Fuchs, Computational Biology major (former undergraduate student)
  • Michelle Hollenberg, Computational Biology major (former undergraduate student)
  • Sharon Lee, Public Health Sciences major, and Computational Biology minor (former undergraduate student)
  • Omar El-Charif (current medical student)

Collaborators at URMC

Mentoring

  • Mentor on 2T32CA102618-16 - University of Rochester Medical Center Clinical and Translational Cancer Control Research Training Program
  • John Kang, M.D., Ph.D. Holman Pathway Scholar (graduated 2020)