Hello! My name is Jake Shapira, and I am a rising senior majoring in Biology and Economics. I am also minoring in chemistry and getting a Certificate in Global Health. I am originally from Rochester, NY, and in my free time, I enjoy going to the local museums and playing basketball with my friends.

Melanoma is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in America. The emergence of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) therapy, a type of therapy that enhances the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells, has been integral in treating late-stage melanoma and has provided excellent therapeutic benefits to melanoma patients. Unfortunately, 60% of advanced melanoma patients are resistant and do not respond to ICI therapy, indicating that new forms of treatment and therapies are needed. Emerging evidence highlights the presence of a diverse tumor microbiome at gut-distal sites, including melanoma, that may impact ICI sensitivity and overall tumor growth and survival.

This summer, I am conducting research in Dr. Marlies Meisel’s lab in the Department of Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. My project aims to help determine the role of intratumoral bacteria within preclinical melanoma tumors. Specifically, I am focusing on the role of the bacterium Veillonella dispar, which has been found to be significantly upregulated within the tumors of patients whose melanoma doesn’t respond to ICI therapy. I have shown that when V. dispar is part of the tumor microbiome, it leads to accelerated tumor growth and decreased survival using an in-vivo murine model. I am planning this summer to continue to explore this relationship and implore various techniques to help determine the mechanism by which this occurs. It is our hope that by gaining a better understanding of how intratumoral bacteria impact tumor growth, novel therapies can be developed to benefit future patients.

After I graduate from Pitt, I plan to pursue a career as a physician by attending medical school. I plan to make research a critical part of my career as a physician-scientist. I know that throughout my career, I will have to convey why my research is important to those outside my field. I believe the Brackenridge Fellowship, by being interdisciplinary, will provide me with the tools and experience to help me become more proficient in this skill set. Furthermore, by funding me to conduct full-time research, I can further advance my project toward its eventual publication. I am really excited for this summer and to share my journey with all of you!