The Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) has more than 120 members from across the Illinois campus. Given the great variety in backgrounds, research disciplines, and experiences of our members, we offer a new Q&A series called “Get to Know a Cancer Researcher” to provide readers a connection with the amazing array of individuals who comprise the CCIL’s robust cancer research team.
CCIL Member: Kim Selting
CCIL Research Program: Cancer Engineering and Biological Systems
CCIL Research Theme: Comparative and Engineered Oncology Models
Faculty Position: John A. Coyne Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Medicine
What originally drew you to cancer research?
I am a clinical researcher and the ability to create treatment options where there used to be no options and a lack of hope is exciting. The translational potential for finding answers that can benefit both humans and animals is also very motivating. Oncology can be a very creative discipline, requiring a deep understanding of each patient to find the best treatment plan.
What cancer problems are you seeking to address in your lab?
I am most interested in exploring how modifying factors of how we deliver radiation can affect the tumor microenvironment. In other words, I am less interested in the cancer cell itself and more interested in how we might improve outcome by changing dose, timing, or dose rate to exploit how a normal cell (blood vessel cells, immune cells, nearby normal cells) responds that is different from the cancer cell. If the cells around a tumor no longer support its growth, then the tumor will not progress.
What keeps you going in your research? How do you recharge?
On a professional level, I recharge by pursuing new research questions and sculpting them into projects that are designed to create a convincing answer to the question at hand. On a personal level, I enjoy travel, movies, and outdoor activities.
What are fun or quirky facts about you that others may not know?
I have dabbled in creative writing and wrote a short story that a colleague on campus made into a live action short film. Also, I speak French, grew up riding hunter-jumper horses, and have 3 sisters (each of us was born in a different decade).
Can you tell us a favorite film or book of yours?
One of the best films I have seen recently is Hamnet, but there are so many! Definitely a movie buff. One of my favorite books would probably be one by Barbara Kingsolver (Poisonwood Bible or Prodigal Summer) and more recently Kristin Hannah (The Women or The Nightingale).
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, and why?
Shout out to my three kids who have grown into wonderful human beings. I’m still not certain that is an accomplishment of mine. I mostly let them be them. Professionally, I am very proud of the program I am building here at UIUC.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received, and how has it shaped your research career?
Ask simple questions and then you will get powerful answers. Ask a series of simple questions and you will create an elegant story that is compelling.
Stay tuned for more weekly installments in our “Get to Know a Cancer Researcher” stories.
Editor’s notes:
Kim Selting can be reached at seltingk@illinois.edu.
This story was written by Jonathan King, CCIL Communications Specialist.