From left to right: Renata Koviazina (student), Amelia Janiak (student), Professor Domna Kotsifaki (top left), Professor Anastasia Tsigkou (middle), Professor Ferdinand Kappes (top right), Helene Gu (student), Xinyue Liu (student).
Undergraduate Research at DKU Advances Women’s Health and Drug Safety
Amelia Janiak, a senior majoring in Molecular Bioscience, has made a significant contribution to women’s health through her recent pilot study, “Upregulation of DEK Expression in Uterine Myomas and Cervical Cancer as a Potential Prognostic Factor.” Accepted for publication in the Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics on January 17, 2025, her research explores the potential of the DEK protein as an early biomarker for uterine myomas and cervical cancer. By analyzing tissue samples, Amelia found that DEK levels were significantly elevated in cancerous tissues compared to normal uterine tissue, with moderate expression in myomas. These findings suggest that DEK could serve as a valuable tool for early cancer detection, potentially leading to improved diagnostic techniques and better health outcomes for women. Uterine myomas and cervical cancer can severely impact women’s lives, causing chronic pain, fertility issues, and, in the case of cervical cancer, high mortality rates. Early detection is crucial, and identifying DEK as a biomarker could lead to more effective, non-invasive diagnostic tools, ultimately improving survival rates, treatment options, and quality of life for millions of women worldwide.
In another exciting development, Helene Gu together with PengCheng Tan, Zheng, Professor Ferdinand Kappes, Professor Domna Kotsifaki, Dr. Fangrong Shen, and Professor Anastasia Tsigkou recently published a study on the safety of Botox injections during breastfeeding. On January 6, 2025, Frontiers in Drug Safety and Regulation published their research on the detection of nontoxic BoNT/A levels in post-facial Botox injection breast milk. Helene Gu, a Data Science major (Class of 2025), worked on this project for two years alongside classmates Zhenyu Xu (Class of 2024) and Renata Koviazina (Class of 2025). With limited information on whether cosmetic Botox injections could enter breast milk—and no clear FDA guidance—the team conducted experiments using breast milk samples from three women who had received Botox injections and two who had not. Their findings confirmed that Botox does enter breastmilk, with the highest concentrations observed within the first week after injection and another peak around two months later—coinciding with when Botox’s effects naturally wear off in the body. However, the highest detected level was over 20 times lower than the threshold of concern, leading the team to conclude that breastfeeding after facial Botox injections is likely safe for infants. These groundbreaking interdisciplinary studies demonstrate DKU’s commitment to student-led research and scientific innovation, tackling real-world health challenges with data-driven insights.
Amelia is incredibly grateful for the chance to learn from and collaborate with her mentors, Professor Anastasia Tsigkou and Professor Ferdinand Kappes. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work with such supportive and knowledgeable mentors,” Amelia shares. “Their guidance not only shaped this study but also inspired me to approach research with curiosity and dedication.” Amelia also values the collaborative atmosphere in the lab, where the insights and support from all the members have played a pivotal role in driving her research forward. Looking ahead, she’s excited to continue honing her skills and make meaningful contributions to the field. Helene shares this sentiment about the in depth support from the lab. She acknowledges her mentorship from Professors Anastasia Tsigkou, Ferdinand Kappes, and Domna Kotsifaki as pivotal to her undergraduate studies. “One thing about the Gynecology and Oncology Lab, is that we are all expected to be on top of it,” she recounts. “Professor Tsigkou made me finish my Signature Work Project Proposal during sophomore year. She told me it takes a long time to publish a paper in biology. I was new to research then and didn’t know, but Professor Tsigkou had high expectations from the start.” She adds. “Before joining the lab, I was always captivated by the idea of making scientific discoveries, but I didn’t really think I had the ingenuity it took. Going through this process changed my mind. I realized I love what research actually is, and it is almost certain to be in my future.” The lab, focused on oncology and reproduction, is looking forward to a year of more findings to advance women’s health.
