University of California San Francisco

Kayla Switalla headshot
Kayla Switalla

Research Fellow

    Biography

    Kayla Switalla is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She is completing a year-long research fellowship (2023-2024) working with Dr. Mukhtar to investigate novel imaging techniques for invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Her research has specifically focused on a targeted molecular imaging technique designed specifically for breast tissue called dedicated breast positron emission tomography (dbPET), which may complement standard imaging studies for hormone-receptor positive tumors like ILC. Kayla is also working with the Locoregional Working Group to evaluate surgical outcomes in the I-SPY2 trial, a multi-center breast cancer clinical trial. Kayla received her BS in neuroscience and BA in psychology at the University of Minnesota in 2019.