Introduction

Hey everyone! My name is Richard Fang and I am currently a rising junior majoring in Molecular Biology and Sociology, with minors and certificates in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Global Health. Outside of classes and research I’m a huge fan of tennis, the gym, and hiking. My favorite hike to date is probably either Chimney Tops in the Great Smoky Mountains or Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon.

Research

For this Summer 2023 Health Sciences Research Fellowship, I’ll be at the Aird Lab studying ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by rapid reactive oxygen species production from lipid peroxidation. This is important because it represents a novel target for potential therapeutic strategies in the fight against cancer. Many cancers exhibit unique reprogramming of their metabolism that enable their rapid levels of proliferation, but also differentiate them from non-malignant cells meaning these changes can be targeted.

In fact, many cancer cells exhibit specific signatures such as lipid metabolism remodeling that make them susceptible to these alternative forms of cell death such as ferroptosis. Under the mentorship of Dr. Katherine Aird and Dr. Naveen Tangudu, I aim to study how Cyclin E1 plays a role in priming cancerous cells toward ferroptosis. By characterizing the metabolic reprogramming caused by specific mutations and the underlying molecular pathways that cause the changes, novel pharmacologic and therapeutic tools can be developed. Additionally, it allows clinicians to take advantage of precision-medicine approaches in selecting patients based on their unique genetic profile who are most likely to respond to treatment.

Professional Goals

As I continue to finish my undergraduate degree, I aim to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. I intend to apply to medical scientist training programs (MSTPs) in order to prepare to be a more effective cancer researcher as well as an effective clinician. Given how diverse cancer is as a disease, there is much more work to be done in the field and I hope to contribute meaningfully to the space. The Health Sciences Research Fellowship directs me in achieving my career goals because it offers a unique opportunity to dedicate time to my work, as well as interacting with a like-minded group of scholars who are so diverse in their backgrounds and knowledge. From participating in similar fellowships in the past, I can attest that interacting with others gives me a chance to put my research into perspective and see how it fits into the broader context of healthcare and society. I’m excited to see how my project evolves this summer, and I’m even more excited to get to know about everyone else’s research.