Kate is an Assistant Professor of Urology and practicing urologic oncologist. She received her AB from Dartmouth College and MD and PhD degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her dissertation research was performed in the laboratory of W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD and focused on the genetics and epigenetic of kidney cancer. She completed urology residency and a Society of Urologic Oncology fellowship at the University of North Carolina. She performed her fellowship research in the laboratory of William Kim, MD in Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC.  Outside of work, Kate enjoys walking in the woods with her husband and two young daughters, gardening, and running.

A Tar Heel born and bred, Matt completed his bachelor’s in biology and chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition to managing several labs at Lineberger, his research studies the genetic and biochemical underpinnings of cancer and immunotherapies to combat them, and he has co-authored 20 peer-reviewed publications. He volunteers with various genetic and biological education and outreach initiatives in the U.S., and he also has extensive involvement with disease advocacy organizations worldwide. In his spare time, Matt enjoys home improvement projects, woodworking, traveling, real estate, and spending time with his Jack Russell dog, Cooper, and Maine Coon cat, Dory.

Kanisha Kar joined the Gessner Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in March 2025, bringing with her a strong vision to outsmart cancer by tackling intratumoral heterogeneity. She earned her doctorate in cancer biology from CNCI, Kolkata, India, in Nov 2024, where her research focused on assessing the therapeutic potential of inorganic small molecules in breast cancer. Kanisha is currently developing preclinical models using human tissue samples, patient-derived organoids, and cell lines to advance research in genitourinary cancers and work toward more effective treatment options for patients. Outside the lab, Kanisha enjoys expressing her creativity through home decor, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and spending quality time exploring new places with her family.

Jenny joined the lab in July 2026, following the completion of her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2026, where she leveraged spatial proteomic and transcriptomic data to characterize the impact of HIV and ART on the tumor microenvironment and lymphomagenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Jenny is currently applying her expertise in spatial omics technologies to explore intratumoral heterogeneity and immune dynamics in genitourinary cancers, working toward a deeper understanding of the tumor immune landscape that can guide more effective treatment approaches. Beyond the lab, Jenny is passionate about teaching and scientific outreach, regularly hosting workshops and visiting schools to inspire the next generation of researchers in translational science, and enjoys cooking, singing, and her cat Banshee.

Dinuk DeAlmeida joined the Gessner lab in August 2024. He is an undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill who is majoring in Nutrition and Biology. After undergrad, he plans to pursue a career in medicine. Outside the lab, Dinuk enjoys traveling, volunteering, and working out.

Mancel Adcock joined the Gessner lab in August 2025. He is currently an undergraduate student studying Biostatistics and music. Mancel is interested in using computational methods to answer questions about cancer. Outside of the lab, he enjoys boxing, playing jazz piano, and spending time outdoors.

Drithi Gowda joined the Gessner Lab in December 2025. She is currently an undergraduate at UNC studying neuroscience, with a career interest at the intersection of medicine and science, particularly in cancer biology. While not in lab, Dede enjoys baking pastries, sewing bags and spending time with her friends. 

Lillia Liontis joined the Gessner lab in July 2026. Currently an undergraduate student at UNC, Lillia is studying Biology with plans to pursue a career in medicine and research. While not in the lab, Lillia enjoys playing volleyball, going on hikes, and being with her friends and family.