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MSTP students in the Sahoo lab
Medical Scientist Training Program
Benjamin Chao

Benjamin Chao

G2 Student

Faculty Advisor

  • Peter LaViolette, PhD, Biophysics

Locations

  • Medical Scientist Training Program

Contact Information

Education

BS, Mathematics, Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2022

Research Interests

I’m interested in how we can use imaging and computational tools to better understand brain tumors and the biology that drives them. A lot of my work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, cancer research, and digital pathology, and I’m especially drawn to projects that connect data to real clinical impact. I enjoy working across disciplines – combining biology, coding, and patient data – to ask questions that might lead to better ways of diagnosing or treating disease.

Research Experience

Medical College of Wisconsin, 2024-Present
Advisors: Peter LaViolette, PhD
Project: Multimodal Analysis of Glioblastoma Using Immunohistochemistry, Radiographic Features, and Pseudo-Spatial Transcriptomics

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, June 2021-May 2022
Advisor: Bonnie Klimes-Dougan
Project: Longitudinal change in amygdala responses to threat correlate with change in depression, NSSI and suicidal thoughts in adolescents

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, December 2019-May 2022
Advisor: Paul Schrater
Project: Used the adolescent brain and cognitive development data set to predict course and outcomes of depression, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self harm 

Meeting Abstracts

Chao B, Kyereme F, Bobholz S, Duenweg S, Winiarz A, Nath B, Lowman A, Tancheco E, Connelly J, Krucoff M, Mrachek E, Jacobsohn J, LaViolette P. MRI-targeted postmortem biopsy of glioblastoma using 3D-printed brain cages. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting. June 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Duenweg S, Winiarz A, Nath B, Lowman A, Kyereme F, Barrett M, Kim D, Mrachek E, Jacobsohn J, Connelly J, LaViolette P. Demographic and morphometric features as predictors for increased SOX2 expression in non-mitotically active areas in patients with glioblastoma. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting. June 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Duenweg S, Winiarz A, Nath B, Lowman A, Kyereme F, Barrett M, Kim D, Mrachek E, Jacobsohn J, Connelly J, LaViolette P. Glioblastoma large mount tissue immunohistochemical staining of SOX2 and Ki-67 at autopsy: alignment and analysis. American Association of Neuropathologists Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA. June 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Lowman A, Duenweg S, Winiarz A, Nath B, Kyreme F, Connelly J, Mrachek K, Krucoff M, LaViolette P. SOX-2 expression across whole brain slices identifies tumor well beyond contrast enhancement and FLAIR hyperintense regions in glioblastoma patients. American Society for Neuroradiology Conference. Philadelphia, PA. May 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Duenweg S, Lowman A, Winiarz A, Nath B, Kyreme F, Kim D, Connelly J, Mrachek K, Krucoff M, LaViolette P. Registration and high-resolution segmentation of DAB-stained immunohistochemical tissue sections reveals differential spatial patterns of SOX2 and Ki67 positivity. Cancer Center Research Retreat. Milwaukee, WI. April 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Duenweg S, Lowman A, Winiarz A, Nath B, Kyreme F, Kim D, Connelly J, Mrachek K, Krucoff M, LaViolette P. Registration and high-resolution segmentation of DAB-stained immunohistochemical tissue sections reveals differential spatial patterns of SOX2 and Ki67 positivity. Graduate School Association Symposium. Milwaukee, WI. March 2025. [Poster]

Chao B, Bobholz S, Lowman A, Duenweg S, Winiarz A, Nath B, Kyreme F, Connelly J, Mrachek K, Krucoff M, LaViolette P. SOX-2 expression across whole brain slices identifies tumor well beyond contrast enhancement and FLAIR hyperintense regions in glioblastoma patients. Medical College of Wisconsin Research Day. Milwaukee, WI. March 2025. [Poster]

General Interests

If I'm not on a beach somewhere, you can find me trying local beers, weightlifting, or playing video games.

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