top of page
Winnie Chen
Biology
Year of study:
3
Regulation of the Uncontrollable - Cancer Pharmacology
Abstract
Cancer, uncontrollable cell division, is a subject of discussion in our everyday lives. Perhaps someone you know has gone through cancer treatments or perhaps you watched a clip of cancer related disease on television. This study aims to understand the underlying ways in which cancer cells are regulated and how drug treatments work as a cure. B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and is currently treated with cortisol hormones. However, drug resistant B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the fourth most common type of childhood cancer with no real cure. Our goal is to determine the differences between the drug sensitive and resistant leukemias in hopes of finding potential remedies for drug resistance. Although this project dives into the depths of understanding B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, implications of this project go way beyond the field of cancer biology or pharmacology within our global society. Understanding the way biology is regulated may help us understand response to environmental stimuli, such as pollutants or new diets. This may have implications in applying health care through a social lens, such as new diets in immigrants or exposure to chemicals in certain occupations. Within this global economy, I believe it is important as global citizens to translate the interdisciplinary goals of scientific research into eliminating health disparities.
Bio
I am a third year biology major pre medical student from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. My future career goal is to becoming a physician scientist. From my research in pharmacology at the University of California San Francisco, to my experiences with patients and staff at Family Tree Clinic, I have learned the importance of translating scientific research to applications in a clinical setting to a diverse group of people. My passions lie not only in the integration of medical practice and biomedical research, but also promoting access to healthcare and eliminating health disparities locally and globally. As a study abroad student here at the University of Glasgow, I hope to not only further my academic studies but also immerse myself into the social structure and culture of Glasgow.
bottom of page