Diana Odhiambo

Program: Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Current advisor: Angela Hirbe, MD, PhD

Undergraduate university: Benedict College, 2020

Enrollment year: 2022

Research summary
Interplay between UBR5 and the tumor microenvironment in peripheral nerve sheath tumors: Implications for immunotherapy

My thesis project focuses on the role of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, UBR5, on the progression of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Management of metastatic MPNST has, despite much progress, been challenging. My project will further investigate the Interplay between UBR5 and the tumor microenvironment in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and its Implications for immunotherapy.

Graduate publications
Miachin K, Morgan MA, Wang G, Myers JA, Navarro JJ, Lempiäinen J, Liu X, Zhou M, Yang K, Odhiambo DA, Hill DWW, Roberts CWM, Hirbe AC, Garcia BA. 2026 PRC2 loss in MPNST is accompanied by SWI/SNF complex rewiring and sensitization to SMARCA2/4 and BET inhibition in vivo. Mol Cell Proteomics, 101662():. PMCID:

Odhiambo DA. 2026 Exploring the Interplay Between UBR5 Expression and NF1-MPNST Immunogenicity: Implications for Immunotherapy. , ():