Dan studies the unique physiology and metabolism of pancreatic cancer to guide the development of new treatment regimens which leverage the highly oxidative cellular environment of PDAC. Currently, his interests lie in metabolomics and the role of cyst(e)ine depletion in PDAC.

Dan graduated from Rutgers University and has a background in biochemistry and metabolism. At Rutgers he helped develop curriculum for the Biochemistry program. Dan has authored chapters in 3D-modeling of proteins and the details of structure-function relationships at a molecular level. His curriculum is still used at Rutgers University today.

When not in lab, he loves traveling to developing countries and exploring the world while teaching underprivileged groups about science and the importance of education. 

Filko is investigating the role of BRCA2 heterozygosity in early tumorigenesis, with a focus on systemic inflammation and the immune microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and novel mouse models, his research aims to uncover how BRCA2 mutations contribute to cancer development and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. Filko’s research has been recognized with support from the Genome and Epigenome Integrity in Cancer (GEIC) Training Program’s T32 grant, awarded by the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Filko holds an M.Phil. in Pathobiology and Mechanisms of Disease from Columbia University, where he is currently a Ph.D. candidate. His academic journey began with a B.S. in Chemistry from York University, followed by an M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to transitioning into cancer research, Filko spent decades as a patent attorney specializing in life sciences litigation and investment. His decision to shift careers was driven by a deeply personal connection to hereditary cancer—he is a BRCA2 mutation carrier and has lost multiple immediate family members to BRCA2-associated cancers.

Beyond the lab, Filko is an advocate for hereditary cancer awareness and research funding. He has served as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Pancreatic Cancer Research Program and collaborates with UPenn’s Basser Center for BRCA. He also enjoys mentoring students, hiking, and exploring new cities with his family.

Kennedy is co-mentored by Dr. Olive and Dr. Sandra Ryeom. She focuses on combinatorial Ras inhibition and immunotherapy in PDAC and gastric cancer.

​She earned her B.A. in Biological Science from Columbia University in 2020 and went on to work in the lab of Dr. Claire de la Cova at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she earned her M.S. There, she studied B-Raf self regulation in C. elegans. 

Kennedy is a Capricorn, eldest daughter, and her favorite food is peanut butter.

Ileana is a PhD student in the Systems Biology department at Columbia University Medical Center. She utilizes both computational and experimental techniques to study paracrine signals within the tumor microenvironment and their changes with RAS inhibition.

In 2023, she received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Biology and Health and Societies. Her undergraduate work focused on metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma.

​Ileana enjoys making risotto with her cat, Lady, and growing hydroponic herbs.

Doyeon is a PhD student in the Nutritional and Metabolic Biology program at Columbia University. Her research focuses on identifying metabolic vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer. She investigates how disruption of oncogenic RAS signaling drives metabolic reprogramming, with the goal of uncovering targetable pathways that may inhibit both oncogenic signaling and adaptive survival mechanisms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Doyeon received her B.S. in Biochemistry from UCLA. Following graduation, she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Orian Shirihai in the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA. There, she studied organelle biology, focusing on interactions between mitochondria and lipid droplets, as well as the role of mitochondrial dynamics under conditions of nutrient excess.

Outside of the lab, Doyeon enjoys traveling and exploring different cuisines around the world.

Melina is a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Columbia University. Her research focuses on mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in PDAC, investigating how malignant cell state heterogeneity and ecDNA-driven oncogenic amplification shape therapeutic response. Her work aims to uncover effective combination strategies and new therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Melina received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill University in 2024. There, she leveraged structural biology techniques to study the biosynthetic pathway of an antimicrobial compound with potential to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

Outside of lab, she enjoys exploring cafes and spending time with her two cats

Andrea is a Cancer Biology PhD student investigating combination strategies to overcome drug resistance in PDAC.

She earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physiological Science from UCLA in 2023 and 2025, respectively. Her master’s thesis centered the impact of beta-adrenergic signaling on the contractility of breast cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Outside of lab, Andrea loves making pottery, enjoys long walks, and is working towards an encyclopedic knowledge of NYC coffee shops.