Heman Shakeri Part of Team Awarded UVA Cancer Center Grant

Assistant Professor of Data Science Heman Shakeri is part of a research team that received a $25,000 grant from the UVA Cancer Center this spring. Led by UVA Department of Surgery resident Dr. Emily Ninmer, Shakeri will also work alongside co-principal investigator Dr. Craig Slingluff for a project titled "Sex Differences in the Melanoma Tumor Microenvironment and Clinical Outcomes after Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy."

The team will investigate a pressing question in cancer care: how biological sex shapes the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma treatment. With patient responses to these therapies varying widely, this study harnesses cutting-edge data science techniques in a collaboration between the UVA Department of Surgery and the UVA School of Data Science.

By developing innovative approaches to analyze intricate clinical and molecular datasets, the researchers aim to uncover critical patterns and insights that traditional methods cannot reveal.

"This work aims to drive the development of more personalized, effective melanoma treatments, offering hope for better patient outcomes," Shakeri said. "Our team is immensely thankful for this support and energized to contribute transformative advancements in the battle against cancer."