Closeup of Megan Keene

Megan Keene, B.A.

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Doctoral Student

SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology

San Diego

Location
BSCI 2nd Floor
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA, 92182
Mail Code
4614
Fax
[619-594-####]
Accounts

Areas of Research

Ovarian Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, Chemotherapy Resistance, Cancer Relapse, Tumor Microenvironment

Bio

My primary research interests include the impact of ID proteins on ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy, as well as the role of MICAL2 and effect of chemotherapy in cancer cell attachment.

Mentors

Carrie D. House, Ph.D.

Details

Education
  1. B.A. Biochemistry with Biomedical Ethics Minor
    University of San Diego
Publications
  1. Cruz, L. S., Robinson, M., Stevenson, D., Amador, I. C., Valenica, S., Jordan, G. J., Navarrete, C., House, C. D.; Chemotherapy enriches for pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes that support cancer stem-like cells and disease progression in ovarian cancer. (2024). Cancer Research Communications. https://doi.org/10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0311
  2. Holmberg, R., Robinson, M., Gilbert, S. F., Lujano-Olazaba, O., Waters, J. A., Kogan, E., Velasquez, C. L. R., Stevenson, D., Cruz, L. S., Alexander, L. J., Lara, J., Mu, E. M., Camillo, J. R., Bitler, B. G., Huxford, T., & House, C. D.; TWEAK-Fn14-RelB Signaling Cascade Promotes Stem Cell-like Features that Contribute to Post-Chemotherapy Ovarian Cancer Relapse. (2023). Molecular cancer research: MCR, 21(2), 170–186.
  3. Bernareggi, D., Xie, Q., Prager, B. C., Yun, J., Cruz, L. S., Pham, T. V., Kim, W., Lee, X., Coffey, M., Zalfa, C., Azmoon, P., Zhu, H., Tamayo, P., Rich, J. N., & Kaufman, D. S.; CHMP2A regulates tumor sensitivity to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. (2022). Nature communications, 13(1), 1899. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29469-0
  4. Pouyanfard, S., Meshgin, N., Cruz, L. S., Diggle, K., Hashemi, H., Pham, T. V., Fierro, M., Tamayo, P., Fanjul, A., Kisseleva, T., & Kaufman, D. S.; Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages ameliorate liver fibrosis. (2021). Stem cells, (39(12), 1701–1717. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.3449
  5. Gumber, D., Do, M., Suresh Kumar, N., Sonavane, P. R., Wu, C. C. N., Cruz, L. S., Grainger, S., Carson, D., Gaasterland, T., & Willert, K.; Selective activation of FZD7 promotes mesendodermal differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. (2020). eLife, 9, e63060. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63060
Presentations
  1. CREATE Research Symposium – Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, CA. January 2025. “ID1-4 proteins’ contribution to cancer stem-like cell maintenance and ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy”.
  2. S3 Symposium – Poster Presentation – San Diego, CA. March 2024. “Unveiling the role of ID1-4 proteins in cancer stem-like cell maintenance and contribution to ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy” *Dean’s Award Recipient*
  3. SDSU Graduate Seminar Series – Oral Presentation – San Diego, CA. Once a year for duration of the PhD program
  4. American Chemistry Society (ACS) Annual Conference – Poster Presentation – San Francisco, California, August 2023. “Exploring subunit communication in Ignicoccus islandicus and watermelon glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenases using molecular dynamics and site directed mutagenesis”.
  5. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference – Poster Presentation – Seattle, Washington, March 2023. “Using Computational and Biophysical Approaches to Explore Knock In and Knock Out Mutations of Ignicoccus Islandicus and Watermelon Glyoxysomal Malate Dehydrogenases”.
  6. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference – Oral Presentation and Poster Presentation – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 2022. “The Multifaceted Subunit Interface of Malate Dehydrogenase”.
Service
  1. Curebound Cancer Challenge – Fundraised $1,000 for Cancer Research (2025)
  2. Association of Women in Science (AWIS-SD) Event Committee and Outreach Committee Member (2024-Present)
  3. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Fundraised $278 (2024)
  4. Padres Pedal the Cause – Fundraised $1,650 for cancer research (2024)
  5. Chemistry Olympiad exam proctor (2023)
  6. Padres Pedal the Cause – Fundraised $1,140 for cancer research (2023)
  7. Beach cleanups with Citizens Climate Lobby (2021-2023)
  8. Clothing drives, beach cleanups, and free dance classes for underprivileged youth through ANHS Dance Team (2015-2019)
  9. CSF at ANHS (2015-2019)
  10. Teal Cares at ANHS (2016-2019)
  11. Youth leadership (2015-2019)
  12. Volunteer at Capistrano Academy of Dance’s Recitals (2015-Present)
Grants
  1. California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Predoctoral Fellowship, 2022-2025
Clinical Trials
  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
Awards & Honors
  1. Honorable Mention from the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) (2024)
  2. Monetary Award for a Resume Contest with CancerCareers.org (2024)
  3. Dean’s Award for my poster presentation at the S3 Symposium – “Unveiling the role of ID1-4 proteins in cancer stem-like cell maintenance and contribution to ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy” (2024)
  4. ACCEL Travel Grant to attend American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2025)
Patents & Copyrights
  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
Fun Facts
  1. I did tap, hip-hop, ballet, lyrical, and jazz from 2 to 21 years old at Capistrano Dance Company, Aliso Niguel High School, and University of San Diego
  2. I also played soccer from 2 to 15. I still enjoy dancing and playing most sports.
  3. I didn’t have my first PB&J sandwich until freshman year of college.