UT Shield

Texas REU: BME CUReS Cancer

learning

, Filed Under: learning, reflections

Reflection: Careers Outside Academia

During this program, we have been introduced to research with our graduate student mentors, but we have also learned about careers outside academic research, such as going into industry, choosing medical school, or working for the government. All options present different work-life balances, goals, and daily experiences, and hearing about these differences has been helpful in deciding my own path. 

https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2019/06/academia-or-industry-how-i-learned-pivot-between-them 

We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Nicholas Durr and Dr. Cody Crosby, who went into academia, and Dr. Ginger Pocock and Dr. Justina Tam, who went into industry. Industry gives more opportunities for applied research compared to academia. Additionally, industry offers greater room for flexibility and changing your path than academia does, as you can switch locations and companies based on your life goals. 

We also heard from Dell Medical students, who told us about their journeys to medical school. Compared to grad school, med school opens the door for clinical research, allowing for researching the impact of various drugs and devices on actual patients. Med school and medical careers do have a reputation of poor work-life balance, so the med students advised aspiring students to ensure they set aside time for themselves.

Overall, it was wonderful to hear from experienced professionals in careers outside academia. We were able to get a firsthand glimpse of what life is like depending on which path you choose. It was helpful to gain perspectives on what options are out there, and I look forward to exploring more about academia and non-academia careers throughout the rest of the program!

Avanti Panajkar | North Carolina State University

, Filed Under: cancer, learning, reflections, research

Reflection: Dell Medical Cancer Research Lecture

As part of our scholars’ program, we are invited to join the Dell Medical School in their series of lectures about the pathology of different cancers, the current methods of screening and treatment, and various research areas from clinicians and researchers. This week we heard from Dr. Anna Capasso on Colorectal Cancer and from Dr. Yvette Brown on Cervical Cancer. While I would love to go into the details of each lecture, I will simply state something that stood out to me.

Working as a medical oncologist and a cancer researcher, Dr. Capasso researches in the unique hybrid that is translational research, which combines both clinical and basic research to help bridge the gaps between the discoveries in basic research and the actual treatments in the clinical setting. With colorectal cancer, one such promising treatment method is immunotherapy, which trains the body’s immune system to attack cancer. One way to verify the effectiveness of these therapies is through Patient-derived xenografts or PDX models. PDX models take cells from a patient’s tumor and implant them into a humanized mouse in which immunotherapies can be tested (Figure 1). The advantage of PDX models is that it allows for co-clinical trials in which a patient’s response can be first be predicted in mouse models. I think this is really cool as simulating how the human body would respond to a treatment is often hard to recreate.

Figure 1: Procedure Map for PDX Model
Murayama T, Gotoh N. Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Breast Cancer and Their Application. Cells. 2019; 8(6):621.
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8060621

Looking back at all the cancer lectures we have had so far, I appreciate hearing directly from clinicians who are doing their screenings and treatments according to guidance from the latest research. It puts the work of our projects in perspective as something small we do could indirectly improve screening or treatment options for patients. That is exciting to think about.

Abram Huang | University of Maryland at College Park

, Filed Under: learning, reflections

Reflection: Summer Surprises

https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

This summer has brought many surprises for its participants. Mainly I was surprised at the many different vines or topics that this summer internship has to offer outside of the “main” material. Of course, we have vines that directly correlate to the biomedical field. However, we also have vines for enriching participants professional and individual development. I was very impressed to see the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion vine as a part of the program. Historically medicine has not always been a diversified field and it is important to see this acknowledged.

Another aspect I found surprising was the preparation and dedication to make this virtual experience just as fulfilling as an in-person counterpart. This could have easily been like other virtual programs and been a train wreck of a learning experience. The university and its staff created learning material as well as an environment that is conducive to learning.  This program does not make me feel like I am missing out on any experiences I would have had if it had been in-person. They truly put in the work to make this great for the participants.

Susan Garwood | Mississippi State University