Research Description

Modelling GNAQ-driven uveal melanoma in adult zebrafish

Awards

• Predoctoral Training Grant in the Pharmacological Sciences (T32 GM144636), 2025-present

• Institutional Fellowship on the Predoctoral Training Grant in the Pharmacological Sciences (T32 GM144636), 2024-2025

• Won best graduate student poster presentation at the Pharmacological and Pharmaceuticals Sciences Research Retreat, August 2024

• Received a travel award from the Holden Cancer Center to attend and present at the PanAmerican Society for Pigment Cell Research (PASPCR) 2024 conference (September 2024). 

• Won best trainee poster presentation at Pigment Cell Research (PASPCR) 2024 conference (September 2024).

• Won best trainee presentation and was selected to present my talk to the entire SMR conference (October 2024). Also received a travel award from the Society for Melanoma Research to be able to attend and present my talk and poster.

• Won best graduate oral presentation at the Pharmacological and Pharmaceuticals Sciences Research Retreat, August 2025.
   

Publications

• Yevdash, J.I., Moore, R., Li, Z., Campbell-Hanson, K.R., Robinson, D., Gutelius, D., Moore, S.P.G., Friend, D., Toole, I., Cornell, R.A., Lang, D., Weigel, RJ., Kenny C. (2025). Mitfa-Independent Melanocyte Progenitors are Highly Susceptible to GNAQ-induced Uveal Melanoma in Adult Zebrafish. bioRxiv, 2025.652300. 10.1101/2025.05.05.652300.
• Chang J, Campbell-Hanson KR, Vanneste M, Bartschat NI, Nagel R, Arnadottir AK, Vu HN, Montgomery C, Yevdash J, Jiang J, Bhinu A, Helverson A, Henry MD, Steingrímsson E, Weigel RJ, Cornell RA, Kenny C. Antagonistic roles for MITF and TFE3 in melanoma plasticity. Cell Rep. 2025 Apr 22;44(4):115474. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115474. Epub 2025 Mar 25. PMID: 40138313.