Anna DeVries

University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States

Anna DeVries is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Florida studying under Elias Sayour, MD, PhD, in the Department of Neurosurgery. Her studies focus on cancer biology and immunotherapy. Anna's involvement in the Sayour laboratory is aimed at furthering the development of innovative cancer RNA lipid-nanoparticle vaccines. She began her academic journey at Christopher Newport University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Biology. As an undergraduate student, she did research in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She worked under Stephen Russell, MD, PhD, to develop a new platform for oncolytic virotherapy. Additionally, Anna expanded her education at the University of Glasgow, studying Bioscience for Global Disease. Her multifaceted undergraduate tenure was enriched by her participation in the Biotechnology Management Program at Christopher Newport University, where she gained a diverse experience through the integration of science, technology, business, and research to positively impact patient lives. Upon the start of her PhD, cancer immunotherapy became the focal point of her studies. Her passion for translational research, emphasizing genuine bench-to-bedside potential, is evident in her ongoing projects. Her investigations delve deep into the innate immune activation mechanism behind a pioneering mRNA lipid-particle vaccine, targeting both pediatric and adult high-grade gliomas. She is privileged to be a part of the Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program and Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Initiative at the University of Florida. Through collaboration and dedication, she hopes to be at the forefront of research linking discoveries to tangible clinical impacts in neuro-oncology.