Repasky Lab Members

Bonnie Hylander – Research Scientist
My primary focus in the lab is in developing our SCID mouse/ patient tumor xenograft program. This unique resource grows out of our being part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center and the desire of patients to help others by making tissue available for scientific research. By engrafting patient tumors into mice, we are able to create a clinically relevant model of human malignant disease that allows us to investigate the efficacy of novel therapeutics against actual patient tumors. Our goal is to understand the basis of sensitivity and resistance in order to inform future patient selection when these therapeutics reach the clinic. Since my PhD is in Anatomy, I have a particular interest in histological analyses of these specimens, including immunohistochemical analysis of tumor markers and signaling molecules. In particular, we are studying the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL, a death inducing ligand that targets the apoptotic pathway in malignant cells.
e-mail: Bonnie.Hylander@roswellpark.org

Jeanne Pendergast – Lab Manager
I began working at Roswell Park as a Research Technologist and am now the Repasky Lab Manager. We always have a good mix of undergraduates, college students, Masters and PhD students, as well as PostDocs and Clinical Residents and Fellows. With the variety of people and projects, each day here is always fun and interesting.
e-mail: Jeanne.Prendergast@roswellpark.org

Rose Pitoniak – Supervisor: SCID mouse colony
My background is in Nursing and I was supervisor of the O.R. at Roswell Park Cancer Institute for many years. Gradually, I developed an interest in Cancer Research and am now responsible for the day-to-day supervision of our SCID mouse/ patient tumor xenograft colony. In addition to carrying out experiments evaluating the anti-tumor potential of new therapeutics against these patient tumors, I help to teach these procedures to new technicians and students.
email: Rose.Pitoniak@roswellpark.org

Diane Thompson - Project Coordinator
During the time I have worked at Roswell Park, I have been in several great labs. I am enjoying working in the Repasky lab coordinating special projects both in our lab and in the Immunology Department.
e-mail: Diane.Thompson@roswellpark.org 

Maegan Capitano – Graduate Student
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology at St. Mary’s Honors College of Maryland and my master degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences with a concentration in Immunology at SUNY at Buffalo through Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I am currently a Ph.D. student with the Department of Immunology here at Roswell. I am interested in studying the effects of temperature on hematopoiesis and immune reconstitution following total body irradiation. The focus of my project involves the characterization of granulocyte development and egress out of the bone marrow and into the periphery following fever-range whole body hyperthermia. Outside of the lab my interests include reading, watching movies, rowing, and spending time with my family and friends when I can.
e-mail: maegan.capitano@roswellpark.org

Baris (Emre) Dayanc - Graduate Student
I became a part of the Repasky lab as an Immunology Ph.D. student in late 2002 after I completed my Master’s degree in Biotechnology. I’m interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of hyperthermia enhanced innate immune response against tumors by NK cells, especially the role of MHC Class I like molecules and corresponding C type lectin activating receptors. I like camping/hiking, swimming and diving, and sometimes dining. My favorite is eating sushi while swimming after a long hike.
e-mail: Baris.Dayanc@roswellpark.org

Melissa Grimm – Graduate Student
I joined the Repasky lab in May of 2005 as a Biophysics PhD student. My thesis project involves discerning the molecular changes which occur in lipid rafts of CD4+ T cells after exposure to mild thermal stress of 39.5°C. Two-dimensional in Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) followed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (MALI-TOF) mass spectrometry are methods which will enable me to identify protein changes in lipid rafts on a global level. I have the best of two worlds here: I am able to utilize biophysical techniques to answer an immunological question. I have found a great deal of support both in this lab, as well as the Immunology department as a whole. Outside the lab I spend most of my time caring for my family (I have five children at home, and I’m only slightly insane…). We also have a plethora of pets, including three Shelties, two cats, a snake, a turtle, numerous hamsters and a rabbit. I coach baseball and softball and enjoy golfing and tennis with the kids!! When I find the time a love to travel, especially to the ocean!!
e-mail: Melissa.Grimm@roswellpark.org

Adrienne Kisailus - Graduate Student
I graduated from Canisius College with a bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Economics in 2004. I am currently a fourth year graduate student here in the Department of Immunology. Our lab is interested in how thermal regulation by temperatures experienced during a fever regulate the activities various cells of the immune system. My project, in particular, involves looking at different activation parameters of dendritic cells in response to microenvironmental temperature changes experienced during a febrile state. Timing of temperature changes relative to activation appears to be important with regard to augmenting or repressing dendritic cell activity. I am currently involved in looking at the mechanisms of how dendritic cells sense temperature changes mediating this differential activity. Dendritic cells are key immune cells in vaccinations and the importance of this work is that establishing an in vivo fever range temperature heating protocol properly in conjuction with a weakly immunostiulatory cancer vaccine could augment the immune response making cancer vaccines more potent immunotherapies for use in the clinic. I enjoy reading, theatre, opera, hiking outdoors when its still warm around here and skiing when it snows : )
e-mail: adrienne.kisailus@roswellpark.org

Katie Kokolus, Graduate Student

Esther Kwon – Graduate Student
I joined the Repasky lab as an Immunology Master’s student in October 2006, after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. I am investigating the role of Fever-Range Whole Body Hyperthermia (FR-WBH) as a vaccine adjuvant. More specifically, I am interested in finding out whether FR-WBH before or after vaccination would enhance immune responses against a defined antigen by increasing IgG1, IgG2a, and IgM antibody levels. Outside of the lab I practice martial arts and sing at a church singing group. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family.
e-mail: Esther.Kwon@roswellpark.org

Chen-Ting (Kelly) Lee – Graduate Student
I joined the Repasky lab in 2005 after I finished my work in the biotech company-Abgenomics in Taiwan. Now I am the third year phD student and my research work focus on thermal regulation of macrophage functions in inflammatory response. We believe that fever-range thermal stress can provide both positive and negative signals to regulate macrophage functions in the different activation stage. We also want to address the molecular mechanism of febrile temperature in the modulation of macrophage cytokine production. Outside of the lab my interests including swimming, playing tennis, skiing and shopping.
e-mail: chen-ting.lee@roswellpark.org

Abigail McDonald, Graduate Student

Thomas Mace – Graduate Student
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at Canisius College in 2003. I am currently a Ph.D. student with the Department of Immunology here at Roswell Park. I am interested in studying the effects of temperature on the requirements for T cell activation. Specifically, I am focusing on different CD8+ T cell subsets (such as naïve, effector and memory) and the differential effects temperature has on their activation. I am also involved with other projects in the lab. I am working on a project with Maegan, another graduate student in the lab, which involves studying the effects of temperature on hematopoiesis and immune reconstitution following total body irradiation. Lastly, I am also working on a project with Dr. Hylander which involves investigating the sensitivity of tumor stem cells to therapies such as Apo2L/TRAIL. Outside of the lab my interests include computers, watching sports, enjoying Buffalo Sabres games, and spending time with my family and friends when I can.
e-mail: Thomas.Mace@roswellpark.org

Shauna Parzymieso – Graduate Student
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at Cornell University and am currently working on my Master’s degree in the Department of Immunology. I am interested in testing strategies to improve tumor-specific delivery and intra-tumoral distribution of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in SCID mice growing human B-cell lymphoma tumors. My research focuses specifically on the effects of hyperthermia on tumors treated with the monoclonal antibody rituximab. Outside of lab my interests are jogging, reading, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
e-mail: Shauna.Parzymieso@roswellpark.org

Haikuo Tang – Research Associate
I joined the Repasky lab as a research associate in August 2007. I am interested in understanding the metastasis of malignant tumor and target therapy. I am also interested in building tumor animal model, such as xenograft in SCID mice. Outside of the lab I enjoy reading, traveling, camping, fishing and playing some sports, such as tennis.
e-mail: Haikuo.Tang@roswellpark.org 

Seneca Thomas – Graduate Student
I recently graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a BS in Biophysics. Currently, I am beginning my second year of graduate studies with the Department of Immunology. I am working on the characterization of the effects of FR-WBH on the Interstitial Fluid Pressure of solid tumors, and the visualization of this response using a variety of imaging modalities, including but not limited to: MRI, PET, and both surface and invasive fluorescence measurements. Hopefully this research will help to increase the effectiveness of modern chemotherapies, and maybe even reveal other potential targets for chemotherapeutic agents. My interests outside the lab include reading, sleeping, guitar hero, and spending time with family and friends.
e-mail: thomas.seneca@roswellpark.org

Lingwen Zhong – Postdoctoral Fellow
I obtained the PhD degree in Immunology from Beckman Research institute, City of Hope, California in 2004. I joined Dr. Repasky lab in 2006 after working at the Larry Hillblom Islet Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles in 2005-2006. Now, I’m very interested in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the thermal regulation of immune responses, especially how the T cell activation and differentiation will be affected by mild thermal stress. I will also be investigating the role of mild hyperthermia treatment in the regulation of the anti-breast tumor immune response. Outside of the lab, I like reading, swimming, embroidery, and most importantly spending time with my family and enjoying witnessing my son’s growing up. e-mail: Lingwen.Zhong@roswellpark.org

Tania Zdeb – Graduate Student
I graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2006 and I am a master’s student at Roswell Park. Currently, I am conducting research aimed at further exploring the effect that whole body hyperthermia has on metastasis in the 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma model. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends, dancing, playing tennis, writing, and teaching Bean (my parakeet) new tricks.
e-mail: Tania.Zdeb@roswellpark.org

Evan Zynda – Graduate Student
I joined Dr. Repasky’s lab around August of 2006. I am interested in the effects of mild (fever-range) hyperthermia on the plasma membrane fluidity of T cells. In addition, I plan to investigate whether or not heat-induced alterations in the plasma membrane are functionally relevant in T cell activation. Outside of the lab I am a sports fanatic. I enjoy participating and viewing in just about any competitive sport. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends whenever possible.
e-mail: Evan.Zynda@roswellpark.org