Amy McCalla, D.V.M., Ph.D.

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Dr. McCalla-Martin was a graduate scholar in the NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program in partnership with North Carolina State University and the National Cancer Institute, July 2010 - 2019.

Dr. McCalla-Martin received her BS in Microbiology and Molecular Cell Sciences from The University of Memphis in 2001. Following this degree she was a member of Dr. Stephen Skapek’s lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital until 2004. During this time she developed two Arf transgenic mouse models as well as an Arf null knock-out mouse model. She coauthored four publications with the Skapek lab and was the primary author on an additional publication. Research undertaken in this lab examined the role of p19Arf in vascular remodeling and development of the disease persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous.

In 2005, Dr. McCalla-Martin joined Dr. Jorge Piedrahita’s lab at North Carolina State University. She coauthored two publications with this lab on research involving porcine microarray systems and the correlation between intrauterine growth restriction and somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques in swine. In January of 2010, she was primary author on a publication through this lab which described the Gli2 transgenic pig.

Dr. McCalla-Martin began the DVM program at NCSU in the fall of 2006. During her DVM program she continued to work with the Skapek and Piedrahita labs and presented research from both labs at the annual ACVP conferences in 2007 and 2008.  She entered the NCI molecular pathology GPP in partnership with North Carolina State University and the National Cancer Institute in July 2010.  With her initial diagnostic pathology and pre-dissertation research training at the NCSU completed in 2012, she relocated to Bethesda, MD to begin her dissertation research at the National Cancer Institute, under the direction of Lee Helman, M.D. and Natasha Caplan, Ph.D.   Her research focused on identification of molecular targets in Ewing's sarcoma and development of a mouse model.

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Amy McCalla, D.V.M.
Positions
Research Biologist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Molecular Endocrinology Group, Research Triangle Park, NC
Seaside Animal Hospital
Research/Thesis
"Targeting and Characterization of Dysregulations of the Aurora Kinases A and B Family Members in Ewing Sarcoma Models."
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PROGRAM GRADUATE 2019
Type
Graduate
University Partner
North Carolina State University (D.V.M. and Ph.D.)
Campus
NIH Intramural Lab
Year
2019

Kara Corps, M.S., D.V.M., Ph.D.

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Dr. Corps was a graduate scholar in the NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program in partnership with North Carolina State University and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, July 2010 - May 2018.

Dr. Corps received her B.S. from Michigan State University. After completing the didactic portion of veterinary school, Dr. Corps spent 2008 working towards a M.S. in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology under Jack Harkema, D.V.M., Ph.D.,Diplomate, ACVP at Michigan State University. She defended her MS thesis in December 2008. Dr. Corps received her D.V.M. from Michigan State University in May 2010. She entered the NCI Molecular Pathology GPP in partnership with North Carolina State University and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in July 2010.  She completed the initial diagnostic pathology and pre-dissertation research training at the NCSU in 2012, and received her Ph.D. in May of 2018. Her other research interests focus on comparative neuropathology. 

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Kara Corps, M.S., D.V.M.
Positions
Assistant professor at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Research/Thesis
"Transcranial A2A Agonism Induces a Neuroprotective State that Resists the Damaging Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury."
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Diplomate, ACVP
Program Graduate 2018
Type
Graduate
University Partner
Michigan State University (D.V.M.), North Carolina State University (Ph.D.)
Year
2018

FDA grants orphan drug status to selumetinib for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug status in February to selumetinib for use in patients with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), who often develop tumors of the peripheral nervous system. Twenty to 50 percent of NF1 patients develop tumors called plexiform neurofibromas in their peripheral nerve sheaths. Although these nerve tumors are benign, they can cause disfigurement, pain, restricted motion, loss of vision and other complications.

Summer Internship

CBSTP Summer Internship ProgramThe Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIPBR) For Veterinary Medical Students

This training opportunity, which is a part of the NIH Summer Internship Program, is designed to provide 8+ weeks hands-on laboratory research experience for pre-doctoral veterinary medical students interested in biomedical research.

Welcome to CBSTP

Tomorrow’s promise of individualized patient care requires translating today’s scientific discoveries into new clinical applications.

Creating interdisciplinary medical insight where our genes and environment intersect nature’s web – this is the nexus of comparative biomedical science.


What is NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program?