Nicole Simone, MD
Vice Chair for Research, Faculty Development and Diversity, Equality & Inclusion
Margaret Q. Landenberger Professor, Departments of Radiation Oncology; and Integrative Medicine and Nutrition Sciences -  Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC)

Dr. Nicole Simone is the Margaret Q. Landenberger Professor and Vice Chair of Research and Faculty Development of Radiation Oncology, Leader of the Cancer Risk and Control Program at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health, and radiation lead for the Jefferson Breast Care Center. She received her MD from Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School and did her radiation oncology training at the National Cancer Institute. She stayed on as staff at the National Cancer Institute where she investigated the long term toxicity caused by cancer treatment. Since that time, she has been a Physician-Scientist at Thomas Jefferson University. She incorporates the knowledge gained in the laboratory directly to patients and currently has 5 open investigator initiated clinical trials using diet for breast cancer, prostate cancer and endometrial cancer. She has authored over 70 research publications, sits on many national grant review committees, as well as national breast cancer clinical trial committees. In her role as Leader of the Cancer Risk and Control program, she has placed significant effort into community outreach and research programs to understand health disparities in the elderly, African American, LGBTQ and Asian American communities and plans to study molecular differences in the laboratory to develop new interventions to improve health equity. Her long term goal is to find creative ways to ensure each cancer patient has access to nutritional counseling.

Noelle Francois
Simone Laboratory Manager
Department of Radiation Oncology, SKMC

Noelle graduated with her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Drexel University. After her research in the radiation sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, Noelle graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. Her research interests include understanding how health disparities influences cancer rates and treatments. Her long-term goal is to become a physician.

Adeseye Adekeye , MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery, SKMC

Dr. Adekeye is a breast oncology surgeon. She obtained her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University and completed her residency in general surgery at the University of North Dakota. At the University of Pennsylvania, she completed a fellowship in breast oncology. Dr. Adekeye helps to identify patients that will fit the criteria for current breast oncology studies. She works in the lab to identify and understand how social determinants of health affect the risk of developing breast cancer.

Ali Calderon Aparicio, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Radiation Oncology, SKMC

Ali works as a post-doctorate research fellow in the lab. Ali obtained his PhD in biochemistry from the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research. After obtaining his doctorate, Ali moved to the United States and worked at multiple universities and hospitals before working at Jefferson. Currently, Ali helps to conduct multiple research projects in the lab. His research interests include studying the role of different proteins in tumor promotion.  

Sara Burke, MPH
Program Manager
SKCC

After graduating from Dickinson College, Sara obtained her MPH in epidemiology from Temple University. Her interests include chronic disease epidemiology and data analysis. In the lab, she works as a clinical research coordinator and helps to manage and organize ongoing projects and is performing her own research. For SKCC, she helps coordinate the Cancer Risk and Control Program. 

Sriya Sadhu
Medical School Student Researcher 

Sriya is a medical student who is part of Jefferson’s BS/MD program. After finishing her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she is continuing in Jefferson at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Prior to starting at Jefferson, she worked at another lab focused on cancer pathophysiology and social determinants of health. She has also worked as an ophthalmic technician. Her research interests include investigating public health frameworks and utilizing preventive healthcare in medicine.

Anuradha Shastri , PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Rupali Panwar, PhD, MS
Postdoctoral Fellow

Anthony Baker
Master’s Degree Student

Ajay Palagani
Post-Doctoral Fellow

Tiziana DeAngelis
Research Assistant

Brittany Simone
Resident

Kaitlyn Dykes