The Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) is training the next generation of cancer researchers. We offer this Q&A series “Get to Know a Cancer Scholar” to provide readers a connection with the amazing trainees who comprise the CCIL’s cohort of student-researchers. This is the eighth installment.
Cancer Scholar: Patrick Selby
Major: Bioengineering
What interested you in the Cancer Scholars Program?
Before stepping foot on campus my freshman year, I knew I wanted to get involved with undergraduate research as soon as possible. When I learned about the Cancer Scholars Program and how they try to match students into labs early on in their undergraduate career, I immediately knew that I wanted to join. Though I had done research in the past, I had never done cancer research. So, applying seemed like a great opportunity to get involved in a new field while also getting to do research!
What have you learned during your time in the Cancer Scholars Program?
I have learned a lot of things, with the first being that all the faculty and staff in the CCIL are incredible people who want every single student to succeed. In addition to that, the Cancer Scholars Program has given me unique opportunities to learn a lot about cancer therapeutics and cancer education. Beyond my academic experiences, I have learned how to better communicate with other like-minded peers and that collaboration is a great way to build friendships.
Why is doing cancer research personally meaningful to you?
My mother lost her mother to cancer at a very young age. Because of this, conducting cancer research is a way for me to honor my grandmother’s memory and also make my mom proud.
How would you explain your research project to a friend outside science?
Cancer cells are often hard to distinguish from normal cells, which makes it difficult for the immune system to recognize and destroy them. In my research, we try to solve this problem by giving cancer cells a kind of artificial “tag.” We design synthetic molecules that cancer cells absorb much more quickly than healthy cells and then display on their surface. Next, we genetically engineer immune cells that are naturally good at killing cancer to recognize this tag. In other words, we give the immune cells the “key” that matches the artificial marker placed on the tumor cells. This helps the immune system identify cancer cells much more easily and attack them more effectively. A large part of the work involves optimizing each step of the process – figuring out the best way to label cancer cells, engineer the immune cells, and test how well the system works – before eventually moving toward animal studies.
What are your future career goals and how has Cancer Scholars influenced these goals?
My future career goal is to be a physician-scientist who graduated and earned their degrees from a Medical Scientist Training Program. Clinically, I hope to practice in an oncology-related specialty – currently I am most interested in pediatric oncology or Mohs surgery – while also running my
own lab that develops novel cancer therapeutics. The Cancer Scholars Program has influenced these goals by giving me access to opportunities that are directly beneficial to my future work, such as helping me get involved with cancer therapeutics research and connecting me with physicians and scientists who work in fields I am interested in.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in doing cancer research?
You must be tenacious. At times, the challenges you face may feel insurmountable. Maybe you aren’t able to get into a lab despite dozens of emails, or maybe you spent 20 hours on an experiment that ultimately failed. Regardless, you can’t let setbacks deter you. In order to be successful, you must approach every challenge with unyielding persistence and treat every failure as an opportunity to learn and improve.
What hobby or interest helps you recharge after a long week?
As of late, I have developed a keen interest in the broad field of theoretical physics. To recharge, I often spend much of my free time reading books by physicists such as Feynman, Hawking, Einstein, and Teller, because I really enjoy learning about how and why our world operates the way it does. When I’m not reading, I spend the rest of my time either practicing my guitar that I recently bought or taking naps.
What is your favorite study spot on campus?
Without a doubt, I would say my favorite study spot is the third floor of Grainger on the balcony that overlooks the second floor. The natural light that comes through the tall windows and quiet setting really helps me focus and get a lot of work done.
Stay tuned for more weekly installments in our “Get to Know a Cancer Scholar” series.
Editor’s notes:
This story was written by Craig Richard, CCIL Educational Engagement Postdoctoral Scholar.