- PhD in Pathology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- BS in Biology, SUNY Geneseo
My project aims to metabolically rewire CD8+ T cells to improve their antitumor response and ultimately boost therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapies. More specifically, I am studying the role of nucleotide metabolism in CD8+ T cell effector function in the cancer setting.
- PhD in Biological Sciences, Michigan Technical University
- BS in Biology, minor in Public Health, Spelman College
- PhD in Pathology, Case Western Reserve University
- BS in Molecular Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology
I received my Bachelor's in Molecular Biology from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2017, where I investigated the thermodynamics of Gamma B Crystallin proteins under the mentorship of Dr. Lea Michel and Dr. George Thurston. After graduation, I started my PhD in Pathology as part of Dr. Stanley Adoro's lab at Case Western Reserve University. During my PhD I discovered that the ESCRT protein CHMP5 promotes the interaction between P300 and BRD4 on chromatin to drive leukemic gene transcription and is therefore required for T-ALL disease initiation in mice. My thesis work also involved dissecting the requirement for the ERAD pathway in thymocyte development and characterizing the role of CHMP5 in peripheral T-cell homeostasis. I joined Dr. Abrams lab in September 2024 as a Post-doc and am excited to investigate how Brequinar suppresses MDSC development and its potential for synergy with chemotherapy agents.
Lab alumni
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- MD/PhD Program, Roswell Park/Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo
- BS in Biology, Earlham College
Elliott’s doctoral research focused on how macrophages control metastasis in the lung, a common site for the spread of multiple cancer types. Specifically, he investigated tissue-resident alveolar macrophages and transcriptional mechanisms that regulate their function within the lung microenvironment. His findings identified a novel role of Wnt/b-catenin signaling in alveolar macrophages and how that pathway heightened their pro-metastatic activities. Elliot was initially appointed to the Immunology Department's T32 training grant, followed by an F30 predoctoral award from the NCI/NIH. Elliott’s plan is to continue to pursue questions related to myeloid-tumor biology, as well as perioperative immune-mediated complications.
- BS Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Canisius College
- MA Microbiology & Immunology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
- PhD Cancer Sciences – Tumor Immunology, Roswell Park Graduate Division of University at Buffalo
Stephanie's PhD Dissertation in the Abrams lab focused on the role and dynamics of the myeloid transcription factor IRF8 in alveolar macrophages for anti-metastatic activity. She was awarded appointment to the department’s T32 training grant in tumor immunology and also awarded a NIH F31 pre-doctoral fellowship. During her pre-doctoral training, Stephanie co-founded the "Techniques & Analyses for Cancer Sciences (TACS)" course for the Roswell Park Graduate Division, lectured and served as a teaching assistant for Grantsmanship & Immunology courses, led multiple mentoring initiatives for peer professional development, and was a Steering Committee Member for Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Departmental Retreats.
Dr. Abrams’ commitment to mentoring
Since his arrival in Roswell Park, Dr. Abrams became active and engaged in graduate education and training. He serves/served as a mentor to 9 predoctoral trainees, 8 of whom defended/graduated and four of whom received NIH/NCI F-series predoctoral awards.
He also serves/served on over 40 pre-doctoral dissertation committees at Roswell Park, University of Rochester, and SUNY-University at Buffalo (UB) where he holds a joint appointment as Research Professor. More than 70% of those students have now graduated and are continuing their careers in the biomedical sciences or medicine. In addition to serving on predoctoral dissertation committees, he served on 9 MS thesis committees at Roswell Park.
Dr. Abrams served as Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Immunology for more than 5 years where he also oversaw the day-to-day operations of the longstanding T32 Institutional Research Training Grant, entitled “Multidisciplinary Approaches to Tumor Immunology” (T32CA085183). He is currently the PD/PI of that T32 Training Grant, which recently entered years 21-25.
Lastly, Dr. Abrams serves/served on 17 mentoring committees for junior faculty and clinical/research fellows and received three separate awards in graduate education and mentoring at Roswell Park.
Connect with the Abrams Lab
Department of Immunology
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, NY 14263