SIU medical student awarded national research fellowship for work on cancer-fighting immune cells

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Anjali Patel, a second-year medical student at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, has been selected for the 2025 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship by the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. The nationally competitive award supports medical students conducting original research in areas that advance clinical medicine and patient care.
Patel’s project explores a novel approach to enhancing the effectiveness of natural killer (NK) cells in treating solid tumors. Her research aims to prevent immune suppression in the tumor environment by blocking a molecule known as TGF-beta, which has been shown to inhibit NK cell function.

“This research could lead to stronger, more targeted cancer therapies,” Patel said. “It builds on what we already know about the immune system’s natural defenses and looks for ways to enhance those responses for patients with solid tumors.”

Natural killer cells play a critical role in the body’s early defense against cancer. While NK cell therapies are already used in treating blood cancers, their effectiveness in solid tumors has been limited. Patel’s preliminary data, gathered in the laboratory of her mentor, Andrew Wilber, PhD, shows that the suppressive effects of TGF-beta on NK cells can be reversed under the right conditions. Her fellowship-funded project will explore whether using chemical inhibitors or genetic tools can help preserve these cells’ cancer-fighting abilities in hostile tumor environments.

Patel was chosen as SIU’s sole nominee after a competitive internal review process. Six medical students submitted research proposals for consideration, and a faculty panel selected Patel’s work to advance to the national level.

“Anjali’s project reflects the best of academic medicine—curiosity, rigor and a focus on patient-centered innovation,” said Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of SIU School of Medicine. “Her success is a testament to both her personal commitment and the strength of our research mentoring environment.”

The fellowship provides $6,000 in financial support and up to $1,000 for travel to present research findings at a national conference. Patel plans to complete her project over the next year, balancing it with her medical studies while contributing to ongoing research at the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine.

Her SIU mentor, Wilber, a tenured associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, and director of the Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry program, said Patel is exceptionally well prepared to carry the project forward. “Anjali has a deep understanding of the science and a genuine passion for discovery,” he said. “She’s already producing high-quality data and is on track to make an impact in cancer immunotherapy.”

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship honors the legacy of AΩA’s former administrator and supports promising research by medical students nationwide. Recipients will be announced later this year on the organization’s website.

To learn more about the fellowship, visit https://www.alphaomegaalpha.org/programs/carolyn-l-kuckein-student-research-fellowship/.