URMC / Research and Academic Career Training of Deaf Scholars / Current Scholars / Sara Blick-Nitko

Sara K. Blick-Nitko, Ph.D.

Sara Blick-Nitko, PhD Sara Blick-Nitko, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Isaac Harris, Ph.D., in the Department of Biomedical Genetics and in the Rochester Postdoc Partnership program. She utilizes the Multifunctional Approach to Pharmacologic Screening (MAPS) to study novel vulnerabilities in cancer cells. Blick-Nitko earned her Ph.D. in the Department of Pathology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her doctoral research focused on the role of platelet Ido1 in Plasmodium yoelii uncomplicated malaria infection. Blick-Nitko, an RIT/NTID alum, holds three degrees from RIT: Laboratory Science Technology (AAS), Biomedical Sciences (BS), and Professional Studies (MS) with concentrations in Health Systems Administration, Bioinformatics, and Bioethics. Beyond the laboratory, Blick-Nitko’s passion is in advocacy towards enhancing the environment for the deaf community, advocating for language equity, and ensuring accessibility for all. She is committed to breaking barriers and fostering an inclusive society where the deaf can thrive without limitations, where their language is respected, and where accessibility is not an afterthought but a fundamental right.

Education

University of Rochester
PhD Pathology
2023

University of Rochester
MS Pathology
2019

Rochester Institute of Technology
MS Professional Studies
2017

Rochester Institute of Technology
BS Biomedical Sciences
2014

Rochester Institute of Technology
AAS Laboratory Science Technology
2012

Research

Sara Blick-Nitko’s long-term research interest lies in understanding, at the cellular and molecular levels, the host’s immune response to disease. Moreover, she is passionate about investigating the crosstalk between the immune system and various diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory conditions. Her enduring research interest lies in a comprehensive exploration of the host's immune response to disease, specifically delving into the fascinating realm of immunometabolism. This multifaceted field merges the disciplines of immunology and metabolism, aiming to unravel the intricate connections between immune cell function and metabolic pathways. Immunometabolism holds immense potential for therapeutic interventions. By elucidating how metabolic alterations impact immune cell function and vice versa, researchers can potentially design targeted therapies that manipulate metabolic pathways to modulate immune responses. These insights can pave the way for innovative immunotherapies, precision medicine approaches, and therapeutic strategies that harness the interplay between metabolism and the immune system to combat a spectrum of diseases.

Blick-Nitko’s postdoctoral research revolves around high-throughput pharmacologic screening aimed at understanding vulnerabilities in cancer cells comprehensively. Through diverse screening techniques and molecular assays involving various pharmacological compounds, she pinpoints specific weaknesses within these cells. This systematic analysis aims to unearth new therapeutic targets and potential drug candidates. Employing bioinformatics, Blick-Nitko unravels complex data sets, deciphering intricate molecular pathways linked to cancer progression. Ultimately, the goal is to reveal unique vulnerabilities in cancer cells, paving the way for more precise and effective anticancer therapies.

Selected Publications

Field DJ, Aggrey-Amble AA, Blick SK, Ture SK, Johanson A, Cameron SJ, Sukanya R, & Morrell CN. Platelet Factor 4 Increases Bone Marrow B cell Development and Differentiation. Immunol Res. 2017;65(5):1089-1094. doi: 10.1007/s12026-017-8951-x.

Chu CC, Pinney JJ, Blick-Nitko SK, Baran AM, Peterson DR, Whitehead HE, Izumi R, Munugalavadla V, Barr PM, VanDerMeid KR, Elliott MR, & Zent CS. Ibrutinib Off-Target Inhibition Inhibits Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis but Not Efferocytosis of CLL Cells. Blood, supplement: doi: 10.1182/blood-2020-139483.

Pariser, D.N., Hilt, Z.T., Ture, S.K., Blick-Nitko, S.K., Looney, M.R., Cleary, S.J., Roman-Pagan, E., Saunders II, J., Georas, S.N., Veazy, J.M., Madere, F., Tesoro Santos, L., Arne, A.M., Huynh, N.P., Livada, A.C., Guerrero-Martin, S.M., Lyons, C.E., Metcalf Pate, K.A., McGrath, K.E., Palis, J., & Morrell, C.N. Lung Megakaryocytes are immune modulatory cells. J Clin Invest. 2021 Jan 4;131(1):e137377. doi: 10.1172/JCI137377.

Pinney JJ, Blick-Nitko SK, Baran AM, Peterson DR, Whitehead HE, Izumi R, Munugalavadla V, Van DerMeid KR, Barr PM, Zent CS, Elliottt MR, Chu CC. The highly selective Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor acalabrutinib leaves macrophage phagocytosis intact. Haematologica: doi: 10.3324/haematol.2021.279560.

Presentations:

Blick-Nitko, S., Spiecker, David., Aldalur, Aileen., Hall, Wyatte. Working with Deaf Professionals: Considering Ethics, Institutional Conflicts, and Professional Interactions. July 2023; Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf National Conference. Baltimore, MD. (Oral Presentation/Session).

Blick-Nitko, S. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: My Journey to obtaining my PhD. March 2022; Rochester Institute of Technology for RISE Program. (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. My Experiences as a Deaf Woman in Science. February 2022; University of Rochester for ASL Club. (Oral Presentation).

Smolock, E & Blick-Nitko, S. Grant Writing. DEAF-ROC Conference Breakout Session. August 2022; University of Rochester. (Oral Presentation and Facilitator).

Blick-Nitko, S. Pathology Research Day. June 2022 “The Immunometabolic Role of Platelets in Uncomplicated Malaria Infection” University of Rochester (Poster).

Blick-Nitko, S. Pathology Recruitment Weekend. March 2022. “The Immunometabolic Role of Platelets in Malaria” University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. Pathology Seminar Presentation. January 2022. “The Immunometabolic Role of Platelets in Uncomplicated Malaria Infection” University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. Works in Progress Seminar “The Immunometabolic Role of Platelets in Malaria Infection” October 2021 University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. American Heart Association Vascular Discovery Conference (Online) Presentation September 24, 2021 (Oral Presentation) (Meeting Sept 22-24).

Blick-Nitko, S. Pathology Research Day June 2021 “The Multifactorial Roles of Platelets in Uncomplicated Malaria Infection” University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. ASL Ethics. February 2021. University of Rochester for Graduate Student Society Event (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. The Potential Metabolic Role of Platelets in Uncomplicated Malaria Infection. November 2020; University of Rochester for Pathology Seminar (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. The Multifactorial Role of Platelets in the Pathogenesis of Uncomplicated Malaria. October 2020; University of Rochester for Work in Progress Seminar (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. “Lung Megakaryoctyes are a Novel Antigen Presenting Cell” Pathology Seminar Presentation February, 2020; University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S. My Journey as a Biomedical Scientist, RIT-RISE Program Presentation. February 2020; Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S., & Elliott, M. Working Together: Establishing Productive Training Environments with Hearing Mentors and D/HH Trainees in Science. DEAF-ROC Conference Presentation. August 2019; University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick-Nitko, S., McGrath, K., Rivera-Escalera, F., Palis, J., & Elliott, M. The Role of CD47 In Macrophage Clearance of Pyrenocytes. Pathology Research Day Poster Session. June 2019; University of Rochester (Poster).

Blick-Nitko, S. “The Role of CD47 in Macrophage Clearance of Pyrenocytes” Pathology Seminar Presentation March 2019; University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick, S., Pinney, J., Chu, C., Elliott, M., & Zent, C. Regulation of Phagocytic Exhaustion in Macrophages. Pathology Research Day Poster Session. June 2018; University of Rochester (Poster).

Blick, S. “Regulation of Macrophage Phagocytic Exhaustion” Pathology Seminar Presentation April 2018; University of Rochester (Oral Presentation).

Blick, S., Field, DJ., Ture, SK., & Morrell, CN. The Role of Platelet Factor 4 in B Cell Differentiation. Presented at Association for Clinical and Translational Science. April 2017. Washington, D.C (Poster).

Blick, S., Amati, A., Murdy, S., Farovitch, L., Contreras, J., Beach, M. Bridges to the Doctorate Program. Presented to Georgetown University Students. March 2016; Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (Oral Presentation).

Blick, S., & Simpson-Haidaris, PJ. The Role of Fibrinogen in Breast Cancer Metastasis. Poster Session at University of Rochester. October 2016; University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Poster).

Blick, S., Amati, A., & Murdy, S. Bridges to the Doctorate Program: NTID Graduate Symposium Poster Session. October 2015; Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (Poster).