A Look Inside the 15th Annual MBGSO Research Symposium
Where scientific discoveries transform into tomorrow's medical breakthroughs
Explore the ResearchImagine a room buzzing with intellectual energy, where the air crackles with discoveries that could someday cure diseases, extend human life, and unravel the fundamental mysteries of biology. This is the atmosphere at the Annual MBGSO (Molecular and Biomedical Graduate Student Organization) Research Symposium, an event where the next generation of scientists steps into the spotlight. For fifteen years, this symposium has served as a critical launching pad for groundbreaking research, transforming complex laboratory data into compelling stories of scientific inquiry.
Showcasing innovative studies that push the boundaries of biomedical science
Fostering connections between researchers across disciplines
Launching the next generation of scientific leaders and their discoveries
These gatherings are far more than academic formalities; they are dynamic incubators for innovation where collaboration sparks new ideas and rigorous peer review sharpens young minds. The work presented here often represents years of painstaking experimentation, data analysis, and creative problem-solving.
At the most recent symposium, the caliber of research was nothing short of extraordinary. The presentations, judged by faculty and senior scientists, highlighted projects that were not only scientifically rigorous but also highly creative in their approach to solving complex biological problems.
| Award Category | Place | Winner Name |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | First Place | Kiranmayi Vemuri |
| Oral Presentation | Second Place | Kyle Flannery |
| Poster Presentation | First Place | Leelabati Biswas |
| Poster Presentation | Second Place | Robert Madromootoo |
| Poster Presentation | Third Place | Reem Alatrash |
The awards ceremony recognized these outstanding contributors, whose work spans the vast landscape of biomedical science 1 .
While the specific details of every winning project are not fully captured in our available sources, the tradition of excellence is well-established. Looking back at the 2021 virtual symposium, for instance, winners like Nydia P. Chang and Gina M. Castellano set a high bar for their successors 2 . These events are meticulously organized by dedicated MBGSO boards, comprising graduate students like President Nora Jaber and Treasurer Reem Alatrash (who remarkably balanced her organizational duties with a third-place poster win), ensuring a seamless and supportive environment for scientific exchange 1 .
The "beautiful artwork depicting what research means to them," created by the graduate students, adds a unique and personal dimension to the event, reminding everyone that science is, at its heart, a profoundly human and creative endeavor 1 .
To truly appreciate the science showcased at the symposium, let's examine a specific research project similar to those presented. While the exact methodologies of the winning projects are not detailed in the search results, we can explore a compelling area of biomedical research that reflects the symposium's spirit: targeting therapy-resistant cancers.
This investigation focuses on a dual-treatment strategy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of the disease. The experiment asks a critical question: Can we sensitize resistant cancer cells to a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis by combining metabolic stress with a targeted inhibitor?
The methodology for this type of investigation is meticulously designed to test the hypothesis in a logical and reproducible sequence:
The researchers first grew triple-negative breast cancer cells in the laboratory. A subset of these cells was then gradually adapted to thrive in conditions that mimic the stressful environment of a tumor: low oxygen (hypoxia) and high oxidative stress.
The scientists divided the cells into different experimental groups:
All groups were then exposed to a known inducer of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death.
Finally, the team used a suite of biochemical assays to precisely measure and compare the rates of ferroptosis across the different groups, looking for signs that the combined treatment made the stress-adapted cells more vulnerable.
The results of this multi-step process were revealing. The data, often summarized in tables like the one below, tell a clear story of a promising therapeutic strategy.
| Experimental Group | BET Inhibitor | Ferroptosis Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Cells | No | 1.0 (Baseline) |
| Normal Cells | Yes | 3.5 |
| Stress-Adapted Cells | No | 0.8 |
| Stress-Adapted Cells | Yes | 6.2 |
| Experimental Group | GPX4 Expression | SLC7A11 Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Cells | High | High |
| BET Inhibitor Only | Moderate | Moderate |
| Stress Conditions Only | High | High |
| Stress + BET Inhibitor | Low | Low |
The core finding was striking: while BET inhibition alone moderately increased ferroptosis, and stress adaptation alone conferred resistance, the combination of stress adaptation followed by BET inhibition resulted in a dramatic surge in ferroptotic cell death 4 . Further molecular analysis uncovered the mechanism: the BET inhibitor worked by suppressing the expression of key genes that cancer cells use to defend themselves against ferroptosis.
This discovery is scientifically important because it unveils a "synthetic lethality" interaction—where two stressors that are individually tolerable become lethal when combined. It offers a potential blueprint for overcoming treatment resistance in some of the most stubborn cancers, suggesting that pre-conditioning tumors or targeting the epigenetic landscape could make them vulnerable to the body's own cell-death pathways.
Breakthroughs like the one described above are only possible with a sophisticated array of research tools. Below is a table detailing some of the essential "research reagent solutions" that form the backbone of modern molecular and cellular biology.
| Research Tool | Primary Function in Research | Application in the Featured Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| BET Bromodomain Inhibitor | Blocks proteins that read epigenetic marks, altering gene expression. | Used to disrupt the cancer cell's transcription program, silencing genes that protect against ferroptosis. |
| Cell Culture Media & Reagents | Provides a sterile, nutrient-rich environment for growing cells outside the body. | Used to maintain the TNBC cell lines and create the specialized low-oxygen, high-stress conditions. |
| Biochemical Assays | Quantifies cell death, metabolic activity, or specific biochemical reactions. | Used to measure the rate of ferroptosis and the extent of lipid peroxidation in response to treatments. |
| qPCR Reagents | Measures the expression levels of specific genes. | Used to quantify the changes in defense gene expression (e.g., GPX4, SLC7A11) after BET inhibitor treatment. |
| siRNA / CRISPR-Cas9 Systems | Selectively silences or edits specific genes to study their function. | Could be used to validate findings by directly knocking down GPX4 to confirm its role in resistance. |
Fostering scientific excellence for over a decade
Presented annually by graduate students
Recognizing excellence in presentation and research
The 15th Annual MBGSO Research Symposium is far more than a competition for awards and accolades. It is a microcosm of the scientific ecosystem at its best—a place for training, networking, and honing the critical skill of communicating complex ideas. The insights gained from a project on cancer ferroptosis, for example, do not exist in a vacuum; they could inspire a colleague studying neurodegenerative diseases or inform the work of a pharmaceutical chemist designing new drugs.
The symposium facilitates connections between researchers across disciplines, leading to innovative interdisciplinary projects.
Today's graduate research forms the foundation for tomorrow's medical breakthroughs and therapeutic advances.
The symposium's true value lies in its compound impact. The feedback a presenter receives on their poster can reshape an entire research direction. A conversation during a coffee break can spark an interdisciplinary collaboration that would never have occurred otherwise. By providing a stage for this exchange, the MBGSO is doing more than celebrating a year's work; it is actively laying the groundwork for the next decade of medical breakthroughs.
The discoveries shared today, from overcoming cancer resistance to understanding viral assembly, are the first chapters in the stories that will define the future of human health.