My intern experience at Fred Hutch’s VECR program
Biomedical research has the power to positively impact the world. Through my experience with Fred Hutch this past summer, I am humbled and honored to have witnessed the power of this research firsthand. As an intern in Fred Hutch’s Virtual Explorations in Cancer Research (VECR) summer program, I learned that medicine goes hand-in-hand with research. Research, for example, leads to the development of evidence-based strategies, the creation of best practices, and the gathering of up to date information. These developments can help to improve patient care in many ways, such as reducing health disparities or empowering communities to study public health trends, understand risk factors of disease, and disseminate important information to the public.
Of all the fascinating experiences from my time interning with Fred Hutch, one highlight was the discussion on bioethics and law. Led by Dr. Chowning, this discussion called attention to the various ethical issues in the modern health system. Over the course of her seminar, I was most shocked to learn about the various human rights violations that occurred during the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis. Through this I discovered just how complex it is to form legal regulations around human rights in the context of biological experimental study.
Another highlight during this virtual internship was analyzing a research study on CAR T-cell therapy. While researching background for the study, I learned that cytokines may play an important role in improving the outcomes of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, as they may be the providers of CD19 (the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that gives T-cells a boost). Following this initial research, Dr. Hirayama, a post-doctoral research fellow led the first multivariable study on the cytokinetic role in the progression-free survival of lymphoma patients. With the help of several esteemed researchers, including Qian Wu, Ted Gooley, Ryan Cassaday, Aude Chapuis, Tejaswini Dhawale, David Malony, and Cameron Turtle from the Fred Hutch/UW Cancer Consortium, the results of this study will help both to identify high-risk patients and to spark the development of strategies to reduce health inequities.
Another high point of the internship was a seminar session led by guest speaker, Dr. Eaton who works in the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance as a thoracic head and neck oncologist and cancer researcher. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Eaton has conducted several clinical trials aimed at limiting patient symptoms during treatment. In his seminar, Dr. Eaton shared his arduous experience with cancer, from diagnosis to survival. What stuck with me most was a belief that he developed during his battle and experience: “Patient education is one of the most important aspects of clinical work because it empowers the patient to make informed decisions about their care.”
From this variety of experiences with Fred Hutch, I have been inspired to increase health care access and lessen health inequities based on race, income or gender. To work towards these goals, I will utilize my newly developed knowledge on the social determinants of health, ethical principles for biomedical research, and current advances in CAR T-cell immunotherapy. I enjoyed the VECR group breakout sessions led by our undergraduate mentor, Alexis, and having intellectual discussion with other high schoolers I am deeply grateful to have received this opportunity to learn from inspiring and passionate researchers, scientists, and group mentors, and I will take with me a newfound fire to never stop asking questions in order to discover ways to increase access and decrease inequity.
Researchers failed to treat the patients of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study appropriately after penicillin was found to be an effective cure for the disease in 1947. (From Antibiotic Development and Resistance. Jørund Straand, ... Gunnar Skov Simonsen, in International Encyclopedia of Public Health (Second Edition), 2017)
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. (From: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Diagram of the various factors of health inequities impacted by COVID-19.
My VECR group in one of our breakout sessions.
Original Fred Hutch News Article: https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/spotlight/2019/04/crd_hirayama_blood.html
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