Anthony Kantaras

Pronouns: he/him

Languages: English

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Hi! I’m Anthony, but you can call me Ant! I’m from Campbell, Ohio, a small town in Northeast Ohio. I am a 2024 graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Neuroscience, with a sub-specialization in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, and a graduate of the Biological Sciences Scholars Program. I am working towards my MD/PhD as an aspiring physician-scientist.

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My clinical research journey thus far at The Ohio State University’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research has centered on psychoneuroimmunology (a big word for how the central and peripheral nervous systems, the endocrine system, and the immune system all communicate with each other lol). Across various studies branching from cancer to Alzheimer’s, our lab explored how chronic stressors, such as caregiving, cancer diagnosis, and socioeconomic status (SES), get under the skin and bidirectionally shape mental and physical health. My independent research project has focused on health disparities; specifically examining how psychosocial stress, inflammation, and immune dysfunction impact cancer patient outcomes, particularly lymphocyte and neutrophil engraftment in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant multiple myeloma.

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I am deeply interested in neuro-immuno-oncology and aspire to investigate the molecular pathways modulating immunosuppression and immune surveillance dysfunction, with a focus on understanding and addressing disparities in patient outcomes. Since graduating from OSU, I have expanded my clinical tool belt serving as a Neurophysiology/EEG Technician and Pediatric Medical Assistant.

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Outside the lab, I’m a bookworm who loves romanticizing life and escaping into a good book! I’m always searching for the perfect café (bonus points if they make a great iced matcha latte!). If I’m not reading, I’m probably baking, rock climbing, or at the gym. Fun fact: if I ever left STEM behind, I’d be running a cozy bakery-café in a quiet mountain town, serving pastries and good vibes (with a café cat keeping me company, obviously!)

I know firsthand how confusing and overwhelming the research world can feel, especially if you don’t have a clear roadmap. I want to help make research and medicine more accessible, inclusive, and less intimidating.

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Why Mentorship Matters to Me

Growing up in a medically underserved and under-resourced area that was an “opportunity desert,” access to academic and research opportunities was scarce. Transplanting my life for university at The Ohio State University, a well-established R1 research institution, I was eager to be exposed to such a diverse array of educational opportunities. However, it quickly became apparent that not all students had the same starting line. Some arrived with years of clinical and research exposure from high school while others, like me who come from a low SES background, were stepping into a world that felt daunting and opaque.

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Navigating this landscape while balancing funding my education, family caregiving responsibilities, and the challenges of being a first-generation researcher meant there was no roadmap. I had to pave my path. My collegiate career began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, making getting involved to the degree I yearned for extremely difficult. Luckily, during the Spring of my freshman year, I was able to get involved in a psychoneuroimmunology research lab under Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser and Dr. Lisa Christian, thanks to a Federal Work-Study grant. From there, I worked both smarter and harder to sustain my academic and research aspirations, integrating my passions for neuroscience, immunology, and social determinants of health.

Having self-guided much of my journey, I know how overwhelming finding resources, and even navigating those already present, can be. As a Resident Advisor, Peer Mentor, and aspiring TikTok content creator, I made it one of my priorities to showcase my journey with great transparency to uplift students and help untangle the web of resources.

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As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve also learned how to navigate the often “sterile” spaces of medicine and science, sometimes at the cost of my authenticity. My goal as a mentor is to make these spaces more accessible, inclusive, and transparent - ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the resources and support they need to thrive. Even if that means forging an entirely new path, no one should have to walk it alone.

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Grants and Fellowships

Fellow, Ohio State University College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) ASPIRE Medical Research Program ($7,000), OSU; 2022, 2023     

Grantee, Ohio State University Undergraduate Research Scholarship ($8,000), OSU; 2022, 2023

Grantee, Ohio State Undergraduate Student Government Academic Enrichment Grant ($800), OSU; 2022

Fellow, James Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) Pelotonia Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($12,000), OSU JCCC; 2021, 2022

Grantee, Ohio State University Second Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) ($2,000), OSU; 2021, 2022

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Awards and Honors

Awardee, American Physician Scientist Association (APSA) Midwest Regional Conference Travel Award ($400) OSU MSTP; 2025

Magma Cum Laude Honors Graduate, OSU; 2024

Awardee, Ohio State Student-Alumni Council Scholarship ($500), OSU; 2023

Awardee, Robert and Mary Reusché Endowed Scholarship, OSU ($1,450); 2023

1st Place Awardee, Pelotonia Research Symposium 1st Place Travel Award ($1,000), OSU; 2022

Awardee, Campbell Memorial High School (CMHS) Alumni Association Continuing Education Scholarship ($1,000), CMHS; 2022

Awardee, Ohio State Residence Life Inclusive Excellence Spotlight Award, OSU; 2021

Awardee, Campbell Memorial High School (CMHS) Class of 1958 Scholarship ($1,000), CMHS; 2020 Awardee, Dr. Richard Barr Scholarship ($8,000), CMHS; 2020

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Selected Works

Madison, A. A., Andridge, R., Kantaras, A. H., Renna, M. E., Bennett, J. M., Alfano, C. M., Povoski, S. P., Agnese, D. M., Lustberg, M., Wesolowski, R., Carson, W. E., 3rd, Williams, N. O., Reinbolt, R. E., Sardesai, S. D., Noonan, A. M., Stover, D. G., Cherian, M. A., Malarkey, W. B., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2023). Depression, Inflammation, and Intestinal Permeability: Associations with Subjective and Objective Cognitive Functioning throughout Breast Cancer Survivorship. Cancers, 15(17), 4414. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15174414

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Professional Affiliations

2023 – 2024    Member, Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS)