Congratulations, Lora, on a well-deserved retirement!
May 2026
Lora Rogers hung up her lab coat after working 4 years in the Koss lab, and many more in research. Joined by Lora’s family and some old friends, the Koss lab hosted a celebration of the beginning of a new chapter and plenty of time for travel.
2026 Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Research Retreat
May 2026
The daylong event, held in downtown Little Rock, is an opportunity for researchers to share their latest projects and learn about the diverse cancer research happening across UAMS. The Koss lab presented 4 posters.
- “Genetic Manipulation of 53BP1 Phosphorylation Enhances T Cell Cytotoxicity and Survival Against Solid Tumors,” Jessica Kelliher, PhD
- “Leveraging 53BP1-driven DNA Repair to Combat T cell Exhaustion in Glioblastoma,” Grant Dawson
- “Proteome Turnover Dynamics Analysis Identifies RNF166 as a Critical E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Driving T-Cell Persistence,” Sydnye Shuttleworth
- “Donor-Intrinsic Proteomic Programs Define Molecular Drivers of CAR-T Cell Persistence,” Katie Cruse
Koss Lab Coauthors Publication in "Cell"
May 2026
Brian, Michael, and Sydnye were coauthors on a research article recently published in Cell.
Be a Part of the Cure Walk
May 2026
The Koss Lab team came out on May 2 to support the 6th annual Be a Part of the Cure Walk at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. Sponsored by the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the walk celebrates, honors, and remembers all those touched by cancer.
Koss and Xia Labs Receive R01 Grant
May 2026
Brian Koss, PhD, and Fen Xia, MD, PhD, were awarded $3.1 million from the National Cancer Institute. The 5-year R01 will support their project entitled, “Exploring host GSK3β-53BP1 axis in immune control of solid tumor progression.”
Team Science Award
April 2026
Brian Koss, PhD, and Fen Xia, MD, PhD, received a $100,000 Team Science Award from the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute for their project “Advancing CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma.” The award was presented by Michael Birrer, MD, PhD, Director, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
Keystone Conference on Cancer Immunotherapy
March 2026
Quebec City, Canada
Grant attended the Keystone Conference on Cancer Immunotherapy: Basic Mechanisms Informing Clinical Applications & Combinations
- “Leveraging 53BP1 DNA Repair to Enhance CART cell Therapy in Solid Tumors", Grant Dawson
SITC Spring Scientific Conference
March 2026
Tuscon, AZ
- "Manipulating the DNA damage response to combat T cell exhaustion and improve immunotherapy response”, Jessica Kelliher
- "CD28 Co-stimulation Induces PCK2 to Support T Cell Effector Function in Metabolically Hostile Environments”, Thomas Williams
Awards: UAMS Student Research Day
March 2026
Best Overall, WPRCI Awards, Graduate Degree-Seeking Students
- 1st Place, Sydnye Shuttleworth
- 3rd Place, Katie Cruse
Best Overall, Little Rock Campus, Graduate Degree-Seeking Students
- 3rd Place, Sydnye Shuttleworth
3-Minute Thesis Competition (Little Rock)
- 1st Place, Katie Cruse
