Faculty and Staff
Anna V. Blenda, Ph.D.
| Title: | Clinical Professor |
| Biomedical Sciences | |
| Director of Research Strategy and Operations | |
| School of Medicine Greenville | |
| E-mail: | ablenda@greenvillemed.sc.edu |
| Phone: | 864-766-2087 |
| Office: | HSAB 250 Greenville SC 29605 |
Bio
| Background: | Dr. Blenda joined the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville in December 2016. She earned a combined BS/MS degree (Specialist Diploma) with honors (summa cum laude) in biology and English, with a minor in German, from Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University (Melitopol, Ukraine). She holds a PhD in biotechnology from the Institute of Agroecology and Biotechnology (Kyiv, Ukraine), and a PhD in genetics from Clemson University (Clemson, USA). Immediately after completing her second PhD in 2003, Dr. Blenda worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Clemson University Genomics Institute for four years, followed by a position as a research assistant professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry at Clemson University. During this time, she was involved in multidisciplinary research projects focused on developing genomic resources for several model organisms. Dr. Blenda’s subsequent appointments included roles as assistant professor and associate professor with tenure at Erskine College, where she taught genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, and medical biotechnology, while also conducting genetic and genomic research and overseeing undergraduate student research projects. In the fall of 2012, she contributed to the development and teaching of the inaugural course Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. In 2015–2016, Dr. Blenda spent nine months on a research sabbatical at Emory University School of Medicine, studying the antimicrobial properties of human galectin proteins. During this time she conducted research as a visiting associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with Dr. Sean Stowell, who is now affiliated with Harvard Medical School. This sabbatical served as a launching pad for her current translational research projects, which include galectin and glycomic profiling of cancers, as well as genomic and bioinformatic analysis of cancer patients' molecular and clinical data using AI and machine learning. In recognition of her growing leadership in research and education, Dr. Blenda was appointed Director of Research in 2022 and later Director of Research Strategy and Operations at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. From 2022 to 2025, she led initiatives to integrate efforts across basic science and clinical faculty research, expand student research programs and events, and align research activities with accreditation compliance standards to support institutional excellence. In addition, she managed SOMG’s research budgets, grant submissions, and research infrastructure, and oversaw compliance, safety, and long-term planning for research facilities—all in support of advancing the school’s mission in medical education and research-based learning. |
| Teaching Interest(s): | Genetics Curriculum Lead (2023-present) Course Director, Foundations of Medicine 1 (2023-present). Course Director, Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Medicine (2022) Course Co-Director, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems (2022) Course Co-Director, Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Medicine (2017-2021). |
| Research Interest(s): | Research: 1. Circular RNAs as biomarkers in cancer and endometriosis. Collaborations with Michael Shtutman, PhD, Functional Genomics Core, USC College of Pharmacy, Jeffery Edenfield, MD, Prisma Health Cancer Institute; Lisa Green, MD, and Paul Miller, MD, Prisma Health OB/GYN. 2. Analysis of cancer patients' molecular and clinical data using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning approaches. Collaboration with Homayoun Valafar, PhD, USC College of Engineering and Computing, and Jeffery Edenfield, MD, Prisma Health Cancer Institute. 3. Impact of cancer mutational landscape on galectin landscape. Collaboration with Michael Shtutman, PhD, USC Functional Genomics Core, College of Pharmacy, and Jeffery Edenfield, MD, Prisma Health Cancer Institute. 4. Galectin and glycomic profiling of cancers. Collaboration with Jeffery Edenfield, MD, Prisma Health Cancer Institute, and Connie Arthur, PhD, Harvard Medical School. 5. Investigation of antimicrobial properties of galectin proteins and application of glycan microarrays. Collaboration with Sean Stowell, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School. 6. Medical education research (assessment of knowledge retention and performance on course objectives by medical students; validity and reliability of student evaluations of teaching; impact of medical student research on residency match). |
| Honors & Awards: | "Bench to Bedside" Faculty Research Award, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 2024 Certificate of Mentor Excellence in Student Research (2024 SOARinG Program) Outstanding Mentor Award, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 2022 "Bench to Bedside" Faculty Research Award, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 2021 Golden Peach Excellence in Education Award, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, 2020 Best Overall Research Poster Award, Health Sciences Center Research Showcase, Greenville Health System, April 13, 2018 Erskine College sabbatical award to participate in a research project "Innate Immunity in Fighting Molecular Mimicry" at Emory University School of Medicine, 20015 - 2016 South Carolina EPSCoR/IDeA Postdoctoral Academic Career Development (PACD) Scholarship (funded by NIH grant P20 RR-016461), Clemson University, 2007-2008 Former Soviet Union Area Studies Travel Award, Clemson University, 2007-2008 Clemson University Graduate Student Government Travel Award for the International Plant and Animal Genome-XI conference, January 2003 Wade Stackhouse Fellowship Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Plant and Animal Genetics, Clemson University, 2002-2003 Schilletter Fellowship (Horticulture Department Outstanding Graduate Student Award), Clemson University, 2001 Wade Stackhouse Fellowship Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Plant and Animal Genetics, Clemson University, 2001-2002 Schilletter Fellowship (Horticulture Department Outstanding Graduate Student Award), Clemson University, 2000 Wade Stackhouse Fellowship Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Plant and Animal Genetics, Clemson University, 2000-2001 Specialist Diploma (combined BS/MS) with Honors, summa cum laude, Melitopol, Ukraine, 1996 |
| Professional Affiliations: | Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics - Course Director Special Interest Group Member American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Member International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) Member Society for Glycobiology (SFG) Member American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Other - Affiliate Scientist Association of American Medical Colleges SGEA Member Association of Biochemistry Educators (ABE) Member American Association of University Women (AAUW) Member American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Member Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics (APHMG) Other - Medical School Course Director An International Association for Medical Education (AMEE) Member American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Member American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Member |