Steven Forsythe, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow in the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, won first place in the data blitz flash talk category at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's 22nd Annual Postdoc Research Day.
The Data Blitz format asks researchers to explain a project in three minutes, using a single slide and a 100-word summary. Forsythe used the time window to present his work on a new way to target pancreatic cancer, which remains difficult to treat and detect early.
His project focuses on a protein called calreticulin, which sits inside many cancer cells but can be moved to the cell's surface, where it becomes a target for imaging and treatment. Forsythe's research showed that this can be done with gentler therapies than chemotherapies used in earlier studies, which may carry more harsh side effects. The project also tested a way to eliminate only the cells carrying the protein on their surface, while leaving healthy cells untouched. While the research findings are early, they point to a potentially nontoxic method to bring calreticulin to the cell surface – a step that could support future imaging and treatment approaches for pancreatic cancer.
Forsythe works in the Neuroendocrine Cancer Research Laboratory, leaded by J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, associate professor of surgical oncology and director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center.
“Most of us spend years learning how to do the science and much less time learning how to talk about it,” Rose said. “Dr. Forsythe has both skills, and that combination will serve him well throughout his career. He made it look effortless, which tells you exactly how much work went into his presentation.”
Forsythe joined UAB after a research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute and doctoral work at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
“I'm grateful to Dr. Rose and the lab for their support,” Forsythe said. “The data blitz format pushes you to get to the point, which is a useful skill for any scientist. I look forward to continuing this research and bringing future findings to the field for continued development.”
About UAB’s Annual Postdoc Research Day
UAB's Annual Postdoc Research Day showcases the work of postdoctoral fellows from across the University. The event gives early career researchers a venue to share their findings beyond their own departments and connect with peers working in other fields. A panel of faculty and fellow postdoctorates judged each data blitz talk on time management and organization, delivery, and research impact.