Our Staff
Please call 913-588-4765 or email BRCF@kumc.edu for assistance with requests.
Andrew K. Godwin, Ph.D., Director, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Chancellors Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences and Endowed Professor
Division Director of Genomic Diagnostics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Professor and Director of Molecular Oncology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Deputy Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholar
Dr. Andrew Godwin oversees the Biospecimen Repository Core Facility (BRCF), including:
- Working with the leadership of The University of Kansas Cancer Center and the University of Kansas Medical Center to obtain the necessary resources to support the further development of this facility
- Managing personnel within the BRCF with the focus on informed consent, tissue/bodily fluid acquisition, and sample annotation
- Establishing policies regarding standard operating procedures
- Presiding over the Internal Review Board for the BRCF
Dr. Godwin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Rashna Madan, MBBS, Assistant Director, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Kansas Medical Center
Director, Selective (Surgical) Pathology Fellowship, University of Kansas Medical Center
Director, Post-Sophomore Fellowship in Pathology, University of Kansas Medical Center
Rashna Madan oversees tissue collection from surgical pathology and core histology activities to:
- Increase the collection of quality tumor tissue samples
- Oversee the appropriate utilization and selection of tissue from the archived paraffin-embedded tumor samples of the University of Kansas Medical Center Surgical Pathology Department
- Provide quality control for all BRCF tissue samples via histologic verification
Dr. Madan did her medical training (MBBS) at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, and completed a residency in anatomic/clinical pathology at Montefiore Medical Center, New York. She also completed a fellowship in oncologic pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and a fellowship in cytopathology at Montefiore Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology.
SaMyra Baker, MBA, Manager of Operations, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
SaMyra Baker holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Management from Missouri State. SaMyra also graduated from Baker University with a master’s in business administration. She has over 20 years of work experience, much of which has been spent in business strategy and process improvement roles. Since joining the BSR she has provided a fresh perspective on how we manage data collection and storage. She will provide daily supervision to the consenting staff, lab staff and the data team. She will continue to assess the BSR efficiency in terms of automating processes, improving workflows, and analyzing and adjusting fee schedule among other things.
Lauren DiMartino, AOS, Program Development Manager, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Lauren DiMartino oversees all consenting efforts for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Associate's degree in Occupational Science from Heritage College.
Alex Webster, B.S., Clinical Laboratory Supervisor, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Alex Webster oversees the processing, banking and annotation of bodily fluids donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from Oklahoma State University.
Eric Johnson, B.A., Clinical Data Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Eric Johnson provides data management and clinical annotation of specimens for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. He earned his certification in Health Information Management Systems from Johnson County Community College and his Bachelor's degree in Psychology with an emphasis in psycholinguistics from The University of Kansas.
Ian Tucker, Data Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Ian Tucker provides data management and clinical annotation for specimens for the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. After high school, he joined the United States Army as a High Mobility Rocket System Crewmember. After his active duty commitment he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Missouri State University, and currently serves as a combat medic in the Army reserves.
Rachel Marshall, AOS, Research Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Rachel Marshall consents patients and facilitates the collections of biospecimen donations at the Westood location of The University of Kansas Hospital for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Associate's Degree in Occupational Science and Massage Therapy at Heritage College.
Vivian McCormick, B.A., Research Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Vivian consents patients and facilitates the collection of biospecimen donations in the surgical units at the University of Kansas Hospital for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Brook Clos, B.A., Hematology Research Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Brook Clos consents patients and facilitates the collection of biospecimen donations for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Westwood location at The University of Kansas Hospital, focusing on
BMT/Heme patients. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at The University of Missouri-Columbia.
Monica Mays, Research Supervisor, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Monica organizes patient consent and facilitates the collection of biospecimen donations in the surgical units at The University of Kansas Hospital for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She has been with The University of Kansas Health System for 5 years.
Maura Kluthe, Senior Laboratory Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Maura Kluthe, processes, banks and delivers biospecimen samples donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. She graduated from Blackburn College with a BA in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science. She spent a year gaining experience in research at Washington University School of Medicine.
Joseph Hoyt, B.S., Senior Laboratory Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Joseph processes, banks, and delivers biospecimen samples donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science at Briar Cliff University.
Faith Palausky, B.S., Senior Laboratory Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Faith processes, banks, and delivers specimens donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Denver, with minors in chemistry, math, and psychology.
Lydia Manley, B.S., Laboratory Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Lydia Manley processes, banks, and delivers specimens donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kansas.
Hallee Smith, B.S., Laboratory Technician, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Hallee processes, banks, and delivers specimens donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. She went to Pittsburg State University and earned a bachelor's degree in biology, a minor in chemistry, and emphasis in pre-health and pre-dental studies.
Shelby Abts, B.S., Laboratory Technician, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Shelby Abts processes, banks, and delivers biospecimen samples donated by individuals participating in the BRCF at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science at Kansas State University.
Rachel Flanagan, B.S., Data Coordinator, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Rachel Flanagan provides assistance for data management and clinical annotation of specimens for the BRCF at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from The University of Kansas.
Kayla Foht, B.S., Program Assistant, Biospecimen Repository Core Facility
Kayla Foht provides workflow assistance for the BRCF through
data management and clinical annotation of specimens at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.