Back Row: Prabhat Bandari, Aalok Kumar, Spencer Tan, Ameen Dayisi, Byran Rabbani, Ousmane Dieng. Front Row: Isha Jayakumar, Mia Yoo, Chloe Woo, Ngan Nguyen, Crystal Zheng, Eugene Kang.
On the final day of the Winship Summer Scholars Research Program, Isha Jayakumar stood before a room of researchers, family members and peers and presented findings on how prompt engineering could improve AI-generated quality-control reports for medical imaging datasets. Using pediatric brain and rectal MRI datasets, she evaluated six approaches to instructing a large language model, identifying the strategy that produced the most accurate, complete and useful reports for imaging researchers.
Jayakumar’s research, conducted under the mentorship of Satish Viswanath, PhD, is one example of the projects completed this summer through the Summer Scholars Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Students investigated topics ranging from development of therapies for breast and prostate cancers to tumor biology, imaging, immunotherapy and treatment response, reflecting the breadth and complexity of cancer research at Winship. Students often formed strong connections with their assigned projects, including areas they had not initially expected to explore.
Established in 2001 and sponsored by Lou Glenn, the program provides high school students with a unique entry point into cancer research at Winship. This summer, 12 students worked alongside Winship investigators and research teams, conducting laboratory and computational work while gaining exposure to basic, translational and clinical cancer research. An additional 160 students expanded their understanding of cancer research by participating in the program’s virtual lecture series.
The 2026 program culminated on July 17 with a final symposium, where students presented their work through scientific talks and posters. Participants also heard from keynote speaker Chris Draft, a former NFL player, cancer advocate and founder of the Chris Draft Family Foundation. Drawing on the story of his wife, Keasha, a lifelong nonsmoker who died of stage 4 lung cancer, Draft encouraged students to play a role in advancing cancer research, education and advocacy.
Co-directed by Winship members Cynthia Giver, PhD, and Nikolaos Papadantonakis, MD, PhD, MSc, the program pairs each student with a Winship principal investigator and research team to complete a cancer-focused project.
“Our goal is to give students a genuine experience of what it means to participate in cancer research,” says Giver, associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “They develop a deep understanding of one project through their work with a mentor and research team, while also gaining exposure to the many different disciplines and perspectives that contribute to progress in cancer research.”
Beyond the laboratory, students participate in a comprehensive curriculum designed to broaden their scientific knowledge and perspective. This year, the curriculum included 20 lectures led by Winship faculty; a guided exploration of “Compassion: What Moves You?” at the Michael C. Carlos Museum, led jointly by museum staff and Wendy Baer, MD, Winship’s director of psychiatric oncology; visits to the Emory Proton Therapy Center and Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown; a panel discussion with cancer survivors and caregivers; and presentation skill-building sessions in preparation for the final symposium.
“The highlight of the program was hearing from cancer survivors and caregivers during the Q&A panel and working on my own experiments in the lab," says Chloe Woo, a student in the program. "Their stories revealed the human side of cancer research and the challenges patients face, while my lab work showed how discoveries can translate into better care. This experience reinforced that research is not just about data. It’s about improving lives.”
This year’s program received a record level of applications highlighting both the great interest among students and the value of programs that provide early exposure to scientific discovery.
“Watching these students engage with complex research questions and integrate into cutting edge research teams is truly inspiring, says Papadantonakis, a hematologist and associate professor in the same department. “Our hope is that experiences like these can spark a lifelong commitment to biomedical research and help cultivate the future leaders who will drive advances in cancer care.”
Together, these experiences offer students more than an introduction to research. They provide a firsthand look at the science, collaboration and human impact driving the future of cancer care.
