Rangarirai Makuku

International medical graduate and current MSc candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with growing expertise in molecular biology of breast cancer, and translational research. Passionate about global health challenges and the development of molecular tools for improving patient outcomes. Seeking OPT-eligible research opportunities in cancer research, oncology, or molecular diagnostics.

• Graduate Thesis Student, Wright State University, 2024-01-01, Present, Investigating roles of FBXO45 and FBXL16 in the mechanisms of Fulvestrant induced ER-alpha degradation in breast cancer
• Research Assistant, Cancer Immunology Project, USERN, Tehran, 2017-01-01, 2022-01-01, Breast cancer biomarkers: circRNA expression and bioinformatics analysis. Prepared peer-reviewed publications and literature reviews.

• Founder & CEO, African Community Health Trust, 2015-01-01, Present, Organized medical/dental outreach programs in underserved Zimbabwean communities.
• Student Ambassador, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2016-01-01, 2022-01-01
• Junior Ambassador, USERN, 2019-01-01, Present

• Keshavarz-Fathi M,... Makuku, R. et al., 2025, Upregulation of CircCSPP1, CircNRIP1, and CircSMAD2 in Breast Cancer and Their Potential as Diagnostic Biomarkers., Iran Biomed J
• Makuku, R. et al., 2023, Ketogenic Diet in Neuroblastoma., Integrative Cancer Therapies.
• Makuku, R. et al., 2022, PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Cancer Immunotherapy., Journal of Immunology Research.
• Makuku, R. et al., 2022, Exploring the application of immunotherapy against HIV infection in the setting of malignancy: A detailed review article., International Immunopharmacology.

• Dr. Weiwen Long, Wright State University, weiwen.long@wright.edu
• Dr. Nima Rezaei, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, rezaei_nima@tums.ac.ir