The Pipette Gazette

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Allie Sharp Receives the 2019-2020 Predoctoral Research Training Award

29 Aug 2019

Congratulations to Alexandra Sharp in Dr. David Morilak’s lab for receiving a 2019-2020 Pre-doctoral Research Training Award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas for her research on Mechanisms and Treatment of Cognitive Impairment Induced by Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.

We recently chatted with Alexandra about her fellowship.

1) What does this mean for you?

Cognitive impairment with cancer therapy is a significant issue, and my dissertation project has begun to address ways to improve the cognitive side effects associated with cancer treatment, particularly a hormone therapy for prostate cancer known as androgen deprivation therapy. I am honored to be chosen for the CPRIT Research Training Award because I am a neuroscientist, and this is a cancer program. I’m incredibly fortunate to get such an immersive training in an area that largely contributes to my project, but is in no way my area of expertise. I’m excited to take this opportunity to benefit my current research and my career!

2) Why are you excited to be part of this program?

I am excited to be apart of this program because it’s bridging an important gap between neuroscience and cancer. This is a unique project, but I’ve really enjoyed combing through the literature and finding new ways to address the critical issue of improving quality of life in cancer patients. This program gives me the unique opportunity to understand not just the neuroscience side but now also the cancer component that has built this project.

3) What have you been working on in lab? 

Lately, I’ve been investigating the effect of age on the cognitive changes associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We’ve begun to collect data that indicates age may exacerbate the effects of ADT, but we also have seen that a novel multimodal antidepressant may be effective to reverse these deficits. It’s a large component of my dissertation but a very important one as we try to improve quality of life in prostate cancer patients, which are largely comprised of an older population.