Cancer biologist Kerry Roby, PhD will join Dr. Soma Sengupta and Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel in their joint research lab studying brain cancers.

Dr. Roby joins the SoDa Lab from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he completed his post doc fellowship in the McCarty Lab under the direction of Dr. Joseph McCarty. His primary research focus is on the tumor microenvironment and on understanding the molecular and functional properties of perivascular astrocyte and their contributions to blood brain barrier development and in cancer progression.

Researchers in the So Da Lab are investigating the contribution of membrane transport proteins to the development of brain cancers, and leveraging this understanding to develop approaches to aid brain cancer treatment. The lab is led by Dr. Soma Sengupta, Division Chief of Neuro Oncology and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel, Research Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Roby is drawn to glioblastoma and brain cancer research because of its aggressive nature and the urgent need for better treatment options for patients. He is interested in the SoDa Lab’s GABA receptors research, and their research evaluating how some cancer cells are sensitive to certain drugs. “I’m interested in evaluating how these drugs affect cells in the microenvironment, and then enhance treatment and make therapies more efficient,” said Dr. Roby.

For Dr. Roby, like so many others, cancer research is personal having lost his grandmother in middle school. “I want to combat something that is ailing everybody and overall help the scientific community.”

As Dr. Roby takes on the role of Project Manager in the SoDa Lab at UNC, he will have the opportunity to not only engage in meaningful tumor research, but also have opportunities to teach and mentor students that rotate through the lab. “Their story and the dynamics of their lab and my positive interaction with people at UNC drew me to their lab,” said Dr. Roby.

Dr. Roby grew up in a small, rural town in Mississippi and is a first-generation college student along with his older sister. “My biggest driver to pursue a college degree was my sister,” said Dr. Roby. “She is only a year and a half older, and she paved the way for me and laid the foundation of going to college and being successful in college.”

Dr. Roby also found inspiration and encouragement from his grandfather who only had a third-grade education. He noted that his grandfather was a big support during high school. “My grandfather was very hard working and successful, but he knew if he had had a formal education, he could have gone further.”

In high school, Dr Roby thought he would go on to be a mathematics major. But during his senior year of high school, while making up an experiment in his biology class, he discovered his interest in conducting research. A simple experiment evaluating and testing environments for crickets made Dr. Roby change his career trajectory from mathematics to biology.

Dr. Roby went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mississippi Valley State University, a HBCU situated in the Mississippi Delta. He was selected as a McNair Scholar at the University of Mississippi and spent time in the lab studying prostate cancer cells. “This was my first experience with cancer cells and it opened the doorway to get me into cancer research,” said Dr. Roby.

While still debating between pursuing a medical degree or a PhD program, Dr. Roby took a gap year and applied to PREP programs to spend more time in a research lab to become a stronger candidate on his post graduate applications.

Dr. Roby went to the University of Pennsylvania and noted the benefits of spending an entire year in the same lab. The year-long experience helped Dr. Roby become a stronger researcher, and solidified his decision to pursue his PhD. “The research part really took a hold of me and I wanted to continue,” said Dr. Roby.

Dr. Roby completed his PhD in cancer biology from the University of Pennsylvania. During his program, his passion for research grew, as did his passion for teaching and mentoring students in the lab. “We had high school students and undergraduate students that I got to mentor, and even post doc students,” said Dr. Roby. “I am excited about the opportunity to teach at different levels.”

Dr. Roby looks forward to working in the SoDa Lab and contributing to meaningful research that has the potential to impact patients who are diagnosed with aggressive brain tumors. “Not only am I going to become a better researcher, scientist, and teacher, but also the impact that we will have will be leaps and bounds from where we are,” said Dr. Roby. “I hope to do some great work while in their lab.”

Outside of the lab, Dr. Roby enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, and looks forward to spending time with them outdoors exploring beautiful North Carolina.

 

Written by Makenzie Hardy, Marketing Coordinator, Department of Neurosurgery