Education and experience

Education

The Jackson Laboratory
Postdoctoral fellow
Adv: Dr. Roel Verhaak
2017-present

Cornell University
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
Adv: Dr. Michael King
2011-2017

University of Alabama at Birmingham
B.S., Biomedical Engineering
2007-2011

Experience

Vanderbilt University
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
2017

Cornell University
Graduate Research Assistant
2011-2017

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

Selectin-mediated adhesion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to the endothelium is a critical step in cancer metastasis, a major factor contributing to the mortality of cancer. The formation of tethers between tumor cells and endothelial selectins initiates cell rolling, which can lead to firm adhesion, extravasation and the formation of secondary metastases. Tumor cells travel through the bloodstream as single cells, or as aggregates known as circulating tumor microemboli (CTM). CTM have increased survivability and metastatic potential relative to CTCs, and the presence of CTM is associated with worse patient prognosis. The motion of cells and cellular aggregates in flow is a function of their size and shape, and these differences influence the frequency and strength of their contact with the endothelium. In this study, a computational model consisting of the hydrodynamic component of the Multiparticle Adhesive Dynamics simulation analyzed the effects of model aggregate conformation and orientation on adhesive binding potential. Model aggregates of the Colo205 colorectal cancer cell line were created, consisting of two, three, and four cells in simple geometrical conformations. Contact time, contact area, and time integral of contact area were measured as a function of fluid shear rate, initial centroid height, and initial orientation for model aggregates that experienced hydrodynamic collisions with the plane wall. It was found that larger CTM conformations with intermediate nonsphericities had the highest adhesion potential. The results of this study shed light on the correlation between environmental conditions and extravasation efficiency, which could inform the development of new anti-metastatic drugs.

1 Anderson KJ, de Guillebon A, Hughes AD, Wang W, King MR. Effect of circulating tumor cell aggregate configuration on hemodynamic transport and wall contact. Math Biosci. 2017 Dec; 294:181-194.

View full list of publications

Tech CornerJune 17, 2019
The genome of Eve (the mouse)
C57BL/6—aka Black 6—is the most widely used mouse strain in research. Its reference genome was published in 2003 and has been carefully curated over the years since.
Featured ArticleMay 29, 2019
Making a community impact beyond the bench
A JAX postdoctoral associate was recently awarded a fellowship in Science Policy from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics that will allow him to advocate for support of science research with federal officials and congressional staff.
Research HighlightMay 20, 2019
Revealing cellular traits, one cell at a time
Scientists have developed an expanded toolkit that enables investigations of cellular traits at the single cell level at an unprecedented level of detail.
Featured ArticleApril 30, 2019
Mapping a Cancer Free Life
Jens Rueter, Medical Director of the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative, and Madeleine Braun, Chief of Presidential Initiatives at JAX, discuss the future of cancer care during the first 2019 JAXtaposition event at the Portland Museum of Art.

Featured ArticleJune 04, 2019
MCGI Advances clinical genomics education in Maine
Oncology practices in Maine will continue to have access to advanced educational curricula on genomic tumor testing in patient care through the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI), thanks to a gift from the Maine Cancer Foundation.
- Meet our donors
- Cancer
Search MagazineMay 22, 2019
JAX scientists speak out on the crisis of opioid addiction
JAX scientists are intensifying their efforts to shed light on the genetic and neurobiological causes of addiction, along with the impact of environmental influences.
Research HighlightMay 02, 2019
How can we take full advantage of EHR Data?
There has been an explosion of digital medical data in recent years, taking many forms. Much of the most valuable data—clinical patient data—is currently stored in electronic health record (EHR) systems, providing a theoretical gold mine for large-scale integration and analyses of patient traits, diseases, treatments, progression over time, outcomes and more.
Press ReleaseApril 16, 2019
A thorough characterization of structural variants in human genomes
A recent study used multiple advanced technologies to dive deeper into the human genome than ever before to comprehensively characterize the structural variants present in three families, and what their functional consequences might be.

Kevin J. Anderson, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

About Kevin J. Anderson, Ph.D.

Education and experience

Education

Experience

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

The genome of Eve (the mouse)

Making a community impact beyond the bench

Revealing cellular traits, one cell at a time

Mapping a Cancer Free Life

MCGI Advances clinical genomics education in Maine

JAX scientists speak out on the crisis of opioid addiction

How can we take full advantage of EHR Data?

A thorough characterization of structural variants in human genomes