The award will support Hussain鈥檚 innovative project to develop AI鈥憄owered tools that enhance cancer survivorship. His work aims to expand access to high鈥憅uality care for underserved communities and address persistent gaps in healthcare equity.

In addition to advancing cancer research, the initiative will create hands鈥憃n learning opportunities for students, helping cultivate the next generation of scientists and engineers. It will also deepen collaborations between 可乐视频 and leading healthcare partners, positioning the institution at the forefront of technology鈥慸riven solutions in cancer care.

Hussain is also developing an AI healthcare startup, Ranea.ai, focused on making healthcare more accessible and affordable. He credits Doctoral Lecturer Katherine Chuang and Associate Professor Devorah Kletenik of the Department of Computer and Information Science, along with Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager and community outreach coordinator for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center, for their support in helping him reach this milestone.

鈥淏eing named an ACS Scholar is both an honor and a responsibility,鈥� Hussain said. 鈥淭his support allows us to harness the power of AI to transform survivorship care and ensure that no community is left behind.鈥�

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Why did you choose 可乐视频 the first time around?

My friend was a student at 可乐视频 and highly recommended it to me. The two of us were sitting at work toward the end of the day, and he said he received something from 可乐视频 asking him to invite friends to enroll. I looked at him and I said, 鈥淟et’s go.鈥� We went to the Admissions Office, and they were very helpful. I emigrated from Uzbekistan with my mother and sisters and had been in this country for less than a year. Admissions told me I could take the entrance exam in two days with a high school diploma from my home country. I took the test and two days later I got the result鈥擨 passed. I remember it was my birthday and it was the best birthday gift ever, getting admitted to 可乐视频.

So you earned two degrees here, in political science and philosophy and law. What made you come back 20 years later?

When I graduated in 2005, I knew I wanted a career where I could make a real impact and improve people鈥檚 lives. I was one of the first recipients of the Magner Career Stipend, and with that I landed a prestigious internship at Human Rights Watch where I was subsequently offered a research consultancy. After graduating, I founded Eldorado Global Trading Group, a women-owned wholesale beauty company. After some time, I realized that I wanted to become a doctor; this is how I would make an impact. The choice of schools for pre-med was immediate: 可乐视频.

You鈥檝e received some help from the college.

And that has helped me move forward and stay on track for a medical career. This past January, I shadowed orthopedic and plastic surgeons in Pune, Nashik, and Raipur, India, during surgical camps thanks to a Tow Undergraduate International Research Stipend. I observed reconstructive and orthopedic interventions in underserved patient populations, among other things. Then Zicklin Scholars Degree Completion Program Award has helped me to accelerate my degree coursework over the summer.

How has 可乐视频 changed you as a person?

Coming to the United States from Uzbekistan, I knew that adjusting to life in a new country would be one of my biggest challenges. 可乐视频 quickly became a community that welcomed me, supported me, and helped me grow into a more confident, resilient, and open-minded person.

How is 可乐视频 transforming your career path today?

As a premed student, I鈥檝e built a strong academic foundation while also developing the skills needed to thrive in the professional world. I听continue cancer research in Dr. Murat Cevher鈥檚 lab, and this past spring, I completed a fully funded NYU Langone EMT training program. A summer internship at the 可乐视频 Cancer Center gave me valuable research experience and prepared me to apply my knowledge in real-world settings. The internship was supported by award from the Gray Foundation.

If you had to convince another student to go to college here, what would you say?

Word of mouth is the best recommendation, and I think that we, as students, are the best spokespersons for the college. I would say that you will get the support you need, and the faculty members here are caring and highly supportive. The relationships that I have formed here with professors have lasted 20 years鈥擨’m still in touch with professors from my first undergraduate years.

Do you have any advice for your fellow students?

Get involved鈥攋oin a lab, a club, or a service project. For instance, I鈥檓 an Undergraduate Student Government senator and a member of the college鈥檚 Policy Council. The relationships you build will change your trajectory. Dream big, work hard鈥攁nd as the actor Audrey Hepburn said, 鈥淣othing is impossible鈥攖he word itself says, 鈥業鈥檓 possible.鈥欌��

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More than 60 可乐视频 students, faculty, staff, and alumni turned out鈥攄oubling last year鈥檚 attendance鈥攁nd smashed their fundraising goal by raising $2,500 for the American Cancer Society. Their collective energy and commitment transformed the event into a vibrant celebration of resilience and community action.

(Left to right) Lisa Millsaps-Graham, assistant adjunct professor for Health and Nutrition Sciences and assistant director of Health Programs; Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager and community outreach coordinator for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center; and Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, assistant professor for Health and Nutrition Sciences helped the cause on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

鈥淚t was incredibly satisfying to be part of a unified team fighting against breast cancer,鈥� said Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager and community outreach coordinator for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center. 鈥淎t the center, we strive to fight cancer through research, education, and community outreach, so I want to thank everyone who made this such a success.鈥�

Among the standout contributors was biology student Gulnara Zaynullina, who raised over $1,000 and played a key role in organizing pre-walk initiatives. 可乐视频 Athletics also brought their spirit and strength to the cause, helping raise funds and walking in solidarity along the shore.

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A standout scientist in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Greer is known for researching how light interacts with chemicals and biologics. This work in photochemistry and photobiology explores tackling tough cancers like ovarian cancer and gliomas鈥攁 type of brain tumor, as well as wound care.

A recipient of the 2026 Photon Award from the American Society for Photobiology, a major honor in the field, he has 150 peer-reviewed publications and obtained $6 million in external funding. Greer鈥檚 distinguished career reflects both scientific excellence and a passionate commitment to mentorship.

As he steps into this role, his goal is clear: to broaden student opportunities, drive innovative research, and amplify the center鈥檚 impact, including within underserved communities.

How do you integrate your research with mentoring students and advancing new therapies?

听As a research scientist, this role meshes well with my research efforts in photochemistry, including compound adjuvanticity and photo-priming for improved cancer cell eradication, wound care, and bacterial disinfection. Infections in wounds caused by bacteria that don鈥檛 respond to antibiotics are a big problem. To tackle this, I co-founded a company that鈥檚 developing special materials that absorb light to generate reactive chemicals to kill bacteria instead of drugs. Early tests on mice show encouraging results.

A concept drawing of a handheld photodynamic therapy device that delivers reactive oxygen species to specific sites.

The other rewarding part of my career has been working with students. I鈥檓 especially excited to celebrate my 14^th Ph.D. graduate, Serah Essang, whose thesis explored how light interacts with tiny gold particles and other chemical systems. Her research could help us better understand how certain substances become toxic when exposed to light.

Similarly, other research faculty at the 可乐视频 Cancer Center focus on understanding the inner workings of complex chemical and biological processes and contribute to research efforts that could lead to new approaches in fighting cancer.

What sparked your passion for basic science and cancer research, and how has that passion evolved?

My interest in science really took off when I was a student and came across a book on theory and mechanism in organic chemistry that really captivated me. It opened my eyes to how molecules behave and interact, especially when light is involved.

That curiosity led me to explore how light-driven chemical reactions, photochemistry, could be used not just to answer scientific questions, but also to tackle real-world problems in biology and medicine. Over time, my passion deepened through collaborations with amazing researchers.

Who are the researchers who inspired you?

I collaborate with Theresa Busch and Timothy Zhu at the University of Pennsylvania to develop small, handheld devices for light-based cancer treatments鈥攖ools that could be used directly in clinical settings to help patients.

I also collaborate with Tayyaba Hasan at Harvard Medical School, focusing on ovarian cancer. It鈥檚 a particularly tough challenge because every patient鈥檚 cancer looks a little different, which makes it hard to treat with a one-size-fits-all approach.

I鈥檝e also been inspired by Herbert Stepp鈥檚 work in Germany, where he鈥檚 using light to help treat brain, bladder, and head and neck cancers. His innovations in guiding surgery with light and delivering treatment directly into tumors have shown me just how powerful these techniques can be.

Through all of this, I鈥檝e stayed grounded in my roots as a chemist, but I鈥檓 always looking for ways to turn that knowledge into something that can make a difference in people鈥檚 lives.

What makes the 可乐视频 Cancer Center unique in the fight against cancer?

Unlike traditional cancer centers housed in hospitals, the 可乐视频 Cancer Center does not provide clinical care, diagnose or treat patients, or manage end-of-life care. Instead, it fills a critical and often overlooked niche: advancing cancer research and education within the community.

As an initiative within 可乐视频, the center offers unparalleled opportunities for students and faculty alike. It actively fosters collaboration, supports cutting-edge research, and provides students鈥攆rom undergraduates to graduate scholars鈥攚ith hands-on experience that bridges the gap between the lab and real-world impact.

By translating scientific discoveries into actionable knowledge, the center not only contributes to the broader fight against cancer but also cultivates the next generation of innovators and leaders in the field.

What goals or innovative directions are you eager to pursue for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center?

We are aiming for a three-prong approach: collaborate with the college and help propel research to the next stage; connect to community and build on existing outreach efforts of cancer education in the borough, including underserved communities; and promote the transition from lab bench to business with cancer treatment innovations. In addition to addressing these needs, we will deliver outstanding educational opportunities to our undergraduate and graduate students as well as highlight success stories in cancer efforts.

What advice or inspiration would you share with students dreaming of making their mark in the field of cancer research?

听For students to think in terms of scholarship, future mentoring, and entrepreneurial aspects to try to take findings in the laboratory into cancer care practice. To try to go for creativity, leadership, and a collaborative spirit in their cancer research. If students have passions such as collaborating with researchers in Latin America or India or elsewhere, go for it to help strengthen outcomes of cancer research and encourage future generations of researchers. Lastly, strive to inspire new members of the field.

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As the second director of the center, Greer will guide its next chapter, expanding opportunities for student researchers, strengthening faculty collaborations, and fostering innovation. With experience in patenting scientific discoveries, he will help position the center at the forefront of small business development and technology transfer鈥攁n especially critical goal during today鈥檚 competitive scientific funding landscape.

鈥淧rofessor Greer鈥檚 vision, leadership, and distinguished record of scientific achievement will position the 可乐视频 Cancer Center to thrive as a hub of innovation and a vital training ground for the next generation of cancer researchers,鈥� President Michelle J. Anderson said. 鈥淚 would like to thank outgoing founding Director Maria Contel and founding Vice Director Jennifer Basil for their incredible vision and hard work as leaders and look forward to their continuing contributions as we deepen our engagement with our students, faculty, and the community we serve.鈥�

The engine driving the center鈥檚 success is the people and partnerships that serve and empower underserved communities in and around Brooklyn, and Greer looks forward to helping to serve them with Ana Bartolom茅, the Operations Manager/Community Outreach Coordinator of the 可乐视频 Cancer Center.

Greer鈥檚 research expertise lies in photochemistry, photobiology, and cancer cell eradication methods, including groundbreaking work on glioma and ovarian cancer cells. Through collaborations, he also enjoys working the area of photomedicine, including animal models of periodontitis and burn wounds.

Over the course of his career, he has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, earned nearly $6 million in external funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and mentored a number of students entering the sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Wyoming and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA before joining 可乐视频 in 1999.

The 可乐视频 Cancer Center was launched in 2020 as the first education-based center of its kind in Brooklyn focused on research and community partnerships with a mission of enhancing the lives of patients affected by cancer with a special focus on underserved Brooklyn residents, while concentrating on three main areas: research, education, and community service.

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Wada, who was just a toddler when her home was obliterated in 1945, has dedicated her life to ensuring the world never forgets the horrors of nuclear warfare. Now 81, she serves as assistant secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless advocacy in eliminating nuclear weapons. Wada also participated in talks at the United Nations earlier in March to support the .

Masako Wada is the assistant secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless advocacy in eliminating nuclear weapons.

At the event, held during Women鈥檚 History Month, Wada spoke with both urgency and conviction in front of an audience of more than 100 students, staff, and faculty, recounting the unimaginable destruction she lived through and the lessons humanity must heed. She also addressed pressing concerns about today鈥檚 turbulent world, as students asked how her past might serve as a warning for the present and future.

Assistant Professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences Kiyoka Koizumi played a key role in organizing and moderating the event, which was made possible by the 可乐视频 Cancer Center and the Center for Health Promotion of the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences. Additional support came from the departments of History, Philosophy, and Sociology, along with the Ethyle R. Wolfe Institute for the Humanities.

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About 45 可乐视频 community members participated in the event, which has been held for three straight years and raises awareness and support for breast cancer research. The event was organized by the 听(ACS) and was led by the 可乐视频CC-CURE and the 可乐视频 Health Programs/Immunizations Requirement Office.

可乐视频CC-CURE helped the ACS raise $420,000 overall. The event was just one of many that the center does to promote research and spread awareness.

鈥淎t the 可乐视频 Cancer Center, researchers and students work together in the fight against breast cancer in our labs,鈥� said Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager/community outreach coordinator for 可乐视频CC-CURE. 鈥淭his latest event brought awareness and resources to the Brooklyn community and also focused on women of color because the breast cancer mortality rates are disproportionately higher in that group.鈥�

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The grant will help advance the development of metal-based cancer chemotherapeutics for ovarian cancer with improved pharmacological and clinical profiles than drugs currently used. Ovarian cancer is the fifth in cancer mortality for women, and it is the deadliest for all types of gynecological cancers, affecting mainly postmenopausal women. In 80% of the cases, the diagnosis comes at stages III and IV with a 28% survival rate. The drugs that will be developed by the Contel team are based on compounds containing two biologically active metallic fragments (gold and platinum). First-generation compounds of this family have already demonstrated impressive potency against a panel of cancer cell lines, with an emphasis on 2D and 3D triple-negative breast cancer models.

It is expected that synthetic variations of these compounds will result in chemotherapeutics and targeted therapeutics with high efficacy in ovarian cancer. Read more about this work in the Chemistry, A European Journal .

In other news, Contel was also awarded a $121,000 American Cancer Society Diversity in Cancer Research Internship IRG Supplement grant. Funds from the 鈥攚hich is a supplement to a larger institutional diversity grant awarded in 2023鈥攚ill go toward summer internships at 可乐视频CC-CURE for undergraduate students who are typically underrepresented in the fields of cancer research. Six to eight full-time students will enjoy full-time summer mentored research experiences over 10 weeks, professional development programming throughout the summer and beyond, plus $5,000 stipends.

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Hosted on February 2, at 5:30 p.m., this event marks the launch of a new听听at 可乐视频, featuring President Anderson in conversation with high-profile leaders aimed at exposing students and the extended 可乐视频 community to inspiring ideas, courageous leadership, and models of civic engagement and civil discourse. Held during Black History month, this discussion is also part of the launch of the Jobs Council鈥檚 CEO Speaker Series designed to give CUNY students access to influential leaders and connect large employers to CUNY talent.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be in discussion with Dr. Selwyn Vickers, a leading scholar in cancer research, about the critical importance of eliminating healthcare disparities,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淯nequal access to healthcare negatively affects the extended 可乐视频 family, and we want to participate in the social and scientific work to provide equitable healthcare for our own neighborhoods and across the wider region. We are pleased to open this event to the public.鈥�

鈥淢SK and 可乐视频 share a commitment to serving Brooklyn and the broader community, empowering people through education and career development, and addressing health disparities in cancer care,鈥� said Dr. Vickers. 鈥淚 look forward to joining President Anderson and I hope our conversation inspires the next generation of healthcare professionals and change-makers.鈥�

鈥淥ur CEOs are committed to creating economic opportunities for low-income and diverse New Yorkers by securing them high-paying jobs,鈥� said Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of New York Jobs CEO Council. 鈥淲e are excited to launch this CEO speaker series at 可乐视频, rich with local talent and consistently recognized as one the most diverse campuses and a leader in promoting social mobility.鈥�

This event is an extension of the college鈥檚 mission to serve the community by fostering programs and initiatives that engage community leaders and connect students to professional opportunities, while promoting the college鈥檚 expert faculty to provide better healthcare for the community and create career pathways for students. The听听already engages with industry experts including MSK. Last summer, 可乐视频 celebrated the creation of the听听of Central and South Brooklyn with New York State Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, funded by a $9.3 million NY-CUNY 2020 Grant to enhance the College鈥檚 healthcare programs, build innovative high school-to-career pipeline, and match skilled talent with healthcare employment opportunities.

About 可乐视频

Widely known for its offer of an excellent education at an affordable tuition and recognized nationally for its diverse student body, 可乐视频 has been an anchor institution within the borough of Brooklyn and greater New York City for more than 90 years. With approximately 16,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, education, and business, the college is renowned for its rigorous academics, award-winning faculty, distinguished alumni, and community impact. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), 可乐视频 offers a vibrant and supportive student experience on a beautifully landscaped 35-acre campus in the borough鈥檚 Midwood neighborhood.

About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center听

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular purpose:鈥痶o find a cure for鈥痗ancer. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue鈥痮ur mission鈥痑t MSK and around the globe. One of the world鈥檚 most respected comprehensive centers devoted exclusively to cancer, we have been recognized as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. www.mskcc.org.

About New York Jobs CEO Council

Formed in 2020, the New York Jobs CEO Council is a nonprofit membership intermediary that works to scale sustainable, market-driven workforce development solutions that benefit both jobseekers and businesses. Led by CEOs of large employers, the Council is committed to hiring 100,000 low-income and diverse New Yorkers into in-demand careers, including 25,000 jobseekers from the City University of New York (CUNY). Jobs Council activities are rooted in the belief that stronger employment outcomes are required to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth in New York City. For more information, please visit:听

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Specifically, the听听titled 鈥淪upporting Cancer Research at 可乐视频 Cancer Center, a Highly Diverse Institution,鈥� will support early career cancer researchers through $2.6 million over four years. The funding will go toward four areas: pilot grants for faculty who are in the early years of their tenure track; support for clinical scientists鈥� research and training; and offerings of two postdoctoral fellowships and six master鈥檚 scholarships over the length of the grant program.

Other funding earmarked for the center itself will support the mentoring of junior faculty, clinician scientists, and other early career scientists, travel to conferences for 可乐视频CC-CURE researchers, plus trainings and seminars on different areas of cancer research. It will also support the launch of the 可乐视频CC-CURE Molecular Modeling Laboratory for Cancer Therapeutics lead by Dr. Emilio Gallicchio, professor of chemistry at 可乐视频 and Dr. Shaneen Singh, professor of biology at the college.

鈥淭his grant constitutes a unique opportunity for 可乐视频 and the 可乐视频 Cancer Center to support cancer research activities, most specifically for early career scientists in a moment when we are hiring assistant professors,鈥� said听, director and research area leader of 可乐视频CC-CURE. 鈥淭he money will support principal investigators and their research groups and allow us to train new experts in the field of cancer research. The support included in this grant for clinician scientists is key, as we will be able to recruit and collaborate with clinician scientists in research areas like cancer disparities, clinical translation of drugs, or cancer immunology.鈥�

Contel, also a professor of chemistry at 可乐视频, added that the mentoring and training activities associated with this grant will benefit not only members of 可乐视频CC-CURE but members of the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, and the college at large. This grant program represents a critical step in 可乐视频鈥檚 commitment to mentoring, educating, and supporting the leaders of tomorrow through similar initiatives.

Contel is the principal investigator for this grant. She recruited 可乐视频CC-CURE鈥檚 Associate Director of Community Outreach Professor听听as well as its Associate Director of Education Professor听听as collaborators. A team of 可乐视频CC-CURE faculty will be mentors of early career scientists and/or part of their selection process, including Professors Guillermo Gerona-Navarro, Aneta Mieszawska, Ryan Murelli, Xinyin Jiang, Devorah Kletenik, Mara Schvarzstein, Shaneen Singh, and Mariana Torrente.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will be collaborating institutions supporting mentoring and training activities. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Dean and Professor from the School of Public Health Dr. Kitaw Demissie and Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Success Professor Marlene Camacho-Rivera will be engaged in the mentoring/selection teams.

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