When you think of N.C. State academics, what comes to mind? Engineering? Physics? How about a powerhouse for cancer research? Most people aren’t aware of this, but the University conducts groundbreaking studies in the field of cancer research, a field that many people would assume only other local schools would excel in, such as UNC or Duke. On top of that, this research is conducted not only by University faculty, but by University students as well.
In late fall 2008, the V Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to saving the lives of those afflicted with cancer, partnered with North Carolina State University to create the Jimmy V-NCSU Cancer Therapeutics Training Program. This program sought to recruit high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are interested in research in order to give them more laboratory experience, thereby allowing the students to be able to pursue their dreams of a rewarding career in cancer research.
According to Becky Bumgardner, the Executive Director of University Development, there are four laboratories that are funded by the $1 Million donation by the V Foundation.
“These labs include that of Dr. John Cavanagh in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, Dr. Jonathan Lindsey and Dr. Christian Melander in the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. Jonathan Horowitz in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences,” Bumgardner said.
Furthermore, Bumgardner explained that there is “tons of cancer research going on at State”, and so this donation by the V Foundation is finally shedding more light on the work that was already being done by University faculty and students.
“The most amazing thing, and the thing that attracted the V Foundation to NCSU the most, was that we are trying to prepare students for the real world by allowing the opportunity to get to works hand on, in the lab, with experienced faculty members,” Bumgardner said.
Jonathan Horowitz, professor of molecular biomedical sciences and Jimmy V Foundation researcher, also added that students recruited by this program are treated just like any other members of the lab. They have the opportunity to be cited in articles, depending on the amount of work they put into the study, and they gain great insight into the field of cancer research.
“Of all the labs in this program, mine is the most biology based, so when you walk into my lab, it’ll be a giant mess,” Horowitz said. “There’ll be animals running around here and stuff bubbling there, but that’s what labs look like!”
According to Horowitz, his lab often has “several experiments running at the same time, because most of our experiments won’t work.”
“That’s just how it is in the lab and it’s vital that students who want to pursue a career in research get exposed to this kind of an environment early,” Horowitz said.
Another researcher in the program, Christian Melander, currently has seven Jimmy V scholars working under him in his organic chemistry lab. His research is primarily concerned with “next generation anti-cancer molecules,” which can perhaps lower the rate of cancer in some individuals, and “making the hospital more sterile or creating more effective antibiotics to lower the incidents of hospital acquired bacterial infections.”
This is especially important because cancer patients on chemotherapy have weakened immune systems and can get infected by bacteria relatively easily, according to Melander.
Camille Sluder, a sophomore in chemistry and biochemistry, works in Jonathan Lindsey’s lab as a Jimmy V Scholar and researcher on the Lindsey-Melander project.
“Just recently I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 V Foundation Public Cancer Forum in downtown Raleigh, and it was really interesting to hear all the cancer research that our program is connected to,” Sluder said. “For example, one researcher presented on his discovery on a vaccine that may prevent melanoma.”
Sluder said she enjoys research and would recommend it to other students because “it gives you the chance to apply what you learn in classes and specify what subjects you are interested in.”
Melander has a positive opinion on the success of the program so far.
“The program has accomplished everything it was intending to, so far. We’ve embarked on groundbreaking research and we’ve given many students the opportunity to basically jumpstart their careers as well,” Melander said.
Melander’s lab in Dabney Hall currently has three graduate, three undergraduate, and one high school student, who are all working under his supervision. All seven of these students were selected by the Jimmy V-NCSU Program.
Though this program is not well known yet amongst the general public, those who are aware of it are actually shocked at how much cancer research is being conducted at State.
Shafiq Zaib, a junior in human biology, said he didn’t know N.C. State was involved in cancer research.
“When you think cancer research, you think of UNC, Duke, or some other school with a big medical school,” Zaib said. “It is nice to know that State has a great cancer research program and that we’re making a positive impact on society.”
