Fisher Students Contribute to Cancer Research Project

A shared passion for health care and research brought together an undergraduate from the School of Business and a fourth-year student from the Wegmans School of Pharmacy to work on a project at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute.

A clinical rotation at the Wilmot Cancer Center sparked an interest in oncology for Nicole Conciardo ’24 (Pharm.D.). Looking to gain experience in pharmacy research, she approached a professor in the School of Pharmacy for suggestions and was connected with Dr. Kendra Delibert, a clinical pharmacy specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). Delibert was the primary investigator on a study to assess the response rates of patients who receive venetoclax, a medication used to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

“It is fascinating how much the field of oncology is always changing for the better to improve the lives of so many patients,” said Conciardo. “When I found out the research opportunity involved oncology I was thrilled to be a part of something so much bigger than just research. To know that my contribution will be helping people is what motivated me to successfully complete this project.”

Finance major Alec Wankel ’23 has worked in health care for five years, first in assisted living facilities, then in the community pharmacy setting. While at Walgreens, he earned certification as a pharmacy technician. In 2022, he earned licensure to become a registered pharmacy technician and began working in Strong Memorial Hospital’s inpatient pharmacy.

When a skiing incident left him sidelined for a few months, he decided to pursue a research opportunity through Strong and was soon also connected with Delibert. She was conducting a single-center, retrospective cohort study at the Institute.

Conciardo and Wankel helped to review patient charts and lab results, looking at 28-day cycles that patients received the medication and identifying how they responded to the treatment.

“Kendra was an amazing resource and mentor when it came to analytics and filling in the gaps in knowledge regarding oncology treatment plans with AML,” Wankel said. “To say there wasn’t a learning curve would be a lie. Nicole and I fortunately worked together previously so we were familiar with each other’s work ethic and were able to rely on each other for help.”

Conciardo agreed, adding that once she settled into the research it was easy to find a rhythm and ultimately, the experience had a profound impact on her.

“Participating in this research made me realize how much I want to pursue a career in industry pharmacy post-graduation. I plan to work for companies that make lifesaving drugs for patients with rare diseases,” she said. “This research was an essential part of my professional career and I am excited to see what the future holds after graduation.”

Wankel also plans to pursue a career in health care. He was recently accepted into the John Carroll University Post-Baccalaureate Health Program, and will enroll in fall 2024. In the meantime, he is currently working on a second research project through URMC, looking at the treatment of Hepatitis B in sexual assault survivors that present to the emergency department at Strong. The data collected will be used in a national study in collaboration with other institutions from across the country. He also plans to gain hands-on experience through a medical mission. In June, he will travel to Mombasa, Kenya, with International Medical Aid, shadowing medical professionals and assisting in patient care at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.

“My journey in health care, coupled with my dedication to community service and leadership, has solidified my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field of medicine,” Wankel said. “Through the upcoming medical mission in Kenya and my continued pursuit of education and research, I am devoted to driving positive change in health care access and patient care.”