Exploring the Complexities of Clinical Oncology

The Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI) is a clinical research group within the Jackson Laboratory, leading an alliance of clinical oncologists in Maine. Its primary goal is to expand education, clinical trial access, and treatment access for Maine oncologists across rural and underserved areas and to reduce disparities in access to precision medicine. MCGI, in collaboration with Columbia University, is currently studying the impact of structured Genomic Tumor Boards (GTBs) on cancer care delivery in community oncology practices in a nationwide study (S2108CD), and I have been involved in collecting study data and building a structured database for over 1,000 enrolled patients as a basis for data-analyses for this project.​

Additionally, I am working on a research project focusing on the HER2 protein, which plays a role in cell proliferation. Evaluating HER2 expression and activation has become crucial in treating several cancer types. My work involves analyzing HER2 results for patients enrolled in the MCGI 2.0 study to better understand the expanding treatment implications of HER2.​

This internship provided valuable insights into the complexities of clinical oncology and precision medicine, highlighting the critical importance of collaborative networks in addressing healthcare disparities in rural and underserved areas. I gained proficiency in data collection, structuring, and analysis techniques essential for advancing patient care in a rapidly evolving field of research and cancer care delivery.

Internship funded by the D'Auteuil, Richard G. '82 & Kimberly A. Labbe '82 Internship​​ Fund.