Student Conducts Cancer Research Through Harvard/MIT Summer Program
Megan Cravinho '25
Megan Cravinho '25 spends the summer working at the Dana-Farber Institute
video by Stephen Munchel; summary by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson.
As a research intern at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the HEART Harvard/MIT MD-PhD summer program, Megan Cravinho '25 aimed to help advance our understanding of pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
Cravinho's interest in cancer research stems from her student-faculty research project with Associate Professor of Biology Mike Roberts. That experience at Dickinson helped prepare her for 10-week experience in Boston, at one of the world’s leading cancer treatment and research facilities, designing and conducting her own pancreatic cancer experiments and analyzing her data. The work was challenging, but the rewards are great, says Cravinho.
“My goal is to help the families and patients who are suffering from cancer and to contribute meaningful work to the fight against cancer,” says Cravinho, a double major in biochemistry & molecular biology and Spanish & Portuguese studies, who present her findings at the conclusion of the program. “Cancer is a disease that affects so many people. I think the advances we've made in the field have been tremendous, but there's still so much work to do. “
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Published August 14, 2024