From June 19-Aug. 13, 2016, Amber Courtland, Edesthele
Decius, and Curtis Crowther attended the UCLA Medical Imaging Informatics (MII)
summer research program, while Deja Goodsen, Ugoma C. Onubogu, Rebecca Oyetoro,
and Robert Seniors attended the Bruins-in-Genomics summer research program.
According to their website, MII is a practical experience program in genomics and bioinformatics for students who are interested in integrating quantitative and biological knowledge, and pursuing graduate degrees in the biological, biomedical or health sciences.
The UCLA Medical Imaging Informatics training program
promotes diversity within the STEM discipline with an emphasis on biomedical
big data.
Decius, a junior biology student, said that during the
eight-week program the Rattlers were able to forge strong friendships based on
their shared interest, while completing impactful cancer research.
“We all became close friends and ended up purposely taking
classes together this semester. Although we were all split up for the research
projects, we were able to divide and conquer and I think we did some meaningful
research.”
Not only did the students show up and show off their Rattler
intellect, medical genomics and informatics know-how, they also took home
prizes. Ugoma Onubogu received special recognition for her group poster project
on network analysis of gastric cancer across different populations. The daughter of a FAMU-educated pharmacist
and a Rattler trained nurse practitioner, Onubogu worked with one other UCLA
student to identify pathways that lead to gastric cancer.
“We tried to identify common genetic pathways in different
areas around the world. We isolated 15 pathways and found key regulated genes
along those pathways. It’s very significant. The next step is drug targeting, a
technology that allows for little to no damage to other noncancerous cells.”
Robert Seniors, a biology premedical student and alum of the
summer research program, said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend the
program a second time. Seniors also said the genomics program was more related
to his future career and that he has a personal conviction to do cancer
research.
“When I was in 8th grade, it was revealed that my sister had
a benign brain tumor the size of a baseball. Dr. Pinkus at the University of
Florida’s Shands Hospital removed the tumor. It opened my eyes to someone being
in their most vulnerable state and someone else being able to bring them back
as a driving force or motivation. I want to do that for someone,” Seniors said.
Four of the seven students are part of FAMU’s Medical
Scholars Program. Director Michael Smith, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., expressed that he is
very proud of the high achieving student members of MSP and they represented
FAMU well.