Each month we highlight one of our MSTP students. This month's highlight is:
Cara Noel
Area of Study: Viral oncogenesis
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Academics
Research interests
- Virology
- Lymphoma
- Tumor microenvironment
- Epigenetic regulation
- Spatial -omics
Awards, honors, publications:
- T35AI179601 STRIVE award, 2025.
- American Society of Hematology HONORS Award, 2024.
- P. Porcu, R. Masel, N. Kendsersky, C. Noel, C. Weigel, A. Khoo, R.A. Baiocchi. EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): As Assessment and a Roadmap. Journal of Medical Virology. 2025; 97:e70722.
- Host, K.M., Weigel, C., Klimaszewski H., Noel C., Lundberg, J., Lurain, K., Baiocchi, R. Tocilizumab as stabilizing frontline treatment in suspected KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome. Blood Adv 2026; 10 (10): 3367–3370.
- M.R. Gittrich, C.M. Sanderson , J..M. Wainaina, Cara M. Noel, J.E. Leopold, E.Babusci, S.C. Selbes, O.R. Farinas, J. Caine, J. Davis II, V.K. Mutalik, P. Hyman & M.B. Sullivan. Isolation and characterization of 24 phages infecting the plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium Klebsiella sp. M5al. 2025. PLoS One. PMID: 39982899
Long term goals/ aspirations
- Hike the Appalachian Trail
- Learn how to play piano
- Write more poetry
Post MSTP Training dream job
- I’d like to pursue a PSTP residency in Heme/Onc, with the end goal of starting a lab and becoming an attending physician.
Fun Facts
What you enjoy outside of school
- Running, reading literary fiction, spending time with family and friends, and playing flute.
A talent you have always wanted
Functioning on <8 hours of sleep.Favorite book
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver or Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.Favorite quote
“The Guest House” poem by Jalaluddin Rumi
Can’t live without
My 2 cats Elsie and Maisy
If you weren’t in MSTP, what would you be doing now?
Global Health work