Samantha Kendrick

Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and an Associate Member of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and M.S. and B.S. degrees from McMaster University.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • M.S., McMaster University, Canada
  • B.S., McMaster University, Canada

Her research focuses on:

• Molecular mechanisms of genomic instability in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), particularly the role of DNA secondary structures like i-motifs and G-quadruplexes in oncogene mutations (e.g., BCL2, MYC).
• Impact of HIV infection on lymphoma oncogenesis, comparing molecular biology differences between HIV-infected and non-infected patients.
• Therapeutic targeting of DNA structures to modulate gene expression and inhibit tumor growth in lymphoma.

Recent research trends include:

• Investigating DNA secondary structures as molecular switches for gene regulation.
• Developing dual-targeting strategies for MYC G-quadruplexes and BCL2 i-motifs in DLBCL.
• Elucidating the role of AID enzyme in aberrant mutations at oncogene promoters.
• Validating biomarkers (BCL2, MYC) for lymphoma classification and treatment response.

She leads a research group at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, utilizing ex vivo models, cell lines, tumor tissues, and genomic/proteomic approaches to uncover novel therapeutic strategies for lymphoma patients.