Research Interests:
Brain tumor pathogenesis and biology, experimental therapeutics and molecular targeting of malignant brain tumors. 

Publications:
Wykosky J, Gibo DM, Stanton C, and Debinski W.  IL-13 Receptor alpha 2, EphA2, and Fra-1 as molecular denominators of high-grade astrocytomas.  Clinical Cancer Research 14(1), 199-208, 2008.

Wykosky J, GIbo DM, and Debinski W.  A novel, potent, and specific ephrinA1-based cytotoxin against EphA2 receptor expressing tumor cells.  Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 6(12): 3208-3218, 2007.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, Stanton C, and Debinski W.  EphA2 as a novel molecular marker and target in glioblastoma multiforme.  Molecular Cancer Research 10: 541-551, 2005 (cover).

Published/Presented Abstracts:
Wykosky J, Palma E, and Debinski W.  Metalloprotease cleavage of ephrinA1 releases a functional, soluble, monomeric ligand for the EphA2 receptor.  2008 Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research, Poster presentation. 

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, Stanton C, and Debinski W.  IL-13 Receptor alpha2, EphA2, and Fra-1 as Molecular Signatures of High-Grade Astrocytomas and Targets for Novel Combinatorial Therapies.  Keystone symposia on Biomarkers: Discovery, Validation, and Applications, Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City, CA, February 2008, Poster presentation.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.   Therapeutic Targeting of the EphA2 Receptor with a Novel, Potent and Specific EphrinA1-based Cytotoxin.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 15^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, November 2007.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, Stanton C, and Debinski W.  IL-13R2, EphA2, and Fra-1 as molecular denominators of high-grade astrocytomas.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 15^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, November 2007.

Palma E, Wykosky J, and Debinski W.  Structural requirements of ephrinA1 for the effective targeting of EphA2 receptors in gliomas.  Poster presentation 12^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-oncology.

Debinski W, Gibo DM, Wykosky J, Stanton C, Rosmeissl J, and Robertson J.  Canine brain tumors over-express common molecular denominators of human high-grade astrocytomas.  Poster presentation, 12^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, Stanton C, and Debinski W.  IL-13R2, EphA2, and Fra-1 as molecular denominators of high-grade astrocytomas.  Poster presentation, 12^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  A Novel, potent, and specific ephrinA1-based cytotoxin against EphA2 receptor-expressing tumor cells.  Poster presentation, 12^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  A novel, potent, and specific ephrinA1-based cytotoxin against EphA2 receptor-expressing tumor cells.  2007 Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research, Poster presentation. 

Wykosky J and Debinski W.  EphrinA1 is a soluble, monomeric tumor-suppressing protein.  Neuro-Oncology 8: 403-404, 2006.  Poster presentation, 11^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky J and Debinski W.  EphrinA1 is a tumor-suppressing factor in GBM through the activation and down-regulation of the EphA2 oncoprotein.  Neuro-Oncology 8: 404, 2006.  Poster presentation, 11^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  EphrinA1 is a soluble, monomeric tumor-suppressing protein.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 14^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, October 2006. 

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  A novel, potent, and specific ephrinA1-based cytotoxin against glioblastoma multiforme.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 14^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, October 2006.   

Wykosky J and Debinski W.  Monomeric soluble ephrinA1 is a tumor suppressor protein.  2006 Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research, Poster presentation, Late-breaking abstract.

Wykosky J and Debinski W.  EphA2 and ephrinA1: an oncogene/tumor suppressor system in glioblastoma multiforme?  2006 Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research, Poster presentation.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  The EphA2 Receptor and EphrinA1 Ligand: Differential Expression and Function in Glioblastoma Multiforme.  Western North Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2005.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  The ephA2 receptor and ephrinA1 ligand: differential expression and function in glioblastoma multiforme.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 13^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, October 2005.

Couture D, Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  EphA2 receptor represents a new marker and therapeutic target in pediatric malignancies.  Neurosurgery 2005; 57: 418.

Wykosky J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  EphA2 receptor and its ligand, ephrinA1, are differentially expressed in malignant gliomas and normal brain.  Neuro-Oncology 7: 323, 2005.  Poster discussion oral presentation, 2^nd Quadrennial Meeting of the World Federation for Neuro-oncology.

Wykosky, J, Gibo DM, and Debinski W.  EphA2 as a New Molecular Marker and Therapeutic Target for Glioblastoma Multiforme.  Poster presentation, Wake Forest University 12^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, October 2004. 

Debinski W, Floyd JE, Harbaugh DL, and Gibo DM.  EphA2 receptor represents a new marker and therapeutic target in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  Neuro-Oncology 6: 336-337, 2004.  Poster presentation, 9^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuro-oncology.

Grants:
2006-2008         NIH NRSA Pre-doctoral fellowship
1 F31 NSO55533-01    January 2006-December 2008 NINDS
“EphA2: Function and Targeting in Malignant Gliomas”

Honors and Awards:
2006-08        Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award

2008             Wake Forest University 8^th Annual Graduate Student Research
                    Day Runner-up, Translational Science Category 

2008             Keystone Symposia scholarship: Biomarker Discovery, Validation, and Applications.  Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City, CA

2007             Wake Forest University Division of Surgical Sciences 15^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, Gold Medal in Basic Research

2007             National Institutes of Health 2^nd Annual National Graduate Student Research Festival, selected participant

2007             Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Cancer
                    Biology Faculty Retreat, 1^st place Graduate Student Presentation

2007             Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Lucy Robbins Fellowship, Nominee

2006             Wake Forest University Division of Surgical Sciences 14^th Annual
                   Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, Silver Medal in Basic Research

2005-06        Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
                   Alumni Travel Award, 2005-2006.

2005             Wake Forest University Division of Surgical Sciences 13^th Annual Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, Gold Medal in Basic Research

2004             Wake Forest University Division of Surgical Sciences 12^th Annual
                   Residents’ and Fellows’ Research Day, Silver Medal in Basic Research

2003             University of Pittsburgh, Summa cum Laude

Professional Societies and Organizations: