St. Jude Children's Research Hospital’s Post

The beginning of a new year can be a stressful time if you're a graduate student.... PhD students looking to graduate have that June conferral date staring them in the face. Many new PhD students plan their preliminary exams during the first few months of their second year. And my friends in the middle, well, they need all the encouragement they can get; these are the deepest waters. So, I wanted to reshare this from a few months back, and hopefully give some words of encouragement. ---- To all of my friends out there who are currently in the middle of their PhD work, I have one thing to say to you: Don't give up! It's cliche, I know. Even if you've been working in the lab for 2 years and have absolutely NOTHING to show for yourself, that's okay! I didn't get any relevant data for my dissertation project until about a year before my defense! (and it took me 5 years to graduate...) Your PhD is not about the results, IT'S ABOUT THE PROCESS. So embrace it. Let's be honest, you're probably not going to cure cancer as a PhD student. So, don't put so much pressure on yourself. The good news is, you're not really supposed to be curing cancer. You're supposed to be developing the skills that enable you to: - Read and understand complex scientific literature, critically analyzing the results, and incorporating this new knowledge into your own research. - Identify important problems, devise rational hypotheses, and employ meticulous strategies to answer relevant questions. - Properly interpret the results and effectively communicate their meaning and importance. This is what it's all about. At the end of the day, we are getting a doctorate in PHILOSOPHY - PhD. We are thinkers. I encourage you to read the attached article (it takes like 3 minutes). It will give you some peace of mind, I promise. https://lnkd.in/gQhiFPyb

To all of my friends out there who are currently in the middle of their PhD work, I have one thing to say to you: Don't give up! It's cliche, I know. Even if you've been working in the lab for 2 years and have absolutely NOTHING to show for yourself, that's okay! I didn't get any relevant data for my dissertation project until about a year before my defense! (and it took me 5 years to graduate...) Your PhD is not about the results, IT'S ABOUT THE PROCESS. So embrace it. Let's be honest, you're probably not going to cure cancer as a PhD student. So, don't put so much pressure on yourself. The good news is, you're not really supposed to be curing cancer. You're supposed to be developing the skills that enable you to: - Read and understand complex scientific literature, critically analyzing the results, and incorporating this new knowledge into your own research. - Identify important problems, devise rational hypotheses, and employ meticulous strategies to answer relevant questions. - Properly interpret the results and effectively communicate their meaning and importance. This is what it's all about. At the end of the day, we are getting a doctorate in PHILOSOPHY - PhD. We are thinkers. I encourage you to read the attached article (it takes like 3 minutes). It will give you some peace of mind, I promise.

A reminder to those, like myself, that have found their PhD experience has not met their expectations. Perhaps your expectations need reframing. From the post below: "Your PhD is not about the results, IT'S ABOUT THE PROCESS. You're supposed to be developing the skills that enable you to: - Read and understand complex scientific literature, critically analyzing the results, and incorporating this new knowledge into your own research. - Identify important problems, devise rational hypotheses, and employ meticulous strategies to answer relevant questions. - Properly interpret the results and effectively communicate their meaning and importance. This is what it's all about. At the end of the day, we are getting a doctorate in PHILOSOPHY - PhD. We are thinkers." But, if I may add, it is imperative that thesis mentors and dissertation committees also reflect on these metrics - critical thinking and scientific growth - when making decisions that affect their students' lives. Science is not linear, and unfortunately, no one is guaranteed publishable results. A PhD is a process, not a product. Be kind to one another.

This month we received a record number of fellowship grant applications, including 13 predoctoral and 16 postdoctoral applicants. These fellowships not only enable but encourage the next generation of brilliant researchers to include DIPG as a primary focus of their work. The fact that we received 29 applications is so exciting because it means that some of the brightest minds in the field of science are turning their attention toward finding a cure for the most lethal form of childhood brain cancer. In the coming weeks, these applications will undergo a rigorous review by our world-renowned Scientific Advisory Council. The Council will make recommendations to ensure ChadTough Defeat DIPG uses its resources to fund the most promising DIPG research projects. In previous years, support from our Research Partners has allowed us to fund all projects recommended by the Scientific Advisory Council as well as the My DIPG Navigator program. Because the response to our call for applications was so strong, we may, for the first time, be forced to turn down projects that our Council deems worthy of being funded. In order to avoid this, we are proactively seeking new Research Partners. If you are interested in becoming a Research Partner or know anyone who may be interested in helping to fund this program and/or My DIPG Navigator, please send them to Shani Inge at shani@chadtough.org. We will know how many projects are recommended for funding by November 2nd, so we will need to have a sense of available funding dollars by that time. Your continued support is vital to ensuring the most cutting-edge ideas presented to our foundation are supported in order to change the landscape of brain cancer research. We are confident that by working together with passionate doctors, researchers, and partners, all focused on making progress toward a cure, children with DIPG/DMG will finally be able to look forward to a bright future Learn more about our Research Partner Program here: https://lnkd.in/e3Qjc__S #DIPGResearch #DefeatDIPG #ChadTough

🔍The Phase4AI-EUProject partners revealing is continuing 🚀 👉 Today, we present KU Leuven. ✅Profile: KU Leuven, founded in 1834, is a prominent Belgian research university located in Leuven, Belgium. KU Leuven is the largest university in Belgium and the BENELUx. In 2021–22, more than 65,000 students were enrolled, with 21% being international students. Renowned for its academic excellence, it consistently ranks among the top universities globally. KU Leuven is recognized for its diverse range of programs, cutting-edge research, and a commitment to fostering innovation. With a rich history and a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, it remains a leading institution in education and research. Since 2016 KU Leuven is leading the list of the most innovative universities of Europe.  ✅Role: In the context of Phase IV KU Leuven will be mainly leading 2 different tasks and a use-case. We will be responsible for the creation of metrics for quantification of the utility and privacy of the synthetically generated data and we will also lead the Prostate Cancer use case where we will try to explore Real World Data in order to predict different outcomes of interest for patients with prostate cancer. 🌐 Explore KU Leuven: https://lnkd.in/dU6mbBiM #healthcare, #machine_learning, #data_analytics, #data_protection, #synthetic_data, #multiparty_computation

It’s an interesting feeling when your history comes full circle. 🔄 A few years ago (Oh, quite a few 😉 ), when I was taking my first steps in real lab work as a Ph.D. student, at IARC*, I discovered the term "liquid biopsy". It carried an intriguing mystery and a promise, or at least hope, of improving cancer diagnosis. It meant lots of meticulous experiments and a laborious learning process under the guidance of brilliant mentors. Linkedin was not there yet, let alone Zoom conferences. Many researchers stayed in their expert bubbles, far from the general public. 🔄 🔄 Earlier this month, these "quite a few years" later, I found myself running a communication workshop for doctoral candidates of the ColoMARK MSCA* Network who all work on liquid biopsy! 🙃 One of the participants is doing her Ph.D. at the very same IARC. Now it’s their turn to work, learn, and hope under brilliant mentors. Their research comes thousands of specialist papers after mine. But they shall not confine themselves to these specialist bubbles. Social media are everywhere, videoconferencing has become a banality, curious eyes and sharp ears are close. The world has changed. 🔄 🔄 Also mine. I’m not at the bench anymore. But still following close. Sometimes editing one of those specialist papers. Sometimes making science simple for lay audience. Other times yet, showing the way to young researchers like the ColoMARKers, so that they can convince the world that 👉 their research counts. 🔔 Because some things do not change. Whatever people don’t see, they won’t believe. Whatever they don’t understand, they will fear. The means of communicating about research have evolved, but not the necessity to make the world hear your voice. 🔄 HAPPY POSTING, ColoMARKers! 😀 🤞 #ColoMARK ********************************************************************* #MSCA #SciencetothePoint #sciencecommunication *IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) **MSCA:: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (part of Horizon Europe, an EU’s programme for doctoral and postdoctoral training) [I’ve written this post in English. If you see it in another language, it has been automatically (and likely poorly) translated by Linkedin.]

Over the next few weeks, we will highlight researchers who will be honored at an upcoming ceremony for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Community Service to Research Award recipients. New investigator Feature: Jungyoon Kim, PhD Research focus: Cancer prevention for underserved Why is research important in the world today? "Research can make people live a better life. Whether it is biological research at laboratories or translational research in the field, the ultimate purpose of the research is to help humans and make the world they live in a better place." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gm-2V9AH

What drives the laureates, who inspires them, and what are their goals for the future? To get to know this years’ laureates, we have asked them three questions. These are Kevin ten Haaf’s answers: What question is central to your research? How we can best identify people at high risk for a particular disease and detect the disease early in an efficient way. What is your personal motivation for your research subject? My grandfather unfortunately died of lung cancer when I was young. When I came across a PhD position where I had the opportunity to apply the knowledge from my studies in econometrics to help patients with lung cancer it really appealed to me. The issues are challenging, and it gives me satisfaction to use statistics to help improve health care. What are your future research goals? In the near future, I hope to expand my research field even further into personalized screening, treatment and surveillance (post-treatment monitoring studies), not only for lung cancer but also for head and neck cancer, bladder cancer and cardiovascular disease. #HeinekenPrizes #interview #laureates #science

NEWS: Construction Underway for Michigan State University + Henry Ford Health Biomedical Research Center -- Michigan State University (MSU) and Henry Ford Health have joined forces to construct the $335 million Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Research Center, which will house 84 principal investigators and their research teams focused on cancer, neuroscience, infectious diseases, immunology, and public health. The first floor will accommodate a large core lab including an imaging suite. An entire floor will be dedicated to the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute. At 335,000 sf and seven stories, it will be will be MSU’s largest research facility. As part of a 30-year partnership begun in 2021, the center will be owned by MSU on land leased from Henry Ford Health, and operated jointly by both institutions. The venture is part of a $3 billion development group that includes the Detroit Pistons basketball organization. The “Future of Health” project will feature a new hospital tower and 600 units of mixed-income housing. Designed by ZGF Architects with Barton Malow as the construction manager, the facility is expected to open in 2027. https://lnkd.in/eRX6QcSU #Collaboration #GroundBreaking #InterdisciplinaryResearch #Biomedical #Healthcare #HigherEducation #ResearchandDevelopment

Join us in celebrating #UCalgaryMed's Dr. Holly Lee, MD, who is the recipient of a 2023 Research Fellows Award from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation! Dr. Lee’s research aims to optimize the efficacy of current CAR-T cell immunotherapy treatments. We applaud her dedication to finding solutions for patients with Multiple Myeloma. Read more below. #MyelomaAwarenessMonth