“I am the future of science,” I would not have made this statement before participating in the Fred Hutch Explorers Program. Throughout my life, I was rarely introduced to medical professionals and researchers. In fact, the only time I come in contact with a medical professional is when I went to the doctor's office and even then, the majority didn’t look like me. Although this hasn’t prevented me from pursuing my interest in science, the lack of resources in low- income schools has. As a low-income black student, I have never been given the opportunity to delve into scientific research. The glass ceiling set for black women in the field of medicine and their underrepresentation results in the lack of diverse ideas in scientific spaces.The field of research needs black women for innovative analysis. Our unique experiences allow for expansion in addressing health inequities and improving the healthcare system. To further this, innovating science is creating accessible research opportunities for young black women. During my internship at the Hutch, I was provided with a space to gain laboratory experience, network, and learn about different careers. One of my favorite activities was extracting DNA from a strawberry. My peers and I created our own protocol to extract the DNA, and used the materials given to us to perform this lab. Additionally, I attended a lecture about protein folding technology, this was so fascinating. Throughout this program I was able to delve into so many topics like protein folding, that I’ve never been able to learn about in academic spaces. Our curriculum incorporated lectures, discussions, and labs, which was helpful to me as I am a hands-on learner. Previously, networking in the healthcare field was unattainable in the groups of people I was surrounded by. Through this program, I have a community of scientists in reach to shadow, interview, and gain mentorship. In the past two weeks, I had the privilege of attending lectures led by numerous researchers. I was most inspired by Dr. Katusiime, an HIV researcher who walked us through her career path experience. In our conversation, she shared a treasured life lesson to ‘not be afraid of failure’. She also asked us to reflect on what we’ve learned thus far on our academic journey. This led me to further understand that failure is a part of success. The Hutch has cultivated safe spaces like these, where we not only discuss hard sciences but also mental health. As expressed, the Explorers Program has been transformational to my academic and career journey.
The article, “Cancer Clinical Trials Exclude Too Many Patients: That’s Changing” published by Fred Hutch, discusses changing the regulations for eligibility amongst clinical trial participants. A large selection of trial participants is vital to collect reliable data. Trials need to reflect the diverse communities that will be taking the drug/ treatment once available. With that being said, the strict eligibility criterias prevent many cancer, HIV, heart disease, hepatitis patients, and the elderly from participating. How will we know the wide ranging response to these treatments, if so many patients are restricted? Especially if the ones who are restricted are more desperate for the treatment. In 2016, the American Society of Clinical Oncology created new, more inclusive, recommendations for clinical trial eligibility regulations. A study performed by AACR shows that “Of 10,500 patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer, the broadened criteria would allow 98% to participate in a trial, while the traditional rules would allow just 48%.” Even with this data, many clinical trials have chosen not to use the suggested regulations. The future of treatments can be greatly impacted if we understand the response to treatments on a larger scale. Not only does this apply to patients with disease but also having trial participants of all races. Due to historical mistreatment, and a lack of accessibility, BIPOC communities are rarely represented in research. Fred Hutch is addressing this issue, not only by discussing it, but also by practicing community based research. Building relationships with black, rural, and indigenous folks, to mend the damaged relationship between them and the healthcare system. As a black woman, and a conscious human, accessibility and inclusivity in research is important to me. This is a bridge that I want to continue to mend, and am so glad to be interning at an institution that prioritizes this as well.
This compelling article was written by Diane Mapes. She has written for NBC, Seattle Times, and many more publications. She is a staff member at the Hutch and Breast Cancer Survivor.
Notes from Protein Folding Lecture.
Results from DNA extraction Lab.