Charles Ezenwanne wins National Awards and Accolades through Lung Cancer Research Project
Through the awards from the Society of Toxicology and Promega Corporation, and previously a Research Grant from the Wehner Research Committee at Montclair State University, Charles will conduct his project developing the potential anti-cancer supplement Methylsulfonylmethane.
Posted in: Biology, CSAM Research, CSAM Students
Charles Ezenwanne is a Senior at Montclair State University majoring in Molecular Biology and minoring in Chemistry. Charles immigrated to the U.S with his parents at the age of 5 and is a New Jersey resident. Charles is a scholar of the Health Careers Program, and a mentor for LSAMP at Montclair State University. Charles quickly took advantage of opportunities when, in his freshman year, he started to work with Dr. Ann Marie DiLorenzo, Professor of Biology, and her graduate research students studying the effects of heavy metals from the World Trade Center on in vitro human lung cells. At the end of his Sophomore year, Charles developed a research proposal studying the anti-cancer properties of Methylsulfonylmethane, which received an award from the Wehner Research Committee at MSU to begin his two year research project, under the mentorship of Dr. DiLorenzo.
Charles believes his creative and promising research project helped him receive two national awards. The first award was a $5,000 DOORS award from the Promega Corporation. Charles was one of the 10 awardees selected nationally for this scholarship which was designed to strengthen the number of underrepresented minorities in science. The second award was the ToxMSDT Award from the Society of Toxicology for a skills development training program, in which Charles will be flown out to California to attend the annual Society of Toxicology conference in March. Charles was one of the 25 awardees selected nationally for this program. Through both of these programs Charles will be receiving one-on-one mentoring and advice from industry leaders and professionals.
Charles’ research team has grown adding both mentors and colleagues. Two talented scientists, Dr. Ulrich and Mary Lou Gubler, who both retired from the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann LaRoche are currently advising Charles in the more molecular aspects of his research project. This year Zachary Bonelli, a senior Biochemistry major, has joined the team as Charles’ research partner and right-hand man.
Charles and his team hope that their project findings add value to lung cancer research, and can play a role in innovative therapeutic treatments through the use of nutraceutical supplements. Charles Plans to apply to medical school to become a physician in the future.