Our team is collaborative and highly motivated. We seek to advance the understanding of ovarian cancer in order to improve patient outcomes. Dr. McLean highly values teaching and mentorship, helping each trainee reach the next step in their personal career goals.
Principal Investigator: Karen McLean MD, PhD, FACOG
Cancer research has been central to Dr. McLean’s academic career since she first pursued a summer research experience at the National Cancer Institute after college. She then went on to complete the combined MD/PhD program at the University of Michigan, with her PhD degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Her dissertation focused on the transcriptional repression of E-Cadherin in breast cancer, and this work remains highly cited in the breast cancer field.
During medical school, Dr. McLean discovered her clinical interest in gynecologic cancers, leading her to pursue training in gynecologic oncology. She has been fortunate to integrate her passion for cancer biology research with her clinical dedication to female cancer care, and her position at Roswell Park allows her the opportunity to continue this work with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Fun fact: Karen recently enjoyed playing in a women’s basketball league where she was the oldest by 20+ years, but she has since determined that tennis is a more age-appropriate sport.
Current laboratory members
Fun fact: Bri has 3 pet birds, all of whom are named after Star Wars characters! There are two parakeets named Anakin and Padme, and a cockatiel named Obi-Wan.
Fun fact: Ashley worked at a plant nursery for seven years during high school and college!
Fun fact: Rupa always tries Palak Paneer in her first visit to any Indian restaurant!
Fun fact: Zhiyu has double jointed fingers and can bend just her fingertips without bending the other joints.
Recent events
Team gatherings
Laboratory alumni
Lu Deng, MD
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, 2023-2026
- Current Position: Physician, Rochester Regional Hospital Lipson Cancer Institute
Ashlee Ward
- Undergraduate Researcher, 2025-2026
- Current Position: Pre-Medical Senior at the University at Buffalo
Erika Nakatsuka, MD, PhD
- Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2023
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University, Japan
Katelyn Tondo-Steele, MD
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, 2020-2023
- Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
Danielle Bolland, PhD
- Postdoctoral Fellow, 2016-2019
- Current Position: Associate Professor of Biology, with Tenure, Division of Science and Math, University of Minnesota – Morris
Melissa Brackmann, MD
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, 2017-2020
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan
Carrie McIlwain, MD
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, 2016-2019
- Current Position: Physician, Gynecologic Cancer Institute of Chicago
Penny Yang, MPH, MHSA
- Undergraduate Researcher, 2015-2019
- Current Position: Program Analyst, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Kari Hacker, MD, PhD
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, 2015-2018
- Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Marina Stasenko, MD
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident Researcher, 2012-2016
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University
Contact the McLean Laboratory
Department of Gynecology
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, NY 14263