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Synergy in Science: Diez Cancer Biology Lab Integrates Student Research

by Sara Rinaldi, Office of Development Communications

Biotech students in a lab.
USF biotech students conduct cancer research.

The Dr. Nina Diez Teaching Laboratory for Integrative Cancer Biology lives in the heart of the Hilltop as a space for scientific innovation and collaborative research. Celebrating its first anniversary, the lab is a state-of-the-art space where students can study the microscopic world of bacteria and the complex biodiversity and regenerative nature of plants and animals.

Nina Diez and USF trustee, Maximillian Diez '04, saw a vision for the space in 2022. They knew that through philanthropic support they could make an impact by establishing a lab that would help further cancer research.

In the 2023-24 academic year, the lab hosted a genetics instruction, a general parasitology lab, and a developmental and general biology class. But the Dr. Nina Diez Teaching Lab is more than just a research laboratory. It is a unique educational environment.

The lab’s design promotes an integrative approach, allowing students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical application. Associate Professor James Sikes, who teaches Developmental Biology, embraces the lab's potential to not only teach classical techniques but also to integrate modern approaches with new equipment.

Nina Diez in lab coat.
Nina Diez, who helped fund the laboratory.

In the fall 2023 semester’s Developmental Biology course, students found themselves immersed in the world of embryonic development. The lab’s modern aquatic husbandry center is a particular highlight, hosting a thriving ecosystem of organisms. The tanks house thriving colonies of zebrafish, axolotls, and other species crucial for developmental studies.

The integration of genome editing technology, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), enables students to conduct micro-surgeries on amphibian embryos and conduct genome modification on zebrafish embryos.

Through being able to observe the animals’ developmental milestones, students can research the intersections of cancer and regenerative biology.

As the Dr. Nina Diez Teaching Laboratory for Integrative Cancer Biology prepares for its next cohort of students for this academic year, the lab is now a cornerstone of campus scientific education and exploration — introducing students to molecular understandings of the diversity of life.

The lab has a commitment to hands-on learning, blends traditional and modern approaches to research, and holds a dedication to exploring integrative cancer biology, establishing the space as a learning community, ready to shape the next generation of scientists and research.

Join the fight against cancer, and help USF be at the forefront of cancer research, Support the Diez Cancer Research Fund.

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