Mentoring the Next Generation: Inside the Murtha Cancer Center’s Summer Research Program

Students Discover More Than Research Findings from Their Work with the Clinical Breast Care Project

Six students worked in the MCCRP 2026 summer internship program. They presented their research findings to their mentors, parents, and program leaders in late July. Left to right: Sara Botwinik, Michael Valerio, Emily Pangaro, Alyssa Belen, Alivia Lombardo, Ben Auerbach. (Photo credit: HJF/David Arthur.)

September 25, 2026 by Melissa Reichley

At the intersection of military medicine and oncology, the Clinical Breast Care Project (CBCP), part of the John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), does far more than advance cancer research; it educates and trains the next generation of scientists. Led by MCCRP Director Dr. Craig Shriver alongside CBCP Scientific Director Dr. Geeta Upadhyay, the center’s 10-week summer research program offers students an immersive bridge from academic theory to real-world laboratory application. 

For Shriver, weaving mentorship into the center’s core mission is key to sustaining the legacy of the Department of War’s only designated Cancer Center of Excellence for breast cancer. Under his vision of open-ended scientific inquiry, the program offers a distinct model: rather than assigning rigid tasks, students are given autonomy to choose their projects and set their schedules.

MCCRP Director Dr. Craig Shriver (left) and CBCP Scientific Director Dr. Geeta Upadhyay (right) lead the summer research program. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

Student Research Highlights

Guided by senior scientists Drs. David Wisniewski, Changqing (George) Yuan, and Yong Chul Kim, six summer interns tackled oncology challenges across four major projects. At the end of their 10-week session, the students presented their findings.

• Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Resistance: Emily Pangaro & Alyssa Belen investigated the LY6E protein (responsible for regulating immune response), discovering that deleting the LY6E gene increases cancer cell sensitivity to anti-estrogen medications—opening doors for targeted combination therapies.
  
  
• Lesion Genomics: Ben Auerbach & Alivia Lombardo conducted genomic sequencing on Sclerosing Angiomatoid Nodular Transformation (SANT) lesions, providing key evidence that these rare growths in the spleen are neoplastic (tumor-like).
  
  
• Immunoglobulin Mechanics: Sara Botwinik analyzed the structure and function of the Y-shaped antibodies, offering foundational insights vital for targeted immunotherapy design.
  
  
• Synergistic Cancer Therapies: Michael Valerio tested combinations of LY6D/LY6K monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors across breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer models, identifying targeted contexts where drug combinations block cancer cell growth.

A MCCRP summer intern carries out hands-on laboratory work during the 10-week program.(Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

Beyond the Lab: A Vision for Future Leaders

While the students’ scientific output was meaningful, Shriver’s overarching objective centers on cultivating talent. By opening the doors of a premier military research facility to high school and college students, the program aims to capture interest when they’re deciding between graduate school, medical school, or clinical research. Alongside their data, the students left with important professional skills shaped by the collaborative culture Shriver and Upadhyay have built. 

Interns Belen and Valerio both said they appreciated learning about the level of planning and organization required to conduct research. Belen noted she learned how to think more critically about experimental results, troubleshoot problems, and communicate scientific findings. “This experience helped me better understand not only how research is conducted, but also how important adaptability, communication, and teamwork are throughout the research process,” said Belen.

The Clinical Breast Care Project (CBCP) is a congressionally mandated program that began in 2000.

The six students who participated in the Murtha Cancer Center Research Program's 2026 summer internship program presented their research projects to program leaders Dr. Geeta Upadyhyay (third from right) and Dr. Craig Shriver (right), as well as their mentors, and other MCCRP staff who supported their journey.