REACT Study Team

Dr. Andreana N. Holowatyj, PhD, MSCI

Assistant Professor of Medicine & Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Dr. Holowatyj has passionately worked for over 7 years to understand the growing burden and unique needs of patients diagnosed with cancer before age 50 years—both in the clinic and in the laboratory. She earned her PhD in Medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Holowatyj then became an NIH/NHGRI Fellow in Genomic Medicine as well as the Susan Cooper Jones Endowed Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Research at the University of Utah, where she also earned an MS in Clinical Investigation at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At Vanderbilt, Dr. Holowatyj's team continues to focus on the essential need to treat the whole patient for whom multiple life domains are impacted after a cancer diagnosis--specifically among individuals younger than age 50. She created and leads the Reproductive Health After Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment (REACT) Study which has identified key challenges that individuals within this population are facing across their cancer journey. These findings have contributed to the development of the PREFACE Study, where we are working to discover new ways to improve reproductive health and survivorship for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50.

Samantha Keller, BA

Sam recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Medicine, Health and Society (MHS) and a minor in Psychology. She joined our team in January 2021, and received a 2021 Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program Award supported by the Drs. Sidney and Becca Fleischer Undergraduate Summer Research Fund. Her research is focused on cancer survivorship among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Sam’s professional interests include women’s health, psychology, oncology, nutrition and fitness. She also is thrilled to also get the opportunity to work on the GAP Study at Vanderbilt.

Luke Kopco

Luke is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society (MHS) with a concentration in Health Behavior and Health Sciences. He is also pursuing a minor in German Studies. Luke joined the Holowatyj Lab in the beginning of 2023, with research interests that include cancer survivorship within the adolescent and young adult population. He is excited to contribute to the PREFACE and GAP Studies, the Holowatyj Lab/Team and the Vanderbilt community.