Examining Cancerous and Noncancerous Breast Cells

The Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) is an organization formed as a partnership between the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Baystate Medical Center to develop innovative approaches to diagnose, monitor, and treat disease.​

​I investigated the differences in levels of mitochondrial pyruvate carriers (MPC) between cancerous and noncancerous breast cells. I also manipulated MPC levels to see if cancerous and noncancerous cells responded differently. This research works towards potential early detection of breast cancer by looking at MPC levels as well as potential treatment of breast cancer through MPC manipulation. ​

Through this experience I was able to dive deep into the world of biomedical research and learn valuable lab techniques such as PCR and Western Blotting. I am planning on going to medical school after Bowdoin, so having the opportunity to see how clinical treatments just start as ideas and to watch those ideas develop into experiments was incredible.  

Internship funded by the Peter Buck Internship Fund​.