Latest publication, first author
MDM4 at the Crossroads: Beyond p53 and MDM2
Thapa D, St John A, et al. Cancers. 2026;18(7):1059. Review article.
Read the paperResearch
p53 is often called the guardian of the genome. When a cell is damaged, p53 can pause its growth or trigger its death, which stops it from becoming cancerous. Many tumors find ways to switch p53 off.
Two proteins, MDM2 and MDM4, keep p53 under control. My doctoral work focuses on MDM4, and on the roles it plays in cancer beyond its partnership with p53 and MDM2.
Alongside my PhD, I am a research learner in Graduate Medical Education at Children's Mercy Kansas City.
Tap a protein to see its role
p53
A tumor suppressor protein. When DNA is damaged, p53 can halt cell division or trigger cell death. It also switches on the gene for MDM2, which creates a feedback loop.
Experience
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Aug 2022 to present
PhD Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Research on the tumor suppressor p53 and its regulators.
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May 2023 to present
Research Learner, Graduate Medical Education
Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Laboratory research using western blotting, X-ray irradiation of biological samples, and micro-CT imaging.
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Nov 2018 to May 2022
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Washburn University, Topeka, KS
Mutated wild-type lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to study structural changes in the enzyme using circular dichroism.
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Aug 2021 to May 2022
Chemistry Stockroom Assistant
Washburn University, Topeka, KS
Prepared chemicals and organized equipment for the biochemistry teaching lab.
Molecular and cell biology
- Western blotting
- Immunofluorescence
- RT-PCR
Instruments
- Rad Source RS 2000 X-ray biological irradiator
- Bruker SkyScan 1276 micro-CT
Biophysical methods
- Circular dichroism spectroscopy
Honors and awards
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2025
AACR-Sanofi Scholar-in-Training Award
American Association for Cancer Research
Awarded on the quality of my abstract to support attendance at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago. Funded by Sanofi to recognize outstanding young investigators in cancer research.
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2025
Cancer Biology Student Travel Award
Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center
Supports travel to present research at scientific conferences.
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2020
Research Training Award
K-INBRE (Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence), Washburn University
K-INBRE is supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH.
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2019–21
Steven Weeks Scholarship
Department of Chemistry, Washburn University
Awarded for outstanding academic performance, renewed for three consecutive academic years.
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2019
Guild Study Abroad
Washburn University
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2018
Undergraduate Student Research Grant
Kansas Academy of Science
Education and more
PhD, Cancer Biology
University of Kansas Medical Center
Aug 2022 to Aug 2027 (expected)
BS, Biochemistry
Washburn University
Aug 2018 to May 2022
Memberships
American Association for Cancer Research, associate member since Sep 2024
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Nov 2021 to Aug 2022
Languages
Nepali (native), English and Hindi (full professional)
Training
Communicating with Confidence, Jeff Ansell & Associates, Mar 2022