YPGA — Let’s Talk Research (LTR) Feb 2026

  • Promotional poster for the February 2026 YPGA Let's Talk Research (LTR) seminar.
    Official event flyer for the Yale Postgraduate Association's February Let's Talk Research (LTR) seminar. The event features Can Akpınaroğlu (Department of Surgery) presenting on sex-specific asparagine metabolism in late-stage colorectal cancer, alongside Chandana Karumanchi (Department of Reproductive Sciences).
  • Can Akpınaroğlu explaining the detailed methodology and workflow for his retrospective research—including Tissue Micro-Array (TMA) and spatial omics—during his presentation at the February 2026 YPGA Let's Talk Research event.
    Can Akpınaroğlu presenting his retrospective research workflow at the YPGA LTR seminar.
  • Guest speaker Chandana Karumanchi highlighting persistent demographic disparities and structural obstacles in clinical research and biobanking during her YPGA Let's Talk Research presentation.
    Chandana Karumanchi discussing health disparities in biobanking.
  • Can Akpinaroglu sharing his research findings on how GPER1 mediates estrogen signaling and influences tumor asparagine levels in colorectal cancer cell proliferation during the YPGA Let's Talk Research seminar.
    Can Akpınaroğlu explaining the relationship between asparagine and estrogen in colorectal cancer.
  • Chandana Karumanchi presenting an overview of the YURS Biobank, explaining its critical role in collecting biological samples and supporting scientific research while ensuring ethical standards.
    Chandana Karumanchi detailing the resources of the YURS Biobank.
April 8, 2026

Yale Postgraduate Association — Let’s Talk Research, Feb 2026

Hello Postgrads!

A massive thank you to everyone who attended our first Let’s Talk Research (LTR) seminar of 2026! It was an absolutely incredible evening of learning, interdisciplinary networking, and, of course, enjoying some amazing pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.

This month, we had the distinct privilege of highlighting two outstanding presentations exploring very different, yet equally vital, areas of medical research.

Can Akpınaroğlu, MSc

Can Akpinaroglu, a 2nd-year Postgraduate Associate in the Department of Surgery, presented his highly ambitious, multi-omic research on colorectal cancer (CRC). His talk, “Integrated Spatial Transcriptomics, Tissue Micro-Array and Longitudinal Microbiome Profiling to Unravel Sex-Specific Asparagine Metabolism in Late Stage Colorectal Cancer,” showcased a groundbreaking approach to understanding tumor growth.

During his presentation, Can detailed several critical aspects of his research:

  • The Sex-Specific Synergy: He highlighted compelling evidence showing that high GPER1 and ASNS expression cooperate to drive aggressive CRC tumor growth, a lethal synergy that disproportionately affects female patients, making these vital therapeutic targets.

  • The Gut Microbiome Link: Can explained the dynamic metabolic dependency between the host and microbiome, where bacterially derived luminal asparagine is readily absorbed by the colon and hijacked by local tumor cells.

  • Massive Retrospective Mapping: Utilizing the EPIC database, his retrospective arm features a highly annotated cohort of 2,000 patients. By constructing Tissue Microarrays (TMAs) and utilizing high-resolution 10x Genomics Visium HD spatial transcriptomics, his work comprehensively maps metabolic and immune spatial relationships in the tumor microenvironment.

  • Longitudinal Prospective Tracking: He also outlined a prospective workflow tracking over 800 CRC patients across critical treatment timepoints. Using advanced microbiome profiling and high-resolution LC-MS metabolomics, this arm aims to map treatment-induced metabolic shifts in real-time

Chandana Karumanchi, BSc

We were also honored to hear from Chandana Karumanchi from the Department of Reproductive Sciences. Her compelling presentation, “One Specimen Fits All? Evaluating Diversity and Recruitment Practices in the YURS Biobank,” shed a much-needed light on persistent demographic disparities in clinical research. She provided a thorough overview of the YURS Biobank, emphasizing its critical role in facilitating ethical, equitable, and privacy-conscious scientific collaboration.

We so enjoyed diving deep into the profound impact of these emerging areas of research with all of you. Thank you to Can and Chandana for sharing your expertise, and to our wonderful community for making our February LTR such a huge success!

See you at the next LTR!