Nicole Luthcke is a biomedical researcher focused on developing innovative therapeutic strategies for diseases that currently lack effective treatments. With a strong foundation in neuroscience and biomedical sciences, she integrates data science, synthetic biology, and high-throughput technologies to probe cellular signaling pathways and identify new therapeutic opportunities.
Luthcke earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from Rhodes College, where she was recognized with the Diehl Scholarship and inducted into both the Beta Beta Beta and Upsilon Sigma honor societies. She then completed her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences at Vanderbilt University, where her research centered on intercellular communication and cancer progression—culminating in a co-authored publication in Extracellular Vesicles and Circular Nucleic Acids on the role of miRNAs in promoting 3D growth and invasiveness in cancer cells.
As a Senior Researcher in the Babu Lab at St. Jude, Luthcke worked to develop a high-throughput GPCR screening platform, a project that reflects her broader interest in cellular signaling and therapeutic discovery. Her passion lies in merging computational and experimental approaches to accelerate scientific breakthroughs that can be translated into patient care.
Luthcke was drawn to the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at the St. Jude Graduate School for its collaborative culture, exceptional mentorship, and unmatched research infrastructure. She is excited to train in an environment where innovation is not only encouraged but supported by a mission to improve lives through science.
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Education:
2023 - MSc, Biomedical Sciences – Vanderbilt University
2022 - BS, Neuroscience – Rhodes College
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2022 - Upsilon Sigma Honor Society, Rhodes College
2022 - Beta Beta Beta Honor Society, Rhodes College
2018-22 - Diehl Scholarship, Rhodes College
Publications:
Nelson HM, Qu S, Huang L, Shameer M, Corn KC, Chapman SN, Luthcke, NL, Schuster SA, Stamaris TD, Turnbull LA, Guy LL, Liu X, Michell DL, Semler EM, Vickers KC, Liu Q, Franklin JL, Weaver AM. Rafat M, Coffey RJ, Patton JG. Transfer of miR-100 and miR-125b increases 3D growth and invasiveness in recipient cancer cells. Extracell Vesicles Circ Nucleic Acids. 2024;5:397-416. http://dx.dio.org/10.20517/evcna.2024.43