UT Shield

Texas REU: BME CUReS Cancer

2017

, Filed Under: 2017, cancer

Importance of a Cancer Community

A centrifuge, very useful tool in most fields of research and science. Photo by Dalton Kotilinek.

Undoubtedly, the most important part of any community is a sense of togetherness. In the case of a cancer research community, the thing that binds us all together is that we have the same goal: to help people affected by cancer. This may range from developing new medicines to help treat cancer or new methods to detect early onset of cancer. By having a sense of togetherness, we support each other in knowing that it’s not just one of us trying to find a cure or new method of detection, but an entire group of people coming together.

In the case of people affected by cancer, whether it be actual patients or families of the patients, they’re all bound together through their personal experiences with the affliction. These personal experiences bring people together through charities and support groups. This summer I saw one way how this brings people together, the Texas 4000 Riders. They spread cancer awareness, hope, and raise money for charity all while cycling a grueling 4000+ miles. In one way or another, these individuals were somehow affected by cancer and that brought them together.

Perhaps the most important part of a cancer community is knowing you’re not alone in whatever you may be enduring.

-Dalton Kotilinek, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

, Filed Under: 2017, cancer, research, texas4000

Letter to Texas 4000 Rider: Basil Hariri

San Jacinto recreation field at dusk. Photo by Elana Helou

Dear Basil,

My name is Elana, and I am also the child of Lebanese immigrants, so I truly relate to the feeling that all my accomplishments are only made possible by my parents’ sacrifices. Growing up, I always felt that I should be working towards something that would make their sacrifices worthwhile. So, once I was old enough to truly understand the extent that cancer and other diseases were affecting my family members, I decided that I wanted to work as a medical researcher to help bring relief to families all around the world that were experiencing some of these same effects.

My interest in research is largely fueled by experiences with people who I have known for most of my life, so I really found it inspiring that your story about why you ride focused on someone you only encountered for a few hours. I felt that it truly resonated with the fact that cancer is universal and affects so many people in so many ways, which can be easy to lose sight of when someone very close to you is fighting their own battle with the disease.

I admire your dedication to and courage in fighting cancer through your own physical toil, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey.

Sincerely,
Elana Helou, Smith College

, Filed Under: 2017, learning, research

Deliberate Practice: Becoming an Expert

Constant, albeit creepy, reminder for us scientists to practice wearing our Personal Protective Equipment. Photo by Gabriel Garcia.

“Practice makes perfect,” just one of many clichéd inspirational sayings anyone can find passing a Hallmark store. One of many iterations our parents continuously drill into our minds as we make our way through life.  Even though the phrase may have lost meaning through its advertisement in society, the message it carries still holds true and will probably continue to do so for the many years to come, until society transcends into the highest form of intelligence (if at all possible). Everything we do in our everyday lives requires practice; the theory of evolution, the progression of life itself, is an inherent form of practice (survival of the fittest, adaptation, etc.). Our species has evolved in technological, social, political and spiritual aspects through the use of practice.

Clearly, then, practice can be applied to almost anything, including our short-lived summer research in the field of cancer.

Scientists have dedicated their wholes lives to a single field in science and still come up short in understanding, so it would be rather arrogant to claim that we can become experts in the field of cancer by the coming month through “practice”. What I will suggest is that we can become experts of ourselves through practice; experts in being on time, in taking notes of your everyday methods and findings, even experts in managing our finances. Do not continue this journey with the mindset of just learning about cancer or proper cell culture techniques, learn about each of your own shortcomings and how to fix them through practice. This work ethic will diffuse into your lab work and everyday life, and make things easier to deal with. Of course, this is not to diminish the importance of improving lab techniques. We should all strive to continuously improve ourselves and our work ethics, as both ultimately affect the progress of our society and societal standards.

-Gabriel Garcia, The University of Texas at El Paso