Annual Retreat

Each year PCB sponsors a retreat showcasing the research done by faculty, graduate and postdoctoral trainees in the Department. Oral and poster presentations allow for a high volume of information exchange, and awards are given to the top poster presenters. This forum is also used to present the Robert J. Fitzgerald Scholars awards to recognize the most important manuscripts published by students, fellows, and staff in the preceding year.

Attendees at the 2026 Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology retreat. — Attendees of the 2026 PCB Annual Retreat.

Primary and Secondary Faculty at 2026 PCB Retreat — Primary and Secondary Faculty of the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology attending the 2026 PCB Annual Retreat on September 18, 2026.
*From left to right, starting at top:* Laura Wingler, PhD, Jamie Privratsky, MD, Nina Tsvetanova, PhD, Micah Luftig, PhD, Zhao (ZZ) Zhang, PhD, Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, David MacAlpine, PhD, Chris Chidley, PhD, Kris Wood, PhD, Trudy Oliver, PhD, Xiao-Fan Wang, PhD, Chris Counter, PhD, Michael Kastan, PhD, Donald McDonnell, PhD, Li Lan, MD, PhD, Don Fox, PhD, David Virshup, MD, Ann Marie Pendergast, PhD, Lee Zou, PhD, Alicia Darnell, PhD, Greg Wang, PhD, Christie Eyler, MD, PhD

Dr. Bruce Donald presenting at the 2026 PCB Retreat. — Dr. Bruce Donald presented the keynote address on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

2026 Retreat Poster Session — Over 60 posters were presented during the poster session on Friday, September 18, 2026.

2025 PCB Retreat awards — Awards were presented on Friday, September 18, 2026.

2026 Fitzgerald Scholars

2026 Poster Awardees

2026 Poster Winners — *Left to Right:* Jacob Klemm, PhD (Fox Lab), Nolan Bick (Zou Lab), Yuchen Zhang, PhD (Counter Lab), Kalina Larsen (Donnelly Lab), Nana Acheampong (Wingler Lab), Calista Busch (Roper Lab), Susannah Gammell (Sullenger Lab), Kevin Scott (Pendergast Lab), Lee Zou, PhD (Chair)
*Not shown*: Arijit Ghosh, PhD (Lan and Zou labs)

2026 Fitzgerald Academic Achievement Award Winners

Chloe Barrington-Ham, PhD (Darnell Lab)
Erin Dickert (Fox Lab)
Benjamin Hanna (Oliver Lab)
Jacob Klemm, PhD (Fox Lab)
Nora Madaras (Wingler Lab)
Taylor Nguyen (Wood Lab and Zou Lab)
Kevin Scott (Pendergast Lab)
Josh Silva (Fox Lab)

Previous PCB Retreats

2025 Fitzgerald Scholars

Dr. Lee Zou, right, stands with Fitzgerald Scholars Dr. Matthew Klauer (left) and Dr. Yao Yu (center).

Left to Right: Matthew Klauer, PhD (Tsvetanova Lab), Yao Yu, PhD (Greg Wang Lab), Lee Zou, PhD (Chair)
Not shown: Abbie Ireland (Oliver Lab)

Fitzgerald Scholar - Honorable Mentions

Dr. Lee Zou, right, stands with Fitzgerald Scholars Honorable Mentions Jane Blackmer (right) and Dr. Yiran Guo (center).

Left to Right: Matthew Klauer, PhD (Tsvetanova Lab), Yao Yu, PhD (Greg Wang Lab), Lee Zou, PhD (Chair)
Not shown: Abbie Ireland (Oliver Lab)

2025 Poster Awardees

Left to Right: Lee Zou, PhD (Chair), Ajinkya Kawale, PhD (Zou Lab), Luke Izzo, PhD (Oliver Lab), Archan Chakraborty, PhD (Fox Lab), Caroline Teddy (Wood Lab), Meagan Luck (Darnell Lab), Beverly deSouza (Hirschey Lab), Lindsay Bolino (Chidley Lab), Taylor Durall (Wood Lab)

Dr. Lee Zou, left, stands with 2025 Poster Awardee Lai Yee Phoon.

Left to Right: Lee Zou, PhD (Chair) and Lai Yee Phoon (Lan Lab)

2025 Fitzgerald Academic Achievement Award Winners

Left to Right: Margaret Weber Barbier (Oliver Lab), Michael Caminear (Pendergast Lab), Katherine Hall (Tsvetanova Lab), Luke Izzo, PhD (Oliver Lab), Hannah Thrash (Pendergast Lab), Lee Zou, PhD (Chair)
Not shown: Nana Acheampong (Wingler Lab)

2024 Fitzgerald Scholars

Dr. Lee Zou, right, stands with Fitzgerald Scholars Rebeccah (Becky) Stewart (left), Abbie Ireland (center left), and Dr. Yaosi Liang (center right). — *Left to Right:*
Rebeccah (Becky) Stewart, PhD (Fox Lab)
Abbie Ireland (Oliver Lab)
Yaosi Liang, PhD (Xiao-Fan Wang Lab)
Tao Yin, MD (Xiao-Fan Wang Lab) *not shown*

2024 Poster Awardees

2024 Fitzgerald Academic Achievement Award Winners

2023 PCB Retreat

2023 Fitzgerald Scholars

Front Row L to R:
Debarati Mukherjee (McDonnell Lab)
Weijia Su (ZZ Lab)
Fu Yang (ZZ Lab)
Archan Chakraborty (Fox Lab) not shown

Back Row L to R:
Blair Willette (Tsvetanova Lab)
Patrick Juras (McDonnell Lab)
Chris Pan (XF Wang Lab)
Shane Killarney (Wood Lab)
Benjamin Mayro (Pendergast Lab)

2023 Poster Awardees

Front Row L to R:
Ashley Colemon (Pendergast Lab)
Yaosi Liang (XF Wang Lab)
Savanna Ma (Alman Lab)

Back Row L to R:
Shuai Zhao (G Wang Lab)
Amy Stewart (Wood Lab)
Roberto Barbier (Pendergast Lab)
Özgün Le Roux (Counter Lab)

2023 Fitzgerald Academic Achievement Award Winners

Nathaniel Hernandez (Nackley Lab)
Venessa Valentine (Kirsch Lab) not shown
Archan Chakraborty (Fox Lab) not shown