Center for Patient Derived Models - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Just over a week ago, I had the privilege of attending the Society of Biomolecular Imaging and Informatics Annual Conference in Boston and presenting my poster on the topic of "Enhancing Image-Based Growth Analysis of Cultured Patient-Derived Cancer Cells with Mixed-Effects Regression Analysis". At the Center for Patient Derived Models - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, our work focuses on establishing novel patient-derived cancer models and pioneering new methods for their creation and validation. Here my research focuses on designing a pipeline for applying mixed-effects regression techniques to some of our image-based assay data of acute patient cancer cells and cell lines. This approach accounts for clustering or well-to-well variation in order to yield more robust and accurate growth metrics. I want to give a special thanks to Sonam Bhatia and Keith Ligon for their incredible mentorship. Their support not only allowed me to attend this conference but has also been instrumental in propelling my professional growth and helping me reach new heights in my career.

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where I worked with the Center for Patient Derived Models (CPDM). My journey with Dana-Farber began in 2020 as a high school sophomore, interning in the Cell Manipulation Core Facility through the Workforce Development Program. Back then, my work focused on data management and administrative support. However, this summer, I transitioned to more specialized laboratory work, where I conducted DNA/RNA extractions, shadowed experienced professionals, managed inventory, aliquoted chemotherapeutic drugs and read scientific articles to better understand lab practices and terminology. I am deeply grateful to my supervisors, Sonam Bhatia and Umar Khalid, for their support and guidance, which made this experience truly transformative. And under the expert guidance of Farid Solaymani Mohammadi, I developed crucial skills for nucleic acid extraction, including precise sample handling, mastering the use of centrifugation techniques, and ensuring the integrity of samples through rigorous contamination prevention protocols. I also became proficient in the use of specialized equipment, such as micropipettes and spectrophotometers, which are essential for accurate quantification and quality assessment of DNA and RNA. In addition to my lab work, I had the rewarding experience of mentoring five high school students this summer. I led weekly discussions with them on topics such as college preparation, financial literacy, and effective communication. This mentorship role taught me the value of clear communication, preparation, and the importance of guiding others as they navigate their educational journeys. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Rachada Hiranyaket and Candace A. Burns for helping me find a department that perfectly aligns with my interests and for their continuous support. This experience has been invaluable, and I want to thank the entire Workforce Development and CPDM team at Dana-Farber for giving us students this incredible opportunity. Your dedication to our growth and learning has made all the difference!