Current scholars
KL2/K12 scholars are early-career investigators advancing clinical and translational research across Mayo Clinic. Their projects span the translational spectrum, including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled diagnostics, cancer biology and immunotherapy, musculoskeletal disease, mental health, cardiovascular imaging, and liver metastasis.
The scholars listed below represent recent cohorts of the KL2 Mentored Career Development Program. Together, their work reflects the program's emphasis on rigorous research, multidisciplinary collaboration, emerging technologies, and translation toward patient and community benefit.
2025 cohort
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Project: "Toward Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Automatic Echocardiography Reporting: A Study of Visuallinguistic Foundation Model Frameworks"
Dr. Chao's project explores AI-enabled approaches to echocardiography reporting, with the goal of improving how imaging information is interpreted, documented and translated into clinical decision-making.
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Project: "Driving Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets of SWI/SNF-Mutated Cholangiocarcinoma"
Dr. Conboy's research focuses on the mechanisms that drive SWI/SNF-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and the identification of therapeutic targets that may inform future treatment strategies.
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Project: "In Situ Production of Immunotherapeutics to Clinically Treat and Prevent Liver Metastasis"
Dr. Huang's project investigates approaches to generate immunotherapeutics in situ, with a focus on treating and preventing liver metastasis.
2024 cohort
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Imeme Hamaidi, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Project: "Reversing the Metabolic and Functional Exhaustion of Tumor-Reactive T Cells by Blocking the Epigenetic Silencer Sirt6"
Dr. Hamaidi's research examines strategies to restore tumor-reactive T cell function by targeting metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to immune exhaustion.
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Project: "Dynamics of GABA and Glutamate Modulation Associated With Intravenous Racemic Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression"
Dr. Singh's project studies neurochemical changes associated with intravenous racemic ketamine treatment, with a focus on improving understanding of treatment-resistant depression.
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Project: "Development of Novel SOS1 Degraders for the Treatment of KRAS-Mutant Colorectal Cancer"
Dr. Xie's research focuses on developing SOS1 degraders as a potential therapeutic strategy for KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer.