Andrea Walens, PhD

UNC-Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Cancer Control Education Program at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Cancer Center. I work under the direction of Drs. Melissa Troester and Stephen Hursting and my studies focus on the biology behind breast cancer mortality disparities. Specifically I have worked on various methods to measure the tumor immune microenvironment in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study.

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Duke University Pharmacology and Cancer Biology

I studied the role of the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer dormancy and recurrence. I specifically studied the role of the chemoattractant cytokine CCL5 in dormant cell survival and proliferation. I also studied the role of tumor associated macrophages in dormancy and recurrence and am studying potential novel pathways that could be targets for immunotherapies in the recurrent breast cancer population.

I have mentored many undergraduates and rotation students in the Alvarez Lab in the Pharmacology and Cancer Biology department at Duke. I have mentored 3 undergraduates in thesis and summer projects that have resulted in co-author publications. I have also mentored 2 first year rotation students who have joined our lab and will pursue their thesis work under the direction of Dr. Alvarez.

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University of Georgia

Dr. Mark Farmer’s Lab, Chairman of Biological Sciences/UGA Laboratory Technician

• Single cell eukaryote sterile cell culture, media production, cell state analysis
• Dish washing, organization of chemicals, autoclaving, sterilizing, and other basic lab maintenance

Dr. Melissa Davis’s Lab, Genetics Department/UGAUndergraduate Researcher

• Analyzing the association of polymorphisms in the CARM1 gene to breast cancer in African American women
• Analyzing possible functional significance of these polymorphisms in cancer
• Expression primers created to amplify regions of CARM1 with missense and frameshift SNPs
• ChIP analysis to determine differential genomic localization in breast cancer subtypes

Dr. Mark Farmer’s Lab, Chairman of Biological Sciences/UGAUndergraduate Researcher

• Sequenced the coding gene for Trypanin in Euglenid and Euglenid-like organisms.
• Thoroughly examined the genetic makeup of euglenid flagellates, looking at the evolutionary relationships between euglenids and other euglenozoan protists

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Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE)

As an outreach leader for the NC Triangle, I am responsible for coordinating monthly support group meetings, connecting local constituents with resources from FORCE, and connecting local clinics with FORCE resources.

As a patient navigator, I reach out to patients with a similar background and bring their awareness to the resources that FORCE offers. I also provide support for any other resources they need and connect them with other volunteers and FORCE leaders that may help them along their journey.

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American Cancer Society

I am part of the American Cancer Society DetermiNation running team, which raises money for the American Cancer Society at various races across the country. I participated in the Raleigh Rock N' Roll race in April, 2018 and raised over $2000 for the American Cancer Society. I ran the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, 2019 with raised over $3000 for the American Cancer Society. During the pandemic, I have been involved in DetermiNation runs the Country and the World and have raised close to $2000 so far for ACS.

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Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue

I contact new adopters shortly after adoption as well as 6 month and 1 year adoption anniversaries. I also connect them with NRGRR resources and answer any questions they may have with their new family addition!

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